2006 – Page 11 – Agenda Magazine Archives

Marilyn Anderson’s Never Kiss a Frog: A Girl’s Guide to Creatures from the Dating Swamp

“Someday my prince will come. What a romantic thought! And like millions of little girls, I grew up believing it. Why? Simply because I loved fairytales.”

-Marilyn Anderson, Author

Marilyn Anderson is an author, playwright, dating expert, spokeswoman, comedian, bio-chemist, and founder of Frogaholics Anonymous. Her book, Never Kiss a Frog, has made quite an impact on single women everywhere. People have named her the “dating guru.” And she has offered dating advice to Complete Woman, and Teen People Magazine.

Since writing her book, Marilyn has been interviewed on several talk shows, and she has appeared on “Extreme Makeover” as a dating expert. Her popularity from her book, Never Kiss a Frog, hit a familiar nerve with both men and women worldwide. It is now published in several languages. Marilyn boasts that Never Kiss a Frog has even been pirated. (To her chagrin, she actually prefers the pirated version). Since the book’s popularity in 2003, Anderson has been in the process of writing part two, Never Kiss a Frog Again.

What makes Marilyn an authority?

“I’ve been single forever. I’ve dated the rich and the homeless, the tall and the pygmy, the tan and the albino. I’ve met frogs on beach towels and ski lifts, in supermarkets and meat markets. I’ve met them on park benches, bench-pressing, and one who was pressing his pants. Once, my hairdresser’s gynecologist gave my number to a man on a passing gurney! Oh yeah, I’ve had blind dates and bland dates. The only date I haven’t had is a wedding date.”

While reading Marilyn’s book, I laughed so hard at her hilarious dating mishaps and ironic truths. I honestly don’t know one woman who hasn’t bought into the myth that if you kissed enough frogs, one of them might eventually become a prince. Or maybe somewhere in this world there is a prince disguised as a frog. I can recall recent conversations with my female friends, telling them not to be so critical of what Marilyn describes as frogs, and to give their poor toads a chance. But just as my mother and grandmother did, I too am guilty of passing down this perverse falsehood that maybe a frog could turn into a prince.

In Marilyn’s book, there are a plenty of examples of frogs. Anderson manages to add a comical tone, along with the unflattering comparisons, to the wart-infested reptile. She came up with several interesting, yet disturbingly true, descriptions for each type of frog we should definitely avoid, and the list is very long.

First, there is the Long-Term-Go-Nowhere Frog. This wart-infested undesirable is afraid of commitment, yet he will continue to string you along until only you are strong enough to break it off. I have experienced that frog before—more than once in my lifetime. Marilyn gives an example of how she and her boyfriend hung out for years but never really had a commitment.

“This kind of relationship is dangerous, because you can get lulled into a false sense of security, and your best years are wasted.”

Another one of Anderson’s frogs I dated was the Really-Nice-Guy-But-Really-Bad-Kisser Frog. How many of those did I encounter when I was single? There were too many to count. The other frogs consist of Horny Toads, Mama’s Frogs, the Flattery Frog, Obsessed-With-His-Body Frog, and the list continues to grow.

When it comes to self-help dating books, I am a veteran; I’ve read the gamut:Maybe He’s Just a Jerk; Women Men Love, Women Men Leave; Men Who Can’t Love; Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus; Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives; The Sensual Woman, etc.; yet I am by no means an expert on the subject. If I were, you would think I could have gotten it right eventually. But just like a-hard-to-rid tick, dating for me was more a knee-jerk reaction, not the satisfying, potentially pleasant experience I was promised. Instead, it was a horrible journey from which I barely survived.

Never Kiss a Frog brings everything into perspective. Marilyn Anderson’s cute little quips make light of an otherwise arduous, and in my opinion, overrated, outdated ritual. I asked Anderson how she was able to identify these frogs so easily. She stated that she dated most of them. Then again, who hasn’t dated a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Frog, or even a Toadal Makeover? I wish this book had been handy when I was dating amphibians. I must have kissed at least a few dozen frogs myself. Damn that book The Frog Princess. This fairytale by Sondra Eklund is about a princess who meets a frog, kisses him and breaks a witch’s spell. The frog transforms into a handsome prince. They marry and live happily ever after. That one book may have single-handedly caused even the most rational women to act irrationally when it comes to dating. And Marilyn thinks the fairytale is the most likely suspect responsible for today’s dating woes.

During our interview, Anderson also pointed out that part of meeting the right guy is about making the right choices. But how does a girl recognize a frog? That has been a burning question for centuries. From Casanova to Henry the Eighth, women didn’t stand a chance back then, and we can barely survive the dating swamp now. With the abundance of dating books out there, sifting through the mire can be a complicated, time-consuming, icky job. Luckily, Marilyn’s Never Kiss a Frog simplifies the process for us. She explains in detail which frogs we must avoid.

The book’s packaging is very clever, too. The artwork was deliberate on Marilyn’s part. Resembling a pamphlet, the cartoon frog ne’er-do-wells appeal to a surprisingly wide audience, ranging from pre-pubescent girls—to fed-up divorcees—to single moms. If pre-teens memorized Anderson’s book before they turned sixteen, they might just escape the horrors the past generations endured.

Even though Marilyn Anderson’s book is an easy read (it took me less than an hour to get through it), don’t be fooled. There are pearls of wisdom jumping off her double-spaced ninety-six-page book. I advise all single women to keep this “reference guide” close at hand. You never know when you’re going to need to quickly identify a frog. Anderson even guides those women who are not sure whether or not they are actually dating a frog. She has various hilarious sections to help you remove all your doubts. She has footnotes disguised as cooking recipes. She even devised an adorable frog family album with disturbingly familiar tender frog-types. For the game board lover, Anderson’s Frogopoly is the next best thing to Monopoly when it comes to spotting the hard to detect frogs.

But in all seriousness, Marilyn does point out that just as one person’s junk might be another person’s treasure, one woman’s frog could give another woman pleasure; and don’t throw out your prince if he has only a few minor frog qualities. After all, nobody is perfect. Her light-hearted tone is a pleasant reminder not to take this whole dating thing too seriously. Keep in mind, if you notice early in your relationship that he has frog qualities, just toss him out before you get too attached.

“A frog doesn’t have to be a bad guy. He could be a good guy, but if he’s not the right guy to walk you down the aisle, he’s a frog, and you should throw him back into the pond.”

