Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with T@gged’s Braeden Lemasters

Braeden Lemasters is taking Hollywood by storm: he’s one-third of the ’80s-inspired indie rock band from Los Angeles called Wallows, as well as a talented actor who’s credits, include Flock of Four, House, The Romanoffs, and dozens of others. Currently, he’s blowing audiences away with his Emmy-worthy performance as Trevor on the fan-favorite digital series, T@gged, embodying a character who’s struggling with a lot in his life. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Braeden about T@gged, his character’s development, and what fans can expect from Wallows’ debut album.

PC: There’s a lot of character development for Trevor this season. Was there anything that surprised you, and how early on did you learn where the storyline was heading?
Braeden: That’s a great question. I think what surprised me the most was how smart he is. He knows a lot, but has kept it inside. I loved Hannah’s [writer/director] choice to make him a brainiac in season three. He really helps his friends figure out who Mr. MT and KingCobra are. There’s also an interesting dynamic between Trevor and Brandon this season…they have a past.

PC: Trevor is struggling with a lot. How did you prepare to tackle everything he’s going through?
Braeden: I feel like I related to Trevor a lot more this season than I did before. He’s finally letting his walls come down. I remember talking to Hannah about that. Trevor has a lot on his mind. I had to look at my own life experiences and the times when I didn’t feel right, when I felt a little weird, and I took my anger out on others. I really thought of places in my life where I could relate to him and we went from there.

PC: With so many different facets to Trevor, which was your favorite to explore, and why?
Braeden: That’s a good question. Trevor is very funny; he’s quick-witted in a lot of situations, but he’s also dealing with his drinking problem, and unfortunately on a downward spiral. It was fun to explore that and have Rowan get him out of it. There’s a scene at the end of that episode that’s very emotional. It was definitely a challenge bringing that to life, but I enjoyed it.

PC: You and Trevor have a lot of standout moments this season. Was there one in particular that you were excited for fans to see?
Braeden: It was one of the last scenes of episode 12, where Rowan and I are in the bathroom and I’m having a mental breakdown. I thought that was really well done in terms of how Hannah treated the situation. I was very excited for everyone to see that.

PC: As an actor, how do you prepare for a scene that is so heavy like that?
Braeden: I remember that day really well. I went off on my own, thought about whatever sad things I could think about, and just isolated myself. I didn’t speak to anyone until the scene. Hannah had a little, almost therapy session where we just talked about getting into that mindset. It was a long day, but I wanted it to feel as honest as it could.

PC: Which of Trevor’s relationships was your favorite to explore of this season, and why?
Braeden: I love the relationship between Trevor and Rowan. It’s great to have that brother/sister dynamic. It’s amazing and I love it. But, it was also so much fun working with Lukas, who plays Brandon; he’s so funny. I just love Lukas, so it was fun to explore the relationship between our characters. I do have to say, though, Lulu, who plays Rowan, is also one of my favorite people ever, so those are my top two, for sure!

PC: T@gged tackles the dangers of social media and what you share online. Having been a part of the show, are you more cautious about what you post on your own channels?
Braeden: That’s an interesting question. I’ve never been one to post anything mean, degrading, or just weird. It’s not in my blood. These days, most people are super conscious about what they share, which is great. I’ve always tried to be positive on social media and my approach hasn’t changed. If I see someone having a bad day, I want to be there to let them know it’ll get better. There’s a lot of noise on social media, a lot of negativity, which sucks. I’ve never been able to understand or wrap my head around it, but then I have to remember there are good people, too. That’s how I see social media.

PC: If T@gged is picked up for a fourth season, where would you like to see your character’s storyline go?
Braeden: I would love to see Trevor let all his insecurities and anxieties go away. I want him to start living a good life, being funny instead of mean. I’d also like to see him continue down the road that he’s already on, building his dynamics with Rowan and Brandon. I think it’d be fun if Trevor ended up becoming the comic relief in T@gged.

PC: Besides T@gged, you’re also in a band called Wallows. What can you tell us about your upcoming album? What can fans expect?
Braeden: We just finished our debut album: recording, packaging, the whole shebang. That’ll be out early next year, which is very exciting—we’ll be kicking off the year pretty strong. Then, we’ll go on tour in April, all around the world. I’m not sure when those dates will be released, but there’s a lot of exciting stuff. In terms of acting, it’s just a bunch of auditioning and random stuff here and there. Right now, it’s mainly music.

PC: When/how did you discover your passion for acting and music?
Braeden: I discovered my passion for music from my dad: he showed me The Beatles when I was nine. That led to me picking up the guitar. I would play all the time; hours on end. Then, once I met Dylan [Minnette], my bandmate, we started writing songs together. Acting came two or three years before music, but they’ve both been in my life ever since.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Braeden: It’s not a guilty pleasure at all, but This Is Us.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Braeden: Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers

PC: Favorite book?
Braeden: All of the A Series of Unfortunate Events books

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Braeden: I haven’t seen too many, but I saw Book of Mormon, which I thought was funny.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Braeden: I love this new artist named ARTHUR. He just put out an album called Woof Woof. It’s one of my favorites. I also love One Direction. I don’t know if people know that. They’re not even a guilty pleasure. I know every word to “Up All Night” and “Take Me Home”.

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Braeden: Either Breaking Bad or Master of None

PC: Hidden talent?
Braeden: I’m a decent golfer, and three-point shooter.

Make sure to follow Braeden on Twitter and Instagram, and binge-watch all three seasons of T@gged on Hulu today!

Photo Credit: Awesomeness