On March 1, 2024,  the “Vardavar!” episode of Mickey Mouse Funhouse went live, heralding the  first instance of Armenian cultural representation in Disney programming and mainstream children’s television media at large. Kathleen Sarnelli Kapukchyan, a Staff Writer for the show, was the creative force responsible for bringing this vision to the television screen, and I got to ask her a few questions about her process as a writer and the deeper implications of media representation in regards to cultural literacy for children. Read on to learn more about how Kathleen approaches her craft as a writer and how the celebrated “Vardavar!” episode came to fruition. 

Last summer, at the Wende Museum in Culver City, CA, I stumbled upon an incredibly vibrant, multi-layered work by Molly Surazhsky, entitled Dermokratizatsiya (Shitocracy). I would come to learn that this was Surazhsky’s very first exhibit, and was lucky enough to converse with her on some of the many important topics touched upon by her work. Born in Queens, New York to immigrant parents that brought her up in a very Soviet tradition, Surazhsky fervidly explores history, cultural identity, and the lasting implications of the USSR’s collapse through her artistic work. Read on for our wonderful discussion about her first museum exhibit, the process behind creating Dermokratizatsiya, and Molly’s understanding of her own cultural identity through her continuous artistic and personal studies.

Meet Nydya Mora, a native Angeleno who documents the murals and shrines of the Virgen de Guadalupe all over Los Angeles and publishes them on her Instagram page, Virgens de Los Angeles. Read on for our discussion on Nydya’s heritage which inspired this project, the pride she has for her home city, and the urgent need to combat cultural erasure amid gentrification, particularly in the Latinx communities of L.A.

Americans have a lot of ideas about not only themselves, but the rest of the world, too. Specifically, Americans have a lot of ideas about Russians. Of course, there is no one answer to what constitutes Russia and Russianness, and it is this very notion that is explored by illustrator and designer Dav Yendler in his recent clickbook, “Other Russia.” Read on to learn about this incredibly fascinating work and our discussion of history, politics, the diasporan experience, and Dav’s artistic process!

With his impressive roster of short films and music videos, including his recent debut at several global film festivals, filmmaker Hayk Matevosyan is creating waves in the cinematographic world. Read on to learn about his inspiring journey from a young dreamer during the Nagorno-Karabakh War to an accomplished, talented director and filmmaker pioneering his way through the world of cinema.

Moonrise's first-ever artist feature showcases the talents and works of Alisha Sofia, an Armenian-American Angeleno who paints, illustrates, and animates beautiful scenes and figures by incorporating aspects of both nature and culture. Read on to hear her discuss her hyphenated identity, Southern Californian succulents, and art mediums.

Moonrise Magazine spoke to one of our favorite artists, Marina Hovhannisyan, on her recently released EP, entitled A Living Story, which features five Armenian folk songs, including Sayat-Nova’s <<Յիս Մե Ղարիբ Բուլբուլի Պես>> (“Foreign Nightingale”) and Komitas’ <<Ալագյազ Աչերդ>> (“Your Prominent Eyes”). Building on the artist’s previous work, A Living Story feels more refined, reflecting the songstress’ growing contributions to the study and conservation of Armenian folk music. The EP presents traditional folk compilations in a new and unique light, perhaps with a stronger commitment to their historical elements, culminating in an elevated, almost restorative, listening experience.

Back in early 2020, we had the pleasure of speaking to Nara Avakian about their creative process as an instrumentalist, their journey as a musician, and all of the potential ideas in store for the future. One of those ideas came to fruition with the recent release of Pigeons, an LP embodying Nara’s first time singing along to their carefully-mastered instrumentals! The album, while serving as a genuine continuation of the musician’s prior body of work, also offers a wholly new sound, providing for a refreshing dynamic of consistency and innovation. Read on to learn more about how Nara’s Room created Pigeons and the process of transitioning from an instrumentalist to a singer-songwriter.

We are proud to exclusively premiere the new music video by post-pop duo, Ohtwo, for their song, “…And Then Run.” The music video, shot and directed in part by Los Angeles street photographer Matthew Grant Anson, features urban landscapes in greyscale, with orange and red colors highlighted throughout. Read on to hear about how they conceived of this nostalgic, somber mood for the song, and be sure to watch the new video!