To learn more about Never Kiss a Frog, visit Marilyn Anderson’s website atwww.neverkissafrog.com.

Interview and book review by Kaylene Peoples

Chaz Dean, Creator of WEN: Changing the World One Head at a Time.

Chaz Dean, the Creator of WEN: Changing the World One Head at a Time

Chaz Dean is a stylist, photographer, and inventor. He has a celebrity client list that includes the cast of “Desperate Housewives,” Alicia Keys, Ellen Degeneres, Paula Abdul, Laura Dern, Charlize Theron, and countless more, and his revolutionary non-shampooing cleanser is changing the way we view our hair.

Harsh detergents and sodium laurel/laurel sulfates found in most shampoos inspired Chaz’s ingenuity. We agreed that most inventions came about out of sheer necessity. The development of WEN, Chaz’s universal hair cleanser, was no different.

WEN is formulated with the perfect balance of herbs and natural ingredients to eliminate shampooing without sacrificing the beauty of your hair. WEN is a new approach to the way you cleanse your hair.

In high school, Chaz Dean started in photography. After he completed high school, he wanted to incorporate those visions he saw in his head with photography without relying on others. It was that very element that got him into hair. So he went to school for hair, andafter graduating, he moved back to Los Angeles and pursued a career in hair and color. Hair was a passion for Chaz. Eventually, his photography took a back seat. In 1985, Chaz worked for a company that had its own product line, but the company didn’t have its own deep conditioner.

“I always wondered why we ordered high pro packs from other companies.”

That very company asked him to develop a deep conditioner. In 1986, he jumped at the opportunity, and 9 months later, the same company asked him to help them develop a “natural” product line. At the time, Aveda was the only natural product line out there. And a year later, Chaz developed another product which is now called Sexy Concepts for which he developed the Primrose Shampoo, Sage Conditioner, and Rosemary Conditioner which arrived on the market in 1989. Shortly after that, Chaz began developing his own “non-shampoo.”

“I got tired of my clients complaining that after their salon visits, in approximately two weeks their hair color faded, became brassy and dried out. I knew the detergent and the lathering from the shampoo was causing this. I compare it to when you use a cotton swab with alcohol, and you wipe your t-zone. In five minutes it’s squeaky clean, and within ten to fifteen minutes it’s oily like an oil slick. This happens because your brain tells your body that it needs to replenish the oils, so it works overtime at a really rapid pace.”

Chaz knew that the detergent was stripping the hair of its natural oils. He began mixing and matching and pulling things from his garden and his courtyard to see what could cleanse the scalp and still keep the hair hydrated. From there, he developed the product-line which took five years to perfect, creating a universal product for every type of hair without the heavy residue that weighs the hair down. While testing his products, Chaz’s clients complained about having dry scalp, or other scalp disorders, and they requested he also develop a non-medicated hair product. That’s when the Tea Tree Cleansing Conditioner (which has medicinal and healing properties) was developed.

“In the 1980s people would get their hair colored in the salon, go home with a bag full of products which included shampoo, conditioner, deep-conditioner, de-tangler, leave-in conditioner, a gel for hold, a polishing gloss for shine, and a hairspray. They would go home with a minimum of five to eight products. When they came back in for their next treatment, they complained that they never used the products they took home. It was too confusing and complicated to figure out, or they didn’t have time, and they just wanted the whole process simplified. This is the reason I condensed it. (My products are also great as a body wash, and they are amazing for shaving because of their astringent and anti-bacterial properties). I also created the styling cream, which replaces light weightless leave-in conditioner for moisture, polishing gloss for shine, and a light gel for hold. I found that with every client I worked on, I always used a minimum of those three products. I wanted to put all of those into one.”

While developing WEN, Chaz continued to listen to his clients’ feedback and took them from eight products down to just two, sometimes even one.

The WEN is great for ethnic hair, too, particularly African American textures. The complication of ethnic hair was the impetus for his creation of the Fig Cleanser, which has been out since April 2003.

“I developed the Fig because everyone was flat-ironing, bleaching, and straightening their hair. Their hair was so brittle and dehydrated that the Fig Cleanser is the most moisturizing, and it doesn’t weigh the hair down. Ethnic hair, particularly African American hair, in most cases, needs more moisture than other hair types.”

(He describes Fig like a sponge—it retains moisture.)

During the first two years of its development, Chaz refused to wholesale WEN to any outside vendors. He wanted to hear all the feedback. Ninety percent of the feedback was extremely positive, but the remaining ten percent concerned Chaz. After careful questioning, Chaz discovered that his clients were either not leaving the product on long enough, not using enough of it, or not rinsing it out well enough. Once his clients stepped it up, they were really pleased.

“That’s why WEN really has to be explained because there is nothing out there like it. From birth we are taught that the more lather, the more suds, the more bubbles, the cleaner, the healthier and shinier the hair. This is just not the case. Imagine that you had a saucepan and you made pasta and you poured out the sauce, or imagine your four-wheel truck was covered in dirt. You are not going to take a sponge and start smearing all the dirt around. You’re going to rinse it thoroughly first to get most of the dirt off the truck, or most of that sauce out of that saucepan before you start taking that sponge and smearing it around. It’s the same principle with your hair. You want to rinse it thoroughly and completely first to get all the dirt, grime, hairspray, gels, oils, whatever is in there already, out. Once you’ve done that, your hair is no longer robbed of its essential oils which are beneficial to the hair and which give the hair its shine and body.”

As with most new ideas, Chaz did encounter resistance, but he knew how to win people over. He was doing hair for the HollyRod Foundation fashion show, a charity event for Parkinson’s disease. Nicole Murphy, who is on the board of Design Cure, attended the event regularly. After seeing her at several events, Chaz finally approached her in April 2005 at the Rock N’ Republic show and rounded up the courage to introduce WEN to her. Nicole looked at him with the usual skepticism he received from women of color.

“I explained that Holly Robinson Peete, Halle Barry, and Tisha Campbell-Martin regularly use my products. Then, I explained the process to her and invited her to my salon. Now she is one of my regular clients. When clients leave my salon, they are amazed at how wonderful their hair feels.”

