Psybient DJ/Producer, Bluetech, has an uncanny way of chiming into the unknown to reach into the soul which translates into his otherworldly musical delivery. Ahead of his upcoming show in Detroit at Deluxx Fluxx on Thursday, October 3rd, I caught up with Bluetech to discuss being proactive about anxiety, the upcoming release of ‘Holotrope’, the importance of meditation and more.
Congrats on the upcoming release of ‘Holotrope’. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the new album.
Thank you! ‘Holotrope’ is a travelogue of sorts, a document of a self moving into more connected states of being, dissolving a bit of the control of the ego consciousness into more expanded awareness. That all sounds a bit obtuse, but there is a definite repeatable series of experiences when you begin to look on the inside for answers, whether that’s through meditation or contemplative practice, or other modalities for exploring the inner nature. Holotrope is a map of that journey.
Though a broad question, what have you learned about yourself and what skills have you developed through working in the music industry.
I’ve learned how to sleep on planes, no matter what! Sometimes I’m up for the next city on tour after only a few hours at the hotel, so putting myself into nap zone on the plane becomes an essential skill.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
I pretty regularly struggle with anxiety, which is one of the reasons I’ve been exploring meditation and quiet time just looking at my own thoughts to see if I can make some peace with all of that. I have lots of challenging thoughts, I think everyone does! The “practice” is learning to not identify with them as definitions of who you are as a person. Im learning to recognize when my anxiety pops up, and treat it like a little gremlin buddy. Like “Hey anxiety, I’ve got some work to do. Heres a lollipop, pull up a chair and color in your book so I can focus ok?” Taking the sting out of it definitely helps, recognizing and honoring that its real, yet not surrendering to self limiting or negating productivity by getting stuck in a loop about it.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
I’m not actually a huge fan of social media. Seems to be more and more studies coming out suggesting that social media and obsession with checking smart devices is contributing greatly to a sense of unease and insecurity. Anxiety and depression seem to be the malaise of the modern age, like our inheritance for all the “convenience” of technology. I definitely use it, and am trying to come to a place of peace with social media, and limit my usage. It’s amazing how many less books I read since facebook, instagram, twitter the like take so many cycles of my awake time. I’m learning how to step away and not feel like I’m missing out.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
I feel pretty proud of the fact that I’ve discovered an athletic lifestyle later in my life. A few years ago I was looking at my 40th birthday coming and realizing I was very overweight and not really happy. So I’ve gotten into working out and running, which I love. Just finished my 6th half marathon and 3 more planned for 2020. Not only have I trimmed up, but I have so much more energy and life force flowing through me!
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
Meditate. Meditate. Meditate. Whether its a formal sit in the hotel room and really getting a proper session in, or just counting my breaths to 10 repeatedly while standing in line for security at the airport. Even 5 minutes is enough to quiet the racing thoughts and let go of _whatever_ is going on for me, and just have a moment of peace and remembering the stillness. I don’t mean to evangelize, but meditation is really the only thing I’ve found in my life that brings some peace and awareness and allows me to deal with the stress of being on the road. And I’m like a baby beginner newbie meditator, and yet still…. It works.
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.
I won’t claim to have any special mystical knowledge or inherited wisdom, though I have learned that being aware of and open to the unexpected brings a particular opportunity for magic. Sometimes its a conversation with the lady making my coffee, or a fan who reminds me how powerful music can be, or a late night bus ride to the next city with a gorgeous landscape passing away. Another reason to disconnect from the phone, there is such wonder and awe available in every moment if we just slow down and notice.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
California Rockers, Joyous Wolf, are steadily rising and making a name for themselves while ensuring to remain grounded along the way. Through the success of ‘Place in Time’, the guys have been able to tour with some of the greats and are gearing up to join Deep Purple on a North American run. I caught up with Lead Vocalist, Nick Reese, to discuss finding balance in the digital age, words of wisdom from Myles Kennedy, keeping your ego in check on the road and more.
Congrats on the release of ‘Place in Time’. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the EP.
Lyrically it all sort of fell together into a theme of writing about my generation and the current one coming up. The way the norm has changed so drastically so quickly and how that effects young people coming up. It’s my interpretation of that.
What have you learned about yourself and what skills have you developed through bringing Joyous Wolf to life back in 2014.
