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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Mayra Hermosillo | The Gringo Hunters Season 1. (Watch in HD)

Mayra Hermosillo discusses her role as Gloria Carbajal in Netflix's The Gringo Hunters (Los Gringo Hunters), including exploring her trust in men and past as a young mother, sexism faced on the police force, and the close bond shared by the characters of the show's International Liaison Unit, both on and off-screen.

She also chats about falling in love with creating art, her time playing Enedina Arellano Félix in Narcos: Mexico, and the stories behind her projects as a writer/director, including her debut feature film, Vanilla (Vainilla).

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Eddie Lam on generating content and creating community in the Vancouver music scene

One doesn't often meet someone as engrained in the Vancouver music scene as Eddie Lam. The multi-hyphenate has taken on a multitude of roles over the years: instrumentalist, singer, writer, composer, podcast host, booking agent, event planner and host, mentor, and content creator. Meanwhile, Lam has continued to champion and uplift local artists, building and growing a community that has struggled for opportunities and chances to network.

His lengthy résumé and experience are impressive, but it is his clear drive to create and connect with others that is a cut above the rest. We spoke with Lam to discuss his recent endeavors, from organizing and watching other musicians thrive at open mic and live events, to creating his own content on social media during the pandemic, hosting The Eddie Lam Show, and the music of his all-Asian rock band, Cry of Silence.

Can you share a summary of your musical training and background, and how/when that spark started for you?

My sisters took piano lessons when we were in elementary school. When I attended their recitals, I thought to myself that it looked like a lot of fun and it’s something I wanted to try. I asked my parents if I could take piano lessons, they said “yes”. I also took other music lessons including violin for a few years and did high school band playing clarinet. During college, I took singing lessons with local Vancouver Filipino legend Salve Dayao. Guitar, bass, and drums were all self-taught.

Who were early musical inspirations for you?

For piano, most of my inspirations came from Elton John and Meatloaf’s music. But for rock, my songwriting styles were influenced by Alice in Chains, Blink-182, Nirvana, Green Day, and Three Days Grace. My interest in wanting to start playing in rock bands started when I followed my musician friends who used to be in an independent pop punk group. My close buds and I attended almost every show we could for the sake of enjoyment while observing the hard work that goes behind the scenes. Another factor that helped my interest in playing in a band came from watching Wayne’s World, seeing Tia Carrere’s character “Cassandra” play with a wild rock band.

You wear a lot of hats in the music industry, notably for the acts that you’re a part of. Did you always have an interest in being involved in different, more business-focused, aspects such as booking, management, and mentoring other artists?

I’ve always had an interest in doing the networking side of things to meet different kinds of people, and it leads to many opportunities including getting to play live shows (ex. bookings for private parties, corporate events, etc.) and meeting people with other helpful, amazing talent (ex. videographers, photographers, graphic artists, audio engineers, etc.). However, organizing shows has been the most fun-filled and rewarding experience for me since the mid 2010’s. Whether it’d be hosting live band karaoke, piano karaoke, a D.I.Y show for my band Cry of Silence, or an intimate acoustic showcase, I had so much fun all thanks to the combination of solid planning and execution behind the scenes.

Mentoring other artists has been an enjoyable experience seeing the growth of their songs come to life through both live performances and studio recording. I try my best to provide honest, constructive feedback while still providing a positive, non-intimidating environment for the musicians who are new to their artistic journey.

How fulfilling have these activities been for you?

It’s incredibly rewarding, especially on the mentoring side of things. Watching other musicians grow in various ways brings such a heart-warming feeling. When they let me know that the things they learn from me helped them so much, it makes my day. I constantly remind them that if they ever have any questions or need my support in any way, the door’s always open.

For emerging musicians and artists in the creative industry, what tips do you have for those wanting to make music/content creation their full-time career? How should one start being involved in their communities and making connections?

For online content creation, do not overthink; just post! You can look at the audience response, see what worked and then brainstorm how you can improve on your next set of content moving forward. In general for us musicians, never ever treat other fellow artists like they’re a threat or a competitor. We are all on the same journey together, so it’s better to have a community of like-minded musicians who support each other.

How did the pandemic, beginning in the spring of 2020, affect you and your content as a musician? How did you adapt and pivot early on, while taking care of your own wellbeing?

The 2020 pandemic was a difficult time for obvious reasons. However, I was deeply thankful to have my wife by my side, we used that time to take good care of each other. We were also fortunate that we could still chat with our friends and family members doing video calls for a while, despite it not being the same as in-person gatherings. Though we couldn’t do any musical gigs, I had to adapt learning how to use online streaming platforms so people can still watch me play music. With other apps like TikTok and Instagram, I’ve spent a lot of time creating all kinds of videos, providing both educational and entertaining content. Thanks to the positive response I received, it motivated me to make more videos knowing it’s making someone’s day.