Chaz Dean’s Highest High:

Since November 2000, my intentions were QVC, Guthy Renker, and Oprah Winfrey because I am trying to change the world in the way people cleanse their hair. These three are a platform to explain the product. In January, I met Oprah on the set of Desperate Housewives and handed her a gift bag of the product, and I ended up in O Magazine October 2005. Three weeks later, QVC called me, and I was on in August and October of 2005, and three times last December. I am now in negotiations with Guthy Renker and there is an offer pending.

Chaz’s Lowest Low:

When I started Chaz Dean Studios, it was burglarized, and in September 1997, my mom was re-diagnosed with cancer (she passed away February 2001), my partner and I of 2-1/2 years broke up, and my brother drowned. All three events happened in the span of one month. This made me realize how short life is, but because of that I have grown in tremendous ways.

Chaz Dean wants to change the world one head at a time. It’s the joy, the happiness, and the testimonies of people who’ve hated their hair their whole lives that propel him forward.

“ I believe you won’t know the changes you’ve made in someone’s life until you’re on the other side. And then you have that panoramic view of ‘wow’ I can’t believe I had such an impact—it’s the ripple effect. It’s so important for people to search deep down within themselves and decide what it is that will make a difference.”

To learn more about WEN, visit www.chazdeanstudio.com.

Written by Kaylene Peoples

SANJANA JON – Following Her Own Footsteps

SANJANA JON
Following Her Own Footsteps

Sure, Sanjana Jon may be known as the adorable sister of creative couture designer Anand Jon. But take note—this vibrant New York based Indian designer is pouncing on the world of fashion to make her own footsteps. With her recent launch of three indepenrdently driven lines of women’s wear, Sanjana is sprouting to stardom.

She showcased her Spring 2006 debut collection during New York’s Fashion Week early September, and with delight, recalls the standing ovation that closed her big night, citing in attendance “very, very important people.” Sanjana’s spring collection is lifestyle-conscious, offering diverse ideas for women to utilize. Her prêt line consists of daily wear for teenaged girls to the 30-something year-old; the diffusion line includes Western and office wear for women; and her beloved platinum line introduces custom-made high-end bridal wear.

“It’s a passion for me, and I want to share that special day in a girl’s life,” Sanjana says about her platinum line, which embraces a time of new beginnings.

It may have been the “girly” rebellious gifts of halter top-like fashion her mother would bring back from London to a “conservative India” or the years spent creating jewelry with her grandmother and Anand growing up—or both—that has inspired Sanjana’s adoration of art and fashion.

Marketing consultant of the Anand Jon brand since 1998, Sanjana has co-designed his fine jewelry line as well as his upcoming men’s AJ Jeans line, admitting that her brother’s push and encouragement helped her creative fashion ideas come to life. And with adoration from all around, Sanjana acknowledges the support from her family, including her grandparents.

Having designed for Hollywood notables like Paris and Nicky Hilton, as well as for models Ivana Trump, Amanda Hearst, and Devon Aoki, Sanjana is busily meeting with buyers for her collection’s US availability—most likely landing in flagship stores first. Yet overseas, stores in her name have opened this October in Delhi, Bombay, and South India.

Backed by IG International, Sanjana has taken part in the Miss Universe campaign for the last three years, designing chic ensembles for each winner, and accompanying their trips on behalf of charitable causes. This year, she kicks off the “Aids Awareness Tour” to India mid-November with Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova.

From first showing off her brand during the Cannes Film Festival in May 2004, prior to her coming out during New York Fashion Week, to being named the “Vancouver International Rising Star 2006,” and now her gusto toward directing a feature film, “Spirits and Spirituality,” set to show in 2007, Sanjana Jon is as humble as they get.

Yet as impressive as can be!

Written by Elana Pruitt

Biatta’s Jaymi Zentner: The Designer Behind the Line

Jaymi Zentner has been the head designer of Biatta for nine years. Originally working in surf, skate and snow active wear, she freelanced as a bathing suit designer until she was offered a position at Biatta when she was only twenty-one. Jaymi took the position and commuted for two years from San Diego to Los Angeles, a two-hour drive. Because she was so young, she never really expected to stay with any one company for very long. But now, almost a decade later, she can’t imagine doing anything but lingerie.

“I actually thought I was going to be a lawyer from the age four to seventeen. I was in a Poly-Sci class, and the professor saw me drawing dresses. In the middle of the lecture, he told me that my doodles would never make me any money. That day I dropped that class and decided to go to FIDM. I told my parents I wanted to be a fashion designer, but they had great plans for me to go to Stanford, Harvard, etc. It really didn’t go over that well. I knew I couldn’t be happy arguing for the rest of my life, but since I had to appease my parents, I attended both UCLA for communications and Korean language, and FIDM for fashion design concurrently. I never really thought I could make money with anything that had to do with really creative things. My father, who is a businessman, was also an amazing artist. He just did his art as a hobby. So I thought I would do the same thing, but quickly realized that wasn’t going to work for me.”

Jaymi designs pretty much everything that is Biatta. Kim Munoz, her associate designer, designs the Miss Fifi junior line, as well as assists her when she needs to get things done. She also has assistants that help with fabric buying and other processes.

“It’s great because I have this creative bond with four other people who really get what I want, and they really give me great input. We learn from each other.”

There are several segments within Biatta: one line is geared toward young contemporary; another line follows trends. There is the Biatta Collection, your day-to-day panties and bras. These garments have a lot to do with mesh and lace. There is Linear Essence, which is a basic sheer, striped fabric with a lace trim and high contrast colors. And lastly, there is the “seamless” program, a process done mostly in Europe in a special Santioni machine.

Most people do seamless in an athletic way, but Biatta does it in a pretty, feminine way. You can wear it under anything without panty lines, and at the same time, it is still really sexy and pretty. There are only a few fashionable seamless in the industry, and Biatta’sseamless has been well received. Jaymi describes the entire seamless process as somebody putting yarn into a dryer, and then opening the dryer, and suddenly there’s a garment.

“When they showed me the seamless process, I thought to myself, this is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen! I was amazed, and I must have stood there and watched fifteen garments get made. It was incredible. It’s definitely like a little magic dryer.”

When Zentner thinks about the lingerie customer, she considers herself to be that customer—a fun person with a lot of personality who isn’t afraid of color.

“When you design for that person, it’s so much more fun because it’s not this basic ho-hum black-white, nude kind of thing. Although we have that business, but Biatta is known for their colors and prints.”