That’s a long list of things… The music business is definitely a hurricane and through all of our travels we’ve really have adapted to just about any challenge thrown our way. You name it we’ve probably experienced it.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
Every day is a development, a chance to build on your flaws. I’ve spent a great deal of time and energy working on mine. The one I battle with the most is always feeling responsible for any issue that happens around me. I take it personally and want nothing more than to fix it. I’m learning to overcome that.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
Like anything else there are pros and cons to social media. It’s been said over and over that these things are meant to bring us together, but they can drive us further apart. My only idea to counter this, is how I would go about countering any addiction, by living in moderation. Finding balance in life in all forms. If you fall too far to one side, you will fall over.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
I take pride in my writing. I’m always penning something, whether it’s a few words or an essay worth it helps me sort out my thoughts. I take pride in being physically fit because it has been a matter of mastering parts of my self discipline. I take pride in all of the wonderful friendships I have made these last four years, unforgettable human kindness and binding community. At the end of the day, all I ever wanted was a lot of real friends. I was a lonely kid so that really does bring me happiness.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
I’m definitely self deprecating to an extent I try my hardest to keep my ego in check and I always remind myself of every challenge and obstacle that I cleared along the way. I remember all of the people who have helped me and I work hard to do right by them. On the road I write and performing on stage really helps me sort out my demons. There are bad days, but that’s just life. All about keeping the momentum forward from today to tomorrow.
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.
My personal favorite was a small talk I had with Myles Kennedy earlier this year. He said to me “You bleed for the audience and don’t give a fuck, never change that”. So I won’t. I’ll cherish that moment always. I hope he knows how much that meant to me.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
Thank you for all of the support for the boys and I. The fact that so many people have hopped on this train with us is unbelievably humbling. I love you all!
Los Angeles Pop-Rock Band, Potty Mouth, have come a long way since their days in Massachusetts and have used their passion for artistic expression to blend together as a unit of love. As the ladies gear up to head out on tour, I caught up with the impassioned band to discuss the recent release of ‘SNAFU’, money management, recognizing emotions and more.
Congrats on the release of ‘SNAFU’. Tell us about the creative and recording process and what you learned about yourself along the way.
Abby: Thank you! This record has been a long time coming so it feels great to finally be putting it out into the world. I think the big thing we learned while recording and releasing this album is just to trust ourselves. Over the course of our career we’ve had a lot of people come into our lives and act as if they knew what was best for us, and we didn’t know any better than to just believe them. We always knew when something felt weird, but it takes experience and perspective to know the difference between growing pains and something that’s just not right for our band. Now we know better and I’m proud of us for powering through it.
What new techniques and/or skills did you learn in the studio through experimentation while working on ‘SNAFU’?
Victoria: At the beginning of the recording process we programmed electronic drums to act as the skeleton of each song. All of the guitars, vocals, etc. were recorded over that. I went in afterward and recorded the live drums you’ll hear on the record. In the past we’ve always recorded drums live with scratch guitars and then gone back and overdubbed everything. This process is great for a lot of reasons, but I was happy to try something new. Our approach to SNAFU offered a different workflow and a new kind of flexibility in conceptualizing my drum parts.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
Ally: Being in a band really pushes you to wrestle with your own feelings of jealousy. Part of the nature of being an aspiring band/artist is that you also tend to be friends with a lot of other aspiring bands/artists. When you’re on the outside looking in – usually from the perspective of social media – it’s easy to feel like everyone else is getting something bigger and better than you are: more opportunities, more tours, more recognition, more followers, more money, more whatever. That kind of thinking is based on a mindset of scarcity; the idea that there isn’t enough “good stuff” to go around for everyone, so we all need to compete with one another in order to thrive. It’s a yucky and unproductive feeling. Where’s the joy in any of what we’re doing if you can’t celebrate the successes of your peers? Growing with this band has really helped me figure out how to recognize feelings of jealousy for what they are and turn them around into something more productive. I remind myself how much I love being part of a larger network of hardworking, talented creatives that inspire me to keep pushing forward, even when things get hard. Moving to LA has made me feel even more supported in our band’s endeavor because we’re constantly surrounded by so many people with similar goals. It doesn’t feel threatening. It feels exciting, and I feel so lucky to have a part in the journey.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
Victoria: I use Instagram mostly to post and look at pictures of animals.