It can be difficult to keep up with trends on social media like TikTok and Instagram. How do you stay inspired to generate and film new content?

With the amount of positive and constructive feedback I received, I was so inspired to post content on an almost-daily basis. I give thanks to the community for giving me a variety of ideas including song ideas to teach or which tunes I should play on piano.

Today, you host and produce a variety of events including ‘Piano Karaoke’ and ‘Lam Jam Open Mic.’ Tell us the motivation behind creating these music and community-centered events?

Piano Karaoke was originally a spin-off of our live band karaoke event 'Rockaoke', but it grew to be its own amazing night of entertainment since 2016. The idea came to me after observing dueling pianos in America where usually the pianist gets into a huge crowd participation of sing-a-longs. However, I had the idea to combine that concept with Rockaoke, leading to Piano Karaoke night where the singers from the audience are the main stars of the show (big shout out to current venue La Fabrique St. George for allowing me to host Piano Karaoke at their fine establishment).

Lam Jam Open Mic was something that I felt was long overdue to become a thing but I’m so proud for it to be one of my newest events to happen. Back in 2023, I’ve made the decision to make a triumphant return to the open mic circle after Covid restrictions have ended. But I noticed one main thing has changed…we had an explosion of brand new talent who were hungry to play! Although most of my open mic friends pre-Covid have moved on elsewhere (or even moved out of town), I was blessed to be with a roster of these incredibly talented rising stars, and they’re also extremely down to earth.

Fast forward to June 2024, I knew it was time for me to finally host my own open mic (despite never hosting one in my life). Being the outside-the-box person that I am, I wanted to have it at a unique location, so I spoke to the owners of learning centre Pleasant Mountain Music to see if we could use their space to host open mic, they immediate said “yes” and the rest is history. Hosting events like Piano Karaoke, Live Band Karaoke, and the Lam Jam Open Mic feels incredibly rewarding because of the community we’ve created. My goal is to always provide a welcoming environment where we have a great time and people from all walks of life network and empower one another. The most fun part is witnessing my musician friends from the past (aka the legends) and musician friends today come together and have a blast.

What can you share about the work behind the scenes to bring these events to life? What challenges have you faced and overcome?

Planning is the biggest part of it. First thing I do is come up with what the format of the event is, and it has to be something that can be easily explained to anyone to gain their interest right away. I would even ask friends in the music community about the ideas I brainstorm. It was helpful when they give me constructive feedback including some other ideas that bring so much to the table. Next step is finding a venue that I feel would be a great fit and get that booked right away. From there, you plan everything else around it.

How have you seen the Vancouver music scene change/grow since you began connecting with musicians locally?

I’ll share my pros and cons from personal experiences and observations. For pros, I’m always fascinated by the amount of talented people we have from all genres and demographic. There’s the beauty of the growth of our music community, especially when collaborations start happening. I’ve seen some solid venues and community events popping up to support local talent. However, this leads to the only con I need to point out (and it’s no surprise in the Lower Mainland)…venues are constantly shutting down, especially the ones that were well-loved for generations.

The biggest kick to the gut was Café Deux Soleils on Commercial Drive when they announced they were closing their doors in 2022. It was considered THE art hub for that part of town, and that was where I made most of my circle of friends from the local music scene from their legendary open mics. It was also the former home of my Piano Karaoke Night. The other one that I was sad to see go away was The Railway as it was one of the most legendary venues in downtown. The list goes on and on, but despite these constant closures (and for it being unfortunately quite the norm in the Lower Mainland), I truly hope the owners of existing music venues and organizers can learn from the concerning history so that we can brainstorm ways to have longevity in supporting our scene and overall do a solid job.

Who are some Vancouver artists on your radar and why would you recommend their music?

I want to give a shout out to the new Vancouver musician friends I made specifically post-Covid who I’ve done shows and/or hung out with at open mic nights including (in no particular order): Grade School, Atlin Morgan, Britney Cheng, Sarah Tolle, Jason Kealy (aka The Small Lebowski), Jordana Delgado, Charlotte LeGuy, Sean from the Yukon, Annika Catharina, Elyssa (aka The Acoustic Eel), Kira (aka YNES), Diego Manssur, Dean Michael Smith, Chris King and Sarah Cawston from Pleasant Mountain Music school, Dani Black, Drew Storey, Nippleback, Jamie (aka By the Lakeshore), Samson Wai, Elliot Paul, Daniel Sinclair, Sarah Ott, Whisper of Salvation, Dysphoria (a young metal band I’m currently mentoring), Zoe Twist, Blair (aka Orfae), Kianna (aka Neverrekia), Josh (aka Jodi Sharl), David Doyle, Yafania, Connor Nelson, Shane Terry, violinist Dana Wenzel, Himani, Vivian (aka Tanuki), CJ Li, and much more.