When putting the colors together for Biatta, Jaymi attends a lot of trend seminars. She pays attention to what colors she innately feels are becoming stronger colors. She even looks at interiors. She’ll shop at furniture stores just to see what they’re doing. After Zenter researches the trends, she puts together a palette. The front part of her palette is most likely her primary colors that she will be working with for that season. The secondary palette will be her accents, or more contemporary colors. Both palettes work well with both the younger, as well as older customer.

“I think lingerie traditionally has been more pastels, but I think that there are other women who feel sexier in brighter colors. So I went through a phase where I was doing a lot of bright fuchsias and oranges and teals. If you look through our line, I work with all colors to complement everybody’s skin tones.”

”After fifty-five seasons, I can still remember my first couple of seasons. I remember the infant stages of the company. It has changed so much since then. I remember back then we were designing these panties that literally went up to your belly button. It was insane. And now I look back and realize it has changed so much. The fashion now is to be quite low because pants are lower.”

Jaymi Zentner’s Highest Highs:

“There have been so many highs. I can’t even really pick just one. I think just seeing my stuff on stage makes me ecstatic. I also love it when I see someone wearing a Cami of mine as a shirt. Every once in a while a woman will wear my lingerie as a top to go out in. I was at a concert the other night and I saw someone wearing one of my tops. Another high is every time something comes out that I think looks really great, and there is a huge reaction to it. Those moments are precious.”

Jaymi’s Lowest Lows:

“When something that you loved in concept did not end up looking the way it should have, or didn’t sell—it makes you question yourself. It makes you feel like, gosh do I know what I’m doing? The self-doubt, those are the lowest times. Nobody wants to feel like they don’t know what they’re doing. But there will always be that group that doesn’t sell, and I don’t like it.”

Jaymi’s advice to young designers:

“Get an education, and then intern to get a feel of what you want to be doing. Put in the time because it’s really hard when rookie designers come in and they feel like they’re entitled. You have to work really hard in this business. It’s really competitive. You have to be willing to put in the time for free sometimes. The other thing that young designers need to know, and I don’t think schools are teaching them enough of, is they have to be computer proficient—that is where the competition comes from. Once they get the experience, and can actually draw everything on a computer efficiently, they have to pay some dues and be ready to be an assistant for a couple of years, and then good things can happen. There’s nothing better than a person who’s really excited about design. But people have to realize that part of design is not glamorous. It’s the follow-through and the production of it all. It’s making those great ideas come to fruition. If you can just get through that, then you have a lot of time to be creative. It’s awesome!”

Written by Kaylene Peoples

Shani: Independently Breaking Her Own Ground

Shani – Independently Breaking Her Own Ground

I have always admired pioneers, maybe because I’ve been trudging through the trenches trying to create my own place in the world, or maybe it’s because what seems so effortless is really one of the most daunting tasks, or maybe because there are so few “individualists” who actually succeed in breaking those barriers, and getting heard.

Well, Shani, a beautiful, and powerfully gifted talent, is who I might call a pioneer. Shani is a recording artist, actress, and producer, and she has recorded four albums. She has appeared in films, and is nominated for several Grammys this year with her newest CD entitled “At the Casbah.”

Imagine that you are a sweet young girl from Arkansas. Imagine you are pretty and sexy. Imagine entering a world where the proverbial “casting couch” is commonplace. Now imagine a salmon swimming upstream, but instead of preparing to lay her eggs and die, she plants her seeds, and actually reaps a harvest. Shani is that salmon. She recently won Best New Hot AC artist for New Music Weekly Awards, and her hit single “Destiny” is in the Top 10 Hot AC radio charts. Her hot new single “Get Somebody” is the Top 3 “Most Added” / Chart bound. Shani’s music has also been featured in the motion picture Crash, and she was a featured vocalist for The House of Sand and Fog and “Sony Playstation.”

I had never heard of Shani before. Since I am a jazz aficionada and Broadway enthusiast, her genre of music wasn’t my usual staple. But my curiosity was peaked when I was at the Independent Music Network (located in Studio City, California), where I met the publicist, Debi Fee. Debi told me a little about the rising star, so we set up a meeting at the local Starbucks. During that brief “meet and greet,” Shani exceeded my expectations. She was incredible!

I later met Shani at her home in Studio City. Just as I had expected, her home was decorated exquisitely—all her own doing, of course. (After meeting her, I wouldn’t have expected anything less). Shani was a gracious host, and she, along with her three well-groomed dogs, met me at the door. We chatted for at least an hour before I had even set up for her interview, during which she spoke candidly about her experiences as an independent artist.

Shani has successfully combined today’s hip-hop sound with polyphonic beats and Eastern modes and instruments. Shani’s music has layers, and with each listen, it grows on you more and more.

Shani’s music reminded me of Omar Sharif’s Laurence of Arabia and those sweeping epics that were made 60 years or so ago. If I closed my eyes while listening, I saw sand dunes and Middle Eastern princes riding their camels, and I thought about the big movie studios that had signed actors and actresses like Rudolph Valentino, Humphrey Bogart, and Lauren Bacall.

“There are a lot of things that I’m dabbling in today, which are helping me to push the envelope. My new CD is called “At the Casbah,” which is a little bit of an exotic title. I tend to use exotic instruments and world music melodies. It’s also a hybrid of other musical styles. It has hints of R&B, jazz, and hip-hop. It’s sort of a thematic concept record in that it takes you through a musical journey, almost like theater in a way.”

First and foremost, Shani is a writer. She writes her own music and lyrics, and loves to collaborate with other writers. On her current project, there are a lot of featured writers. She never set out to be a producer, but she really wanted to get her vision realized.

“Lyrically, I wanted to tell a story. It’s like soundscapes. For me the transitions of the songs, and while putting the order of the songs together, there needed to be a flow. Where you start and where you end are completely different places. Hopefully you’ll go through this big ride once you sit and listen to the CD for an hour. That was my intent anyway. It’s bizarre to be in the ‘swinger’ era, and then all of a sudden you’re in modern day hip-hop. But it works.”

When Shani was a child, her father had introduced her to rhythm early. He was a drummer and had a huge record collection ranging from Stevie Wonder to Diana Ross.