Abby: I hate it and I love it. I hate that I get so lost in scrolling through meaningless content, but I also love that it’s an endless source of inspirational art and people. I think it’s important not to spend too much time on social media though, because it’s easy to get lost in comparing yourself to unrealistic standards. Sometimes I have to force myself to take time away from Instagram because when I do I always feel more free and confident. I’m able to focus on my own ideas and where I’m at in my path instead of looking at someone else’s accomplishments and feeling like I’m way behind them.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
Abby: I love sewing! My mom taught me how to use a sewing machine when I was pretty young so I use to make most of my clothes in middle school and high school. I love going to Goodwill and finding old clothes that can be made into something new and original.
Ally: I’m proud about how responsible I am with money! I’ve been financially independent for a long time and it’s forced me to be really “prudent” with how I manage my money. In LA, I pay twice as much for rent and make half as as much money as I did in Massachusetts. It sucks. But I wouldn’t be able to swing it if I didn’t have the responsible money managing skills that I have. Sometimes I’m truly amazed by how much of a shoestring budget I’ve managed to live on out here. Hopefully it doesn’t last forever!
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
Abby: It’s hard but getting as much sleep as possible is really important. Touring is really rough on the body, the most you can do is be honest with the people around you about how you’re feeling so everyone can be aware and sensitive to the different needs we all have.
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.
Victoria: Play like everybody’s watching.
Ally: Remember that when you play a show, you’re somebody in the audience’s ‘one night out’ that week. Maybe it’s the one night they’ve been looking forward in weeks. Make it fun for them.
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old that you were?
Ally: If I looked into my soul, I think I would see the soul of a 60 year old woman. If I think about my heart though, I still feel young.
Abby: I’m 25 now and I’ve felt 25 for the last few years haha!
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
Abby: I hope you love the record as much as we do!!
UK Musician, Stealth, has found the way to bring his passionate inner maze of art forward and is set to make a splash throughout 2019. I caught up with Stealth to discuss the recent release of “Black Heart”, having a conversation with himself as a senior citizen, being a part of a roller-coaster ride as an artist, fulfillment from making music you enjoy and more.
Tell us about what you learned about yourself along the way while creating “Black Heart”.
Make the music you enjoy making! I’ve been trying so hard to write a “banger” and really fell out of love with writing for a brief moment, therefore, I went in and just had fun and the song just kind of happened. Everyone seemed to like it when I stayed true to myself.
If you can have a conversation with either yourself as a child or yourself as a senior citizen, who would you choose and what would you say?
Senior Citizen for sure! I’d ask for the lyrics and melody of the biggest selling song. Then write it and let the Grammy’s roll in. [laughs] But in all in seriousness it would be an older me that I’d want to talk to. I have serious anxiety to the point where I don’t sleep and I’d like the older me to just give me a warning about what not to worry about.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
I’ve had to cancel my performances at SXSW. I’ve had some delays obtaining my Visa so I can’t make it. I’ve not only let my band and the organisers down but also the people who wanted to see me play a show in the US. However it’s circumstances out of my control and the only way I can overcome it is to pick myself up and dust myself off… and especially plan for next year.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
It’s all a bit too much, isn’t it?! People over share and not in a good way. I’m all for chatting and being open but social media is often used as a platform to show only one side of you that you want others to see… which means the lives portrayed on social media are often false, in turn making your audience/followers/friends feel insecure about their own achievements and generally inadequate. It’s a marketing tool / gimmick.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
A bit of a job interview answer here but I’m a team player. I love being part of a team. Whether that’s as part of family unit, friends, or sports team (fun fact -I play rugby). Although I’m a solo act, I hate being alone and I feel I’m my best self as part of a crowd.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
I’ll be honest, I’d be a hypocrite to say anything that could be perceived as advice on this subject. It’s very tough doing a job that is such a rollercoaster and at times I don’t have time to think about how it’s affecting my mental state until it’s too late. I do talk to friends and family and try to keep physically fit which I find helps. But If there is anyone out there in the music industry that has a proven method of taking care of yourself, feel free to contact me.
Tell us three of your favorite thrift stores to go to in the UK.
They aren’t exactly thrift stores as the clothes don’t tend to be that cheap [laughs] but I frequent……
Rokit on Brick Lane in Shoreditch
Beyond Retro in Soho
Absolute Vintage – Near old Spitalfields Market
What do fans of Stealth have to look forward to for the remainder of 2019.