All these folks I’ve mentioned come from a wide variety of genres, but what they all have in common is they bring a few key things to the table that I hope other artists can learn; those key factors are persistence, relatability, and growth. If there’s anyone I forgot to mention, I heavily apologize.To all my long-time musician friends, you know who you are! I love each and every one of you, and I hope your musical journey continues to be a great experience!

You are a guitarist and lead vocalist of the all-Asian rock band, Cry of Silence. What has it meant to be a part of this band over the years, as Asian artists in a genre that’s not widespread for the culture?

I generally hope Cry of Silence inspired our local Asian musician community who’ve followed us over the years. We want to spread that message that whether you wanna do genres like rock, heavy metal, etc. or anything else you desire, go for it! No matter what country you’re from, what language you speak, music is THE universal language. We’re so proud with the shows we organized where people not only come to see us, but also other fantastic local Asian artists who wanted to rock out on stage. You know who you are, thank you very much for being a part of such an awesome community we’ve built together!

In 2021, the band released “Don’t Want You Near,” as well as an acoustic version featuring Kellin Quinn of Sleeping with Sirens. How did this collaboration come to fruition, and how was it to have him on a version of your song?

I was fortunate to meet Kellin through my friends from Chase Your Words (who have also worked with Kellin a long while back). Sleeping With Sirens came to Vancouver in 2018 and I had the absolute pleasure chatting with him and the rest of the band. Since then we kept in touch on social media. During the Covid pandemic, Kellin opened the doors allowing independent artists to hire him for a feature. I was ecstatic that he was available and willing to put his verse on the acoustic version of “Don’t Want You Near”. Words can’t describe the amazing feeling hearing Kellin’s voice on a song we wrote. It’s such an honour to have him be in our song, we are forever grateful.

You had a long break in-between official releases. Can you tell us about this period and allowing yourselves that time away before reuniting to create new material?

During the breaks in between the releases of our Cry of Silence tracks in the early 2020’s, I dedicated that time to a lot of planning, specifically for getting back into live shows. This was during the period when live music restrictions started to slowly lift in mid-2021. This included playing with the Eddie Lam All-Star Band at various shows including Victory Square, acoustic performances with The Naturals at Cambie Village, and much more. 2022 was then THE year where live music was in full function again, so that was the year when Piano Karaoke Night returned, the Eddie Lam All-Star Band and the Naturals returned to playing local festivals including Hats Off Day, Bowen Island Dock Dance, and much more. We were thankful that Cry of Silence were still able to release music online, but it wasn’t until late 2024 when we were able to finally step out of the digital realm and return to the live stage rocking out again.

Tell us about the story behind Cry of Silence’s new song, “Lying Stars,” because we know it was born out of an unfortunate experience you had last year with a former friend. How did the hurt and disappointment motivate you and the band?

It was one of the most heartbreaking experiences that myself, the band, and the local scene faced. Without getting too much into it, this person was once an active musician, then in late fall of 2024, he made a YouTube video slandering Cry of Silence. But that’s not all…he also made videos slandering other bands and artists in the Vancouver scene. We all expressed our disgust directly as we all knew his videos were done in such poor taste. This led to his channel eventually being taken down. Our song “Lying Stars” is loosely based on that, but it is also in general based on high profile influencers who abuse their power. This whole experience motivated us to want to lead a positive example to our followers, showing them why treating other artists with respect leaves a better impact. Community is greater than clout.

Can you share some insight into your songwriting process? Do you like to collaborate with others?

My bandmates from Cry of Silence and I come up with instrumentation first before we make the melody. Even if we don’t have any lyrics yet, we just make up some phrases just to get a guideline. This helps us ease into the process of writing official lyrics.

I love collaborating with other people who write some solid songs. One example was my friend Sarah Tolle, who is also an incredible musician in Vancouver. We recently launched her new song “Watch Me”, which features yours truly playing piano. I had so much fun coming up with the piano parts, we decided to go for a somewhat Broadway musical route. After listening to the final product, I was happy with how it turned out.

Another collaborative project which is one of my favourites so far is doing background music for a soon-to-be-released short film Bumbershoot. It’s in the style of black and white comedy paying homage to those old time films including Charlie Chaplin. We went for the comedic background music where it matches the mood of the scene. I grew up watching Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, Disney, Charlie Chaplin, Mr. Bean, and more, so those iconic shows helped me come up with some creative melodies and musical sound effects for each scene to compliment the storyline.