“ I liked singers who didn’t show off vocally, but knew how to interpret songs. Sting was a big influence, and Prince was too. I think I zeroed in on Prince because here was a guy from Minneapolis, playing rock guitar with a Beatlesque influence, and then he goes into this funk zone. There were elements of jazz too. I loved his records because they had such a mixture of styles. What came out of Prince was this unique, very unpredictable presence. It wasn’t one of those records where all ten songs sounded alike. I loved that about Prince, and I always felt like I got my money’s worth. So for a young writer, that was a big wake-up call. It was okay to venture out and try new things. The hardest part was getting the business people you are working with, to understand that as an artistic statement.”

When Shani moved to Los Angeles, she was exposed to Middle Eastern influences. She knew instantly that those influences would become a big part of what she did. She immersed herself in that culture and learned the intricacies of Middle Eastern music. She has worked hard to bring that to a Western audience. This was very difficult without the support of the industry.

“At first, nobody got it. I was constantly going back to the drawing board, and trying to improve upon my formula. As a result, each one of my albums sounds a little bit different.”

Shani sings in three languages: English, Farsi, and Spanish. To Shani, her music is very pop, but she admits that for an industry person working in a pop field, it was very left of center.

“A lot of times when people think of world music, they think very serious, solo instruments, and people sitting on the floor playing traditional instruments. Inside of world music, there are a lot of layers. To me, my records are pop, but the industry doesn’t really look at it that way.”

The natural evolution of Shani’s sound is obvious when you listen to each one of her albums: “Undercurrent,” “Call of the Wild,” “Velvet,” and the completion of the Middle Eastern/Western cycle is most apparent in her latest album “At the Casbah.”

“Surviving in this industry as a female has been one of my biggest challenges. Being a female who is not afraid to be a female, for example, I am not downplaying my femininity. Back in the 90s, there was a movement of female singer/songwriters—not that they weren’t feminine––but I think of artists like Alanis Morrisette. When she came onto the scene, she had this very intense, almost angry angst. When you see her now, she’s actually quite feminine and soft. And not that musically you can’t have that range, but I personally believe that was by choice. Because it’s very hard to be feminine and soft, and also be taken seriously.

“I went to a party with a guy I work with, and we were meeting someone new, and a question came up about the album. It was interesting to watch the eye contact of the person going to him. The new guy asked, ‘Oh, so how long did it take you guys to record?’ and I would answer, and his eyes would have to go back to me. This went on for a couple of minutes until finally my male friend said, ‘I didn’t do anything on the record. She produced it.’ I thought how interesting, that there’s just an automatic assumption that I’m just the singer. Somebody finds my songs, puts it all together, and I just show up in the end. That always irks me. You don’t hear people questioning that with men at all.”

Shani attended junior college and studied architecture, psychology, and art history. Her experiences with those subjects seem to affect her music. These influences are elements that keep you listening. These, along with polished arrangements, clever lyrics, and a pleasing voice, are what make her music work.

What inspires Shani’s lyrics? It could be a trip to Italy or the plight of her friends or even her training as an actress. She states that while studying acting, she has to be in touch with her feelings at all times, and this plays a big role in her songwriting.

“My influences early on in songwriting were ‘show me don’t tell me.’ It’s almost like channeling and writing in a metaphorical way. There are other ways to say I love you. I learned to open up and hear dialog that could say the same thing without being so blatant.”

Shani always knew that she would be in front of the camera. She started acting when she was only four. When she came to Los Angeles, she immediately got an agent, and her manager was adamant about training.

“This is where I learned about layers. In actuality, all you’re really doing is peeling away the layers to get down to what’s really real. I went through a few years of training while also touring. Eventually people knew me from my music, and began offering me projects in films, and this ultimately led me to producing. Why I keep adding more things to my plate, I’ll never know. But it makes for a very interesting ride.”

So what is Shani’s secret? Hard work, determination, and a constant presence. She never gives up. She is constantly educating herself and perfecting her craft. Maybe that is why she’s climbing the charts and winning awards at such a rapid pace. Shani is not only a pop personality in the Middle East, but this young lady from Arkansas continues to beat the odds; but she is helping to bridge the gap between Middle Eastern music and the Western world.

Shani has proven to the world that there is nothing substandard about being an independent artist.

“At the Casbah” is scheduled to release early this year. To learn more about Shani, visit www.shanimusic.com.

Watch the videos.

Written by Kaylene Peoples

Eva La Rue: Holding her Own

Eva La Rue: Holding Her Own

The dark hair, glowing tanned skin, pearly whites, and an impeccable taste of fashion! Yes, Eva La Rue was that knockout doctor from soap favorite “All My Children.” And whether you used to TiVo the love affair between Dr. Maria Santos and Edmond on a daily basis, or now pull up a front row seat to CSI: MIAMI to keep an eye on the likes of Natalie Boa Vista, La Rue ain’t goin’ nowhere. She’s learned how to stay afloat in an industry that is competitive, frustrating, and ultimately rewarding, all the while embracing a unique sense of fashion.

Despite La Rue’s recent leave from her on-and-off 12-year stint with “All My Children,” she continues to explore acting and its many facets. In addition to her role on CSI: MIAMI, she is also a co-host for E! Style Network’s “Modern Girls’ Guide to Life.” And due to network demands, La Rue had to say good-bye to ABC’s “The George Lopez Show,” in which she played the recurring role of George’s sister. So with the “energy” that comes from working on a sitcom, the 40-to-60 page-dialogue grind of daytime acting, and the “instant gratification” of live theatre that she’s also pursued, does she prefer one type of acting to another? Enjoying her time spent with the George Lopez Show, La Rue hopes to one day get a chance at another recurring role on a situation comedy.

As for entertainers that cross over, La Rue is a prime example that actors can do more than act. In 2002, she had the chance to team up with veteran producer/songwriters Clay Ostwald, Tommy Anthony and Jorge Casas to work on a musical project. Hence, her first album was born and titled “Only You.”

With a lengthy list of film and television credits, especially for co-hosting the “New Candid Camera” with Dom DeLuise years earlier, which led her to host “The Miss America Pageant,” La Rue’s smile and vibrant personality are practically impossible to shake out of your head. Having graced the covers and having been featured in magazines like Fit, FirstFor Women, Woman’s World, Cosmopolitan en Espanol, and People, her image has always seemed flawless and her fashion sense glamorous. When it comes to the world of couture, from sitting front row at Los Angeles Fashion Week shows to livin’ it up at New York Fashion Week season after season, how does she describe her own style?

“I’m not a trendy person,” La Rue admits, describing her style as classic and sophisticated. “But if I’m going to buy trendy pieces, I’m going to go to Forever 21 or Arden B. Then I’ll mix that up with Prada or Gucci.”