Lots of new music and I have a gig coming up on May 21st at Hoxton Bar and Grill in Shoreditch.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
Just a huge thank you. You guys make the rollercoaster all the more worth getting on.
St. Albert Rockers, Calling All Captains, have collected life experience to set free over an emotive release that is abounding with meaning. In celebration the recent release of ‘Nothing Grows Here’, I caught up with the guys to discuss overcoming self-doubt, gratitude for being a part of the Equal Vision Records family, fulfilling endeavors outside of their musicianship and more.
Congrats on the release of your ‘Nothing Grows Here’ EP. Tell us about the creative and recording process and what you learned along the way this time around.
Writing and recording these songs has definitely changed the way we work together as artists. These are the first songs that Luc recorded lead vocals on, and the first songs that I (Connor) had EVER recorded vocals on. With Luc being so suddenly thrust into the position of frontman, we all had to learn how to play together as a band again, and we found that things really clicked when our longtime friend, Tim joined the team. As things progressed, we explored new sounds and concepts and had a blast building ‘Nothing Grows Here’ with our good friends Quinn Cyrankiewicz and Ty Elgie. Quinn has been producing our songs since before Captains and is a huge part of the way everything comes together, we couldn’t do it without him!
As many bands from all across the spectrum have been a part of the success of Equal Vision Records, tell us about your experience being a part of the label so far.
Connor + Brad – We absolutely love Equal Vision. We did lots of research on all the labels we were interested in and heard all kinds of horror stories from other bands, but couldn’t find anyone that had something bad to say about EVR. It was almost too good to be true! Right from the start things just clicked and we knew it was the right place for us. We have an incredibly hard working team behind us and they make sure we have everything we need to do what we love. It’s hard to express how grateful we are for this opportunity and for our new family at EVR. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
Luc – I can only speak for myself but a big struggle I’ve had is the fact that I have taken over the lead vocalist position for the band. Before our first single was released I was so worried about what people were going to say, some people online can get really nasty about it. We’re familiar with how people react when bands change vocalists. My self-doubt and fear about the new material and singles were washed away when we released “Disconnected”. The response has been more than positive and we are beyond grateful. Another thing that has been a struggle is that most of us have quit jobs for this, we had healthcare benefits and salaries but it’s hard to ask your boss for the 5th time “I need a month or two off for tour” , eventually they will want to move on or find a more permanent team member; which is totally understandable.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
Brad – Social media is a plague, a blight on this earth lol it’s like the best and worst thing that could’ve happened to us in the digital age. On one hand, we’re more connected than we’ve ever been and have immediate access to unlimited information and opportunities to stand in our own spotlight and create and express ourselves, but on the other hand, we’re so connected that we forget how to actually connect with people in person. You hang out with people and they’re glued to their phone, or they’re watching concerts through a snapchat filter, and pining for likes and the instant gratification that comes with social media attention. It’s really easy to get caught up in and addicted to. Even us as a band, we’re always comparing ourselves to other bands and when a post doesn’t get very many likes we get bummed about it. It’s stupid haha but it’s also an invaluable asset in promoting and growing our brand, so thicken your skin and adapt or die, right?!
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
Luc – Beyond being a musician I am many things. I used to hold a caseworker/admin position for people aged 18-30 in a transitional housing program. Which at some times can be emotionally draining being the go-to for many peoples issues and being their resource provider. It was rewarding but it was definitely a lot to deal with sometimes. Shout out to the people in Social Services. I also take pride in my Metis culture and perform with my traditional dance group whenever I am not touring. Some of us in the dance group have been performing together for over a decade. The dance group continue to perform because we take pride in our Indigenous culture and want to share it with future generations. It’s sad to say but there is still a lot of prejudice regarding First Nations, Metis, Inuit and all other Indigenous cultures. That is something i will always feel and be aware of. I do my part in spreading awareness about the many Indigenous cultures in Canada and North America.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
That’s actually a very overlooked part of being a band. You get the highest highs and the lowest lows out on the road, so that’s something you need to be aware and mindful of, otherwise that shit can creep up on you out of nowhere and mess your day up. Everyday you’re in a new city meeting new people, getting that adrenaline rush on stage, and it’s way too easy to live day to day and forget to center yourself. For us, we lean on each other. There’s no hiding anything from 4 other dudes when you’re cramped in a little van. If someone isn’t doing good or having a bad time, it shows. We just try to be open and talk about it and be there for each other when we need to vent, and give each other space when we don’t. Everyone kinda has their own vibe and way that they deal with things, and part of being a band is learning those little things about each bandmate and knowing how to either help or get out of the way.