You are a frequent live performer at concerts, community and charity events, private parties, and even at local restaurants! Do the different settings and audiences impact how you prepare for a gig, including in set list?

Yes, everything all comes down to not just the technical preparation (audio gear, instrument accessories, etc.) but it also comes down to the content I need to prepare based on audience members present and the atmosphere of the venue. They weren’t kidding when they say it’s important to read the room as this helps us know our demographic before we decide what suitable songs to play to compliment the get-together.

Have you gotten more comfortable shifting between venues and instruments (ie. solely piano as opposed to a live band performance with Cry of Silence) in recent years?

It was an adjustment initially, but it’s been a fantastic learning experience. Certain solo piano gigs are quite convenient as the venues I play at have a piano all ready to go. Yet at the same time, when it comes to the live band set ups, it may be lot of physical and mental work; but in the end, it’s worth it when everything you plan comes together as long as we work together as a solid team.

You host a podcast, The Eddie Lam Show. How has it been for you creating content in this space and being the one to generate questions and drive a conversation with your guests?

The Eddie Lam Show focuses on both musicians and online content creators. It’s been such an enjoyment getting to know my guests by asking not only questions about their projects, but also about other things they like. This includes their favourite artists, movies, YouTubers, food, hobbies, hang out spots, other interesting people in their lives, and much more.

As a podcast host, can you share some tips into your preparation process?

I’ll take interviewing musicians who are songwriters as a specific example. I highly advise taking the time to listen to not only their music but also read or listen to their lyrics. I also read the credits of their music including who their producers are and their guest musicians that were featured on there. I even pay attention to other details including ongoing patterns in their catalog, their art covers, the little noticeable details in their music videos…anything that shows that you’ve been studying their material to acknowledge all the hard work that goes behind everything they do.

What are your plans and focus for the rest of 2025?

The plans are to keep working on new Cry of Silence songs, consistently doing both private and public gigs, and attending open mic nights to keep connecting with current and new members of the community. And of course, being the planner that I am, I aim to plan for shows in 2026!

Our signature question – if you could be any ice cream flavour, which would you be and why?

Neapolitan ice cream. With me not only being multi-instrumental but also wearing many hats in the music scene, I’m all about the variety.

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For more information on Eddie Lam and his upcoming appearances, visit the links below.

Eddie Lam Music - Official Website

eddielammusic - Instagram

eddielammusic - TikTok

Eddie Lam Music - Facebook

eddielammusic - Linktree

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with José María Yazpik | The Gringo Hunters Season 1. (Watch in HD)

José María Yazpik discusses his role as Joaquin Meyer-Rodríguez in Netflix's The Gringo Hunters (Los Gringo Hunters), including shaping his ambitions as a businessman with New Tijuana, the impact of losing his daughter, his intentions to help the less privileged, and the season's climactic end.

He also chats about working opposite Sebastian Roché and real-life partner, Johanna Murillo, his experience creating the crime-comedy Polvo, and portraying drug lord Amado Carrillo Fuentes in Narcos: Mexico.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Miku Martineau | Bet Season 1 - Yumeko. (Watch in HD)

Miku Martineau discusses her role as Yumeko Kawamoto in Netflix's Bet, including finding her version of the beloved character, how childhood trauma has affected Yumeko's life and goals, pivotal scenes, and key character relationships. She also chats about the heartwarming fan support received and being proud of her Japanese and Asian heritage as an artist.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Brady Hepner | The Waterfront Season 1. (Watch in HD)

Brady Hepner discusses his role as Diller Hopkins in The Waterfront, including his turbulent relationship with his mother, Bree, longing to be a part of the Buckley family business, key emotional scenes, working with an experienced ensemble cast, and filming in his home state of North Carolina.

He also chats about his passion for fitness, the impact of The Black Phone on his career and personal life, and upcoming leading role as Max Van Helsing in the vampire-horror Abraham's Boys: A Dracula Story.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Rami Khan | Bet Season 1 - Rex. (Watch in HD)

Rami Khan discusses his role as loyal house pet Rex in Netflix's Bet, including creating his emotional connection and attachment to Suki, his signature style and honouring his South Asian heritage in Rex's gala outfit, filming the house pet hunt, and collaborating with the ensemble cast and creative team in season 1.