She may also want to own up to being simple and chic. Spotted up close and personal at the Spring 2006 Single show at Smashbox, La Rue adorably posed for the press wearing cropped trousers, pointy mules, and a crisp white tank. And to add a little spunk to her outfit, around her neck she wore a pearl necklace clasped with a black ribbon for an incredible finishing touch.

Grounded in her fashion taste and driven by the commitment she has to daughter Kaya, how does America’s Sweetest actress stay grounded with work—a business that has ever-changing standards and expectations?

“You win some, you lose some” is how it goes. And La Rue probably couldn’t agree more; but everyone knows rejection can sting. So keeping herself in tune with the reality of Hollywood and the drama that goes along with auditioning, testing, and flying to and from New York to make that appointment, La Rue gives insight on how to just relax and take it all in stride.

“It’s frustrating—a really crazy-making business,” she says. “When they say ‘no,’ it’s hard not to take it personal.”

La Rue says that staying sane means accepting that “If it’s yours, it’s yours, and if it isn’t, it isn’t. All of heaven and earth will open up if you were meant to have that part.”

Kudos to you, Eva!

Written by Elana Pruitt

Chaz Dean Salon Hosts Pre-Alma Awards Party

The Chaz Dean Salon this April played host to one of the biggest Hollywood events for Latino/Latina celebrities, the American Latino Media Arts Awards, which aired June 5 on ABC. The West Coast gala previewed some of the hottest trends in the fashion industry to a backdrop of celebrity stylists and designers.

The Alma Awards pre-event lounge provided guests with fine cigars, Mojitos and Cuban cuisine, and it was an opportunity for today’s top stylists–and some that are new to the industry–to showcase their offerings in a high-fashion setting to entertainers who consistently grace the covers of top magazines and feature prominently in major ad campaigns.

Celebrity hair guru Chaz Dean did his wonders on featured guests, including actor Amaury Nolasco (“Prison Break”), Keri Lynn Pratt (“C.S.I.”), Ming Na (“Mulan”), with the help of WEN products.

Additional attendees included Vicor Webster (“Charmed”), Matt Cedano (“Half&Half”), Mario Lopez (“Saved by the Bell”), Mechad Brooks and Shaun Pyfrom (“Desperate Housewives”).

Fashion companies with booths at the event included SINGLE, the luxe contemporary fashion line, Ed Hardy T’s and Tops and its new footwear collection, YMI denim bags, and a new couture brand Paradox Paradis.

SINGLE’s modern appeal combines both elegance and the carefree nature of the West Coast; Ed Hardy caters to women and men with its slinky, unisex tanks that appeal to surfers and California style; and Paradox Paradis expresses a confident, casual but classy style that works well for mainstream and celebrity fashion.

For more information on the Alma Awards Pre-Party, please contact Dorothy Mannfolk or Omar Cunningham at Mannfolk Public Relations, (818) 557.7447

For information on the 2006 Alma Awards, visit www.almaawards.com.

By Natalie Martin

New Products Make a Glowing First Appearance at Diamond Lounge 2006

Now that all the Oscar hoopla has passed and those who took home their golden statuettes are busy reading the plethora of scripts that poured in the day after the event, Agenda Magazine has a preview of the products that made their debuts in many an Oscar-attendee gift bag.

From skin care to jewelry to island vacations to mojitos and cookies, the Pre-Oscars Diamond Lounge 2006 gave lucky celebrities and the media a glimpse of innovative products that will certainly be in great demand this year. Organized by Nathalie Dubois of DPA, the March 4 event provided vendors who converged at the Petersen Museum to display their current best-selling merchandise along with yet-to-be-released fare, a chance to garner some interest among the Hollywood community (and see the competition). While some products were appealing, others stood above the fray, poised to set a new standard in couture and body care. Several standout companies made an impression on this reporter and will likely grab A-list attention in the near future.

Isabelle Kellogg knows a thing or two about couture. The PR agent for Giorgio Visconti Finest Jewelry showcased some of the designer’s tastiest selections, including a $45,000 rope necklace piece enveloped in white gold and diamonds. Unlike many high-end jewelers, Visconti’s traditional approach retains the intimacy and uniqueness of the merchandise, which uses Italian diamonds.

“It’s a little bit different from the French, Harry Winston, American [design],” said Kellogg. “It’s from a house in Italy—Valenza—and it’s a family company like a lot of these companies are, which are from that area. And everything is made by hand. You’ll find things like ‘father and son, grandfather, grandson’—very few people in the company, but they make everything by hand.” Visconti keeps all of its manufacturing in-house, rather than outsourcing to other countries. That business practice may keep prices higher than companies that do have international labor forces, but the quality retention by keeping it local is worth the extra costs, adds Kellogg.

“You get the integrity of design, and the personal touch is one of the focuses of the company,” she said.

The unorthodox designs, with beautiful and unusual pairings of gold and diamonds, and broad, detailed shapes for necklaces, which lightly drape down the chest, pay homage to the past (dome-shaped ring) and future (rope necklace) jewelry trends. The rope necklace is a favorite among stars, including Sasha Cohen and Julie Delpy, Kellogg noted. The continuous diamond rope is popular for its ability to show a great amount of both light and shadow, as well as the heart-shaped collections, which vary with white and black diamond motifs.

If you want a little well-being with your vogue, try Energetix Magnet Therapy jewelry from Germany. Distributor Beatrice Cederstrom said that the product offers simplistic design—perfect for accessorizing, whether for a night on the town or a relaxed day at the beach—and the added health benefit of magnets, which have been known to aid in better blood pressure and respiratory function. Energetix is also registered for Class 1 Medical Devices with the European Union. With a 1,200 Gauss strength, which measures the attraction strength of the magnet metrically, the jewelry can be used to alleviate pain, stress and tension—all while sparkling fabulously against the neck, wrist, and hands. And celebrities can’t get enough of Energetix’s visual appeal and physical benefits: Allergy-free, shower-friendly Energetix has recently appeared on red carpets for the Golden Globes and (twice) for the Academy Awards.

“Paris Hilton, Paula Abdul, Oscar-nominee Terrance Howard, and Sharon Stone are just a handful of the celebrities who wear [Energetix] jewelry,” said Cederstrom, who claimed that she initially was skeptical about the jewelry’s physiological benefits. She since has experienced fewer migraines and better circulation from wearing one of the bracelets every day.