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.
Nick – We’re a band that heavily believes you never stop learning. We take every tour, show and day as an experience that we can take something away from. Whether it be giving ourselves an extra hour to make it to the venue so we can get some extra time to chill, to how we work on our own demos. The bands we’ve known that are still going have taught us the importance of communication between each other, perseverance in this lifestyle and the ability to have a short memory when things don’t go as planned. Most importantly, it’s about having fun. If you aren’t enjoying this then why are you doing it? I’m (Nick) personally thankful that our team between Rude and Equal Vision Records, Big Picture Media and Word Is Bond have been super open to educating myself and the guys with everything that comes along with being in a signed band.
Speaking of touring, tell us about any upcoming or current tour dates that you can fill us in about for 2019.
Nick – We’re about to embark on the largest tour we’ve ever done. It’s 2 months across the United States. It’ll be starting in Lewiston ID on February 15 and the American portion ends in Burnsville MN on April 7. All the dates and tickets can be found on our website. Our touring plans don’t end there either. We’ve been steadily at work booking more and more and hopefully crest over the 150 shows mark in 2019! Keep your eyes peeled y’all.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
We just want give a huge shout out to everyone that’s stuck with us through this roller coaster ride, thanks for keeping this genre of music alive! We fuckin’ love you guys to death and we’re gonna keep making you proud. All the best to you in 2019, and we’re gonna do our best to come meet and thank you all in person.
Minnesota Rockers, Household, have come to find understanding in the necessity of ensuring to take time to reflect on the wild journey that tends to come with being a part of the music industry. I caught up with Lead Vocalist, Josh Gilbert, to discuss ‘Everything a River Should Be’, accessing alternative thoughts and feelings, self-development work, balance and more.
Congrats on the recent release of ‘Everything a River Should Be’. Tell us about the creative and recording process this time around and what you learned about yourself along the way.
Thanks, this record was a huge process! We spent over 2 years writing in cabins, basements and parents houses to create EARSB. We went through 3 separate demoing processes which was a new strategy for us. ultimately I’m glad we had all that time to figure out what we wanted the new sound, through the new record to sound like!
Everything a River Should Be’ comes off quite poetic and so does your lyricism. Who spearheads the songwriting process?
The music is definitely collaborative for us. Nathanael spearheads most of the song structure, but the rest of us fairly split our own instrumentation on the record. I (Josh) wrote most of the albums lyrically save Dependable which nathanael wrote in it’s lyrical entirety.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
Ooo, great question, that’s kinda what the whole album and band for that matter is about, challenging ideas, situations, relationships and just all of life! Recently I’ve been thinking about what actually makes each one of us who we are. Like which things, thoughts, actions, ideas contribute to our being and how can we accept and access those qualities to be true to ourselves. And when I don’t feel like myself, the challenge invites me to be myself and chose things that are true to me rather than putting on a front.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
It doesn’t do much for me. Like I mostly have the socials because of the band. Personally I’ve noticed a correlation between social media usage and a negative mood. Rarely does it uplift my state of mind, so staying away has proven to be beneficial for me. As far as the culture at large, I wonder if it has similar effects on others too. I think it can be used in positive ways like how it gives anyone a voice, I just think the negatives outweigh the positives for me individually.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
I do a lot of self~development work (Counseling, reading, introspective conversations) which is so rewarding. I think household has always wanting to be about more than a band, nothing extreme, but we just value how music can at times transcend the instruments and voices. I look forward to talking more about the pain that all of us have and how valuable giving each other permission to be ourselves is.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
We could probably do a better job of keeping our emotional and mental health in check on tour. For me, home time is when I recoup and regather, but a busy tour year can add up and be quite strenuous.
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.