He also chats about having fun with the Rex/Runa misinformation spread after the show's trailer release, his love for the Cheetah Girls and Bollywood, developing his own stories, and his sketch comedy troupe, Potato Potato.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Dorian Giordano | Bet Season 1 - Chad. (Watch in HD)

Dorian Giordano discusses his role as Chad in Netflix's Bet, including developing his character and defining traits, relationships with Blake and the student council, viewer response, and filming key scenes in the Kakegurui Club and during the house pet hunt. He also chats about his experiences as a BMX rider and the transition to acting, personal connection to neurodiversity, and favourite anime.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Rebecca Ablack | Fear Street: Prom Queen. (Watch in HD)

Rebecca Ablack discusses her role as Debbie Winters in Netflix's Fear Street: Prom Queen, including shaping the character's demeanor and long-term friendship with Wolfpack leader Tiffany, being styled for the 80's, and safety and care in filming death scenes. She also chats about her rich performing background and theatre collective, Small Friend Tall Friend, Indo-Guyanese heritage, and acting in projects One Day and Ginny & Georgia.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Ilan O'Driscoll | Fear Street: Prom Queen. (Watch in HD)

Ilan O'Driscoll discusses her role as Linda Harper in Netflix's Fear Street: Prom Queen, including shaping the character's personality traits and goals, the Wolfpack's prom queen entrance, creating their 1988 aesthetic, and filming with prosthetics in her pivotal scenes. She also chats about her theatre background, being inspired by her artistic family, and her gaming channel with sister Anwen O'Driscoll, Seestors.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Ryan Rosery | Fear Street: Prom Queen. (Watch in HD)

Ryan Rosery discusses his role as Chad in Netflix's Fear Street: Prom Queen, including shaping the character's physical and personality traits, memories from set, and working with director Matt Palmer and the ensemble cast. He also chats about the dedicated fan support for the franchise, what drives him as an artist, and being inspired by Donald Glover and Miles Morales.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Laura Afelskie | Bet Season 1 - Runa. (Watch in HD)

Laura Afelskie discusses her role as Runa in Netflix's Bet, including the elements drawn from her anime counterpart, the neutral role she plays for student council, and her being a loan shark, with a human beaver "employee," at the school. She also chats about her favourite onesie worn, the show being graciously led by showrunner Simon Barry and actress Miku Martineau, and darker roles undertaken in Painkiller and the upcoming short film, Burdened.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Anwen O'Driscoll | Bet Season 1 - Riri. (Watch in HD)

Anwen O'Driscoll discusses her role as Riri in Netflix's Bet, including the elements drawn from her Kakegurui counterpart, Ririka, being intentional in her physical expression, and the evolving dynamics shared with Kira and Mary. She also chats about positive collaboration with her cast and creative team, and the importance, and rewarding feeling, of being a part of queer storytelling.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Hunter Cardinal | Bet Season 1 - Michael. (Watch in HD)

Hunter Cardinal discusses his role as Michael in season 1 of Bet, including identifying his character's intentions and values, his relationships with Yumeko, Dori and his father, and filming his core scenes. He also chats about the joy and care in creating the series together, not wanting to imitate the Kakegurui source material, and the early sparks of his arts career.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Clara Alexandrova | Bet Season 1 - Kira. (Watch in HD)

Clara Alexandrova discusses her role as Kira in Bet, including using the character's abusive past to inform life decisions, being inspired by her manga counterpart's stillness and calculating nature, and the complicated interactions shared with Riri and Yumeko in season 1. She also chats about her love of storytelling through art, being a Vancouver local, and making music with her band, LöLä.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Aviva Mongillo | Bet Season 1 - Dori. (Watch in HD)

Aviva Mongillo discusses her role as Dori in season 1 of Bet, including filming her most memorable scenes, having trust in herself and from others in shaping the character, and designing her look in the show. She also chats about the care in balancing the essence of Kakegurui and creating their own story, being vocal about her own mental health journey, and growing and making music as CARYS.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Ayo Solanke | Bet Season 1 - Ryan. (Watch in HD)

Ayo Solanke discusses his role as Ryan in season 1 of Bet, including his growing connection with Yumeko, shaping his past and moral compass, dance choreography, and the implications of the season finale. He also chats about his time filming the horror comedy Clown in a Cornfield and developing his upcoming short film, The Island.

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The Permanent Rain Press Interview with Ryan Sutherland | Bet Season 1 - Suki. (Watch in HD)

Ryan Sutherland discusses season 1 of Bet, including shaping the character of Suki and what defines him, his allegiance to student council president Kira, thoughts towards Yumeko, and key moments filming episodes 6, 7 and 10. He also chats about working with series showrunner Simon Barry, creating content under RYANcomedy, and founding a platform and online store in PinkZen to promote mindfulness and support mental health charities.