The company’s catalog features a host of bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and even dog collars, which, according to Cederstrom, offer the same amount of health benefits for pets as the jewelry does for pet owners. With an assortment of gemstones, beautiful black and white pearl designs and gold/gold-plated bands, Energetix is a pleasure to look at and even more to wear. Visit www.Energetix.tv for more information.

Jennifer Chang of Kumi Kookoon silk product makers was pleased with the response and success of their line of fine quality comforters and designer clothing. The hypoallergenic sheets, gowns, and bedclothes all use raw, hand-stretched silk that is unbelievably soft to the touch.

“Silk is actually the strongest natural fiber, so if you took the same square inch measurement of steel, the steel would break before the silk,” Chang said. “It’s also fire-retardant, so if there’s ever a fire, you can put it out with your silk blanket.”

One of the best features about silk products is that, because it is a natural fiber, the proteins within it are good for both the hair and the skin, said Chang, adding that silk proteins are about the closest to proteins naturally found in human hair and skin. The products—from pillowcases to pjs—come in a variety of colors.

Kumi Kookoon products are also perfect, regardless of the season.
“If you wear it in the winter, it will keep you warm,” said Chang. “However, if you wear it in the summer, it will keep you cool.”

Desperate Housewives stars Teri Hatcher and Eva Longoria are fans of Kumi’s wares, as well as Oscar winners Adrian Brody and Halle Berry—all without any publicity.

“We’re all word-of-mouth—we don’t do any advertising,” said Chang. “I would say the quality speaks for itself.”

It certainly does. Visit www.kumikookoon.com for its online catalog.

When it comes to the high-end palate, you can’t get any better than Scott Briggs’ Studio Bakery. Perfectly positioned across from the Mojito Empire Inc. booth (where they served a steady queue of thirsty and curious guests with a delicious spin on the spirited favorite), Studio Bakery provided a fantastic assortment of cookies, only one of its specialties. The pastry designing company is featured in both Costco and Gelson’s supermarkets. For the Diamond Lounge, Briggs displayed a variety of fruit- and cream-filled, soft and flaky delicacies, which, unlike most packaged baked goods, are moist and chewy. And Studio Bakery’s talent is not going unnoticed in the Hollywood community, either.

Fans of the company include Beverly D’Angelo and a host of others who were lucky enough to snag a sample package, which included a selection of cream cheese- and strawberry-filled cookies.

Lamar Lindsay doesn’t do skin care. He doesn’t do fine linen. He doesn’t even do specialty baked goods. But he certainly does know quality fashion. The 20-something designer enlivens the men’s division of Snac, the “color blind clothing line” from artist/entertainer Macy Gray. T-shirts, jeans, jackets and the like are a staple of the cutting-edge style, with a nod toward urban but a definite grasp of the current trend in commercial, high-end fashion.

“We’re just marrying the two worlds,” said Diane, the account manager for Snac and the larger Macy Gray clothing line. “Right now, we’re selling to Scoop in New York, Fred Segal in Los Angeles, Hard Rock hotels . . . they’re starting a whole new retail in their stores which feature designs and high-end fashion from artists [and entertainers].”

Certainly a designer who will catch the eyes of everyone from Tinseltown to Broadway is Amanda, the creator of Phoenix, Arizona, based Ting Bling, a custom-adornment company that’s been featured on Fox News (among other national media forums) and creates unique, exemplary crystal work for cell phones, shoes, candles, clothing and even iPods!
“I can customize any wireless accessory that you want. You just send your item to me and I’ll get it done and FedEx it back to you—all over the world,” said Amanda.

Angela Bassett, Sasha Cohen, Paris Hilton, Kevin Nealon, Daryl Hannah and other celebrities have taken a liking to Ting Bling-erie, which can be found online at TingBling.com. The Hardware Collection immediately grabs your attention, with its use of bolts, nuts, and screws to fashion some of the most stunning jewelry and accessories. There’s also a velvet slipper collection, belts, men’s and women’s rings, flip-flop decoration, chocolate candles, vases, and chandeliers made out of actual tiaras. Amanda still believes in the hands-on method to designing, creating, and applying the decorations, as well as distributing them, herself. And, best of all, no two are alike.

“Everything is custom. It’s 100-percent original, so if you see these somewhere, you’ll never see them recreated,” Amanda said. “You may see something similar, but I never create the same design twice. And it’s just me; I don’t have a sweatshop or anything like that.”

Strangely enough, it was an innocuous child’s toy that introduced Amanda to the world of crystal work and jewelry.

“It was a Bedazzler that my parents got me when I was 16, and I was Beddazling everything—you know, lampshades, clothes,” Amanda said. “And then I moved into the whole crystal thing, I kind of graduated with it. I should really thank the Bedazzler people because it kind of launched me.”

Fileena Bahris is one who can appreciate the art of fine jewelry. A native of San Francisco who since has moved to Maui, Hawaii, Fileena, as she prefers to be called, has traveled the world, gathering inspiration and researching and working with dolphins and great white sharks.

“I did the official Star Wars charity necklace that we donated to AIDS for South Africa,” said Fileena. “I’ve been designing jewelry for about 10 years, but I’ve only been doing celebrity jewelry for film and television for about a year and a half. I just fell into it. I call it ‘very lucky.'”

With a nod toward her experience with marine life, Fileena’s most popular pieces use a great deal of coral designs. The Shooting Star collection features rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and Tahitian pearls. Tanzanite is also one of her most in-demand lines. Similar to Ting Bling, Fileena also offers matching items for pets and their owners. To view some of this amazing work, visit Fileena.com.

After a dizzying spin around this room, Agenda headed over to the next lounge, where even more vendors were sporting some innovative products that are sure to take the fashion world by storm (and unexpected booth by Biotene oral care products, which displayed a variety of mouthwashes, toothpastes and gum for adults, children, and yes, even pets.).

DermaNew Professional Skincare Collection will invigorate the spa world this July with a complete microdermabrasion system that refreshes and exfoliates for perfect skin health. Featured in magazines such as In Style, Cosmopolitan, Allure, and Stuff, DermaNew’s home microdermabrasion system provides a way to keep your skin enriched, smooth, and beaming without having to make constant visits to a salon. “You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars getting these spa treatments all the time,” said Lisa, a representative. “The CEOs were both working in the spa called the Dean Rhoades Salon and a lot of the clients were saying, ‘I love these results you’re giving me. Is there a way I can maintain it?’ And so they started developing this microdermabrasion crème, followed by creating the applicator.

“Matthew McConaughey was using the product because his (then) girlfriend Penelope [Cruz] was using it, and he kept taking it from her. Finally he called the company and said, ‘I need my own.’ And so we hand delivered it to him. A couple weeks later we were in People magazine because his skin looked so good.”

The company has won several America’s Best Beauty Industry Efforts awards for its revolutionary patented skin care system that has allowed clients to achieve the same beautiful skin in the comfort of their homes —and without excessive spending. To get more information or to order DermaNew products, which also include cleansers, exfoliating crèmes, and moisturizers, visit DermaNew.com.

Industry makeup artist Veronica Lenz from Beauty Blender was just as noticeable as the product she represented and created with her associate and fellow makeup artist Rayanne Silva. With an eye-catching purple bob and flawless skin, she was the perfect advertisement for a makeup applicator that will soon trump the current offerings.

“Beauty Blender is a cosmetic applicator that is the first one designed that’s three dimensional without any edges,” Lenz said. “It helps put on a smooth layer, gives a nice, air-brushed finish. So it helps the average woman get a professional finish.”

After cutting the edges off traditional makeup sponges, Lenz and Silva realized the potential of creating an applicator that was already rounded, providing better control and coverage. The light pink egg-shaped sponge is great for applying any brand of cream, liquid or powder foundations and blushes from Armani to Cover Girl. Eye shadows and finishing powders are also a breeze with the BB, which can be reused with a simple washing with its included soy-based cleanser, Blender Cleanser. Plus, there’s a benefit to throwing away your brushes and flat sponge applicators and switching to Beauty Blender.

“You know, she’s not going to last forever—it depends on how much you use her and everything,” Lenz said. “Once she’s flat and she doesn’t spring back as much anymore, send it back to us at the Blender Center Program and we recycle her into carpet fiber. So we take care of it from the cradle to the grave.”

Beauty Blender, which launches this year, will appear in Victoria’s Secret catalogs and is available online at BeautyBlender.net.

Perhaps one of the prettiest displays was that of Xtreme Lashes. Not your ordinary extensions, Xtreme offered individual lashes that required a three-hour application period. However, the waiting would be worth it—the look lasts for months!

The lashes come in a variety of colors, from simple black to black with purple, blue, red and white highlights, just to name a few.

“It’s literally like—it feels more weightless than mascara because it’s applied hair by hair,” said Norma, the training director. The lashes are custom-made and available to licensed cosmetologists across the country. For additional information or to get a glimpse of these gorgeous lashes, visit XtremeLashes.com

Darren was perhaps the most enthusiastic representative there, having prepared Blu for an official launch this year. Blu is a retail spa company with enticing beauty products (for both men and women) that, at the time of the Diamond Lounge, were not yet available in the United States. The items have established wide popularity through Internet sales and across the United Kingdom. From spray-on rosewater toner to anti-shine daily cream, the products they offer will find an anticipatory audience in Hollywood.

“It’s about beauty from the inside out,” Darren said about their merchandise, pointing out a natural fruit drink with antioxidants, which, with just one shot of juice per day, can deliver healthy skin. The assortment of day creams, facial masks, and gentle cleansers was enormous (requiring the entire back wall for the display), and the crowd couldn’t help but notice the wonderful but subtle aroma of the items. The company even developed a special lip gloss for the Oscars, with only 200 made.

The matting cream was especially nice, and well suited for the Hollywood crowd. Applied under or over makeup, it continuously absorbs oil throughout the evening, keeping the face shine-free but nonetheless radiant. Also available is an inexpensive skin care system called Anatomicals, whose slogan is “We only want you for your body.” It offers all-natural cleansers and creams for acne treatment, anti-aging, and sun protection. (It also has a hilarious statement on the bottle––in lieu of ‘how to use’ directions–––but you’ll have to order one to see!) Giving Good Head is a shampoo under the Anatomicals line, just so you get the idea. Visit Blu-Shops.co.uk for more information.

And finally, Dallas-based Christi Harris Products displayed a variety of items for both the body and home. From skin treatment to hair products to professional makeup to anti-aging to home products, CHP provides a comprehensive one-stop shop for beauty and beautiful living. President and CEO Harris, whose son Hunter manages the business side, decided to take a different approach for her Diamond Lounge booth.

“Well, at first we were going to showcase our makeup and cosmetic lines, but with all the vendors here doing that, we wanted to stand out a little bit more,” Christi said. “We are here to do hair for the celebrities tonight, and about 25 will be using our gel for the red carpet.”

Anti-aging and hair care products were the main items that the Hunters chose to display, as well as a linen spray that was absolutely fantastic while not overpowering. Her Volumizing Gel with its pleasant fragrance and amazing uplifting qualities is already making many celebrities happy. The gel is currently offered with a seven-piece hair treatment kit available at Victoria’s Secret and Nordstrom.

Experience has paid off for Christi, who also does national beauty seminars that offer tips for those who want to look better and for those who make the stars look stellar. For more than 30 years, she has been sharing her expertise and perfecting her professional-grade cosmetics throughout the United States. Her hair care line has been featured on television, including E! Entertainment Television, Inside Edition, and the 2005 International Emmy Awards and the 2006 Academy Awards official gift bags. For additional information about the CHP lines or to find locations to purchase, please visit ChristiHarris.com.

Well, that was a quick wrap-up of the 2006 Academy Awards Diamond Lounge Retreat that Agenda felt privileged to cover. While we profiled some standout vendors, listed below are others that kept the party moving, the celebrities happy, and are sure to make a mark this year on the fashion scene:

Mojito Island, “World’s Finest Mojito Mix”: Non-alcoholic flavored mixes available in regular and Blackberry. MojitoIsland.com (This url no longer belongs to this company).

Lucy B. Cosmetics, “The natural alchemy of beauty and healing”: All-natural, anti-bacterial, hypoallergenic beauty products made from fruit, flower, and herbal extracts. LucyBCosmetics.com.

Orientalism Los Angeles, “Furniture, Lighting & Accessories” provided the beautiful throw rugs, couches and sculptures featured at the vendors’ booths. OrientalismDeco.com (This url has moved.)

By Natalie Martin