Be yourself! I’ve said it so much, but the people that are killing it are the ones that know who they are and own it. Copy paste music doesn’t work long term, so I’ve come to trust the idea that all we can do is take what you have an present it to others. kind of a beautiful concept there that a few people we’ve had the pleasure of playing with understand.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
Thank you for getting it, and letting us do this thing. It’s been a long windy thing we’ve done so it’s truly an honor to be invited to do more! Love you people out there.
LA Indie Rockers, Weathers, are steadily becoming a force in the world of music with their eclectic instrumental flair and immersive stage energy. Having recently released their new single, “Dirty Money”, the guys are currently out on the road with Magic Giant and Castlecomer. I caught up with the gang when they stopped by El Club in Detroit to discuss “Dirty Money”, maximizing the benefits of Spotify as an artist, ensuring to stay rested and eating healthy on the road, fashion and more.
Tell us about the message that you intended to weave into your latest track, “Dirty Money”.
Cameron B – We started writing “Dirty Money” with a bottle of Jack Daniels and no expectations with a couple friends of ours in Los Angeles. We wrote the song in about an hour! We actually wrote “Dirty Money” a long time ago. It wasn’t written after our album, ‘Kids In The Night’, it was written during the album. It was a song that stood out on its own so we weren’t sure at the time if we wanted it to be on the album or not. We decided it would be best to release later.
Jessica – I perceive that Los Angeles subconsciously inspires creativity in a way that you don’t necessarily derive naturally in the Midwest. LA is fierce. As you navigate through the city, culture and energy that comes with the territory of Los Angeles, you are inspired by simply being within it.
Cole – Yeah, totally. It is very competitive.
Jessica – But that very competitiveness can be turned into an opportunity for partnerships and the expansion of your influence. Through streaming, the way that we as listeners receive music has changed. For musicians, it was more common for singles to be pushed as they tend to do better fiscally and influentially if the track stands out from the bunch. Music is a business. Your art and brand are a business. Through the tools and resources that we have readily available now through steaming services such as Spotify and social media in general, it’s all in your hands; you determine how far you want to go and what you desire to achieve. Pushing singles tends to be the best route at this time.
Cameron O – Absolutely. Especially when you have artists like Drake who are pushing out new singles every month. It’s hard to keep up with sometimes, but the tools such as Spotify definitely are there and have helped us grow a ton.
Jessica – For sure. What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
Cameron B – It’s incredible. We can reach all of our fans in an instance which is really awesome. A lot of it can also be very fabricated so in a sense, it is a double-edged sword, but there are pros and cons with anything in life. If you use social media in the right way, it is a great way to express yourself, your creativity and your artistry.
Jessica – How cool is it that you guys have Instagram fan accounts which pragmatically consists of an individual who was so moved by your artistry that they spend their own time to embed energy into showcasing your work? Free marketing, expansion of influence, you can’t beat that. I saw that there is even a Memes account for Weathers (weathersmemesofficial) and I must say, it is hilarious. I don’t think artists should take that for granted.
Cameron B – Definitely not. That account is so funny! It is amazing that we have fans that do that for us and interact with us in that way.
Cameron O – Spotify is getting pretty immersive as well. We can see what every fan is listening to and where they are listening to it. It is super cool. We can see how many people are listening to us at that moment. We can see how many people’s playlists that we are on even if it is a random playlist that we just so happened to get added to. We know exactly how many people listen to us all the time.
Cole – It is amazing, but it is a little Big Brother though!
Jessica – I get it! ACRONYM and I were actually talking about that earlier. There are so many app developers that have laced in coding in which screen recording occurs sporadically on the iPhone. Perhaps I am falling for a conspiracy theory or am slightly delusional, but come on, that has got to raise a hair.
Cole – Totally! But in regards to Spotify, it definitely helps with booking. For instance, if we have 10K listeners in Chicago, you can play a larger room there, you know?
Jessica – Yes, big picture thinking. As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
Brennen – We keep a pretty tight ship on the road. We all eat very clean and take care of ourselves. Being rested is so important. We try to get a lot of exercise whenever we can and especially whenever we have a day off. Our tour manager, Josh, is really on top of it.
Jessica – Proper nutrition and overall wellness is so important. I live a high vegan lifestyle myself; the more energy I gift myself with, the more I am able to infuse into my art, you know? Tell us about some parts of yourself beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
Brennen – I love being outdoors. Over the past few years, working out and tuning into my nutrition has been huge and so beneficial for me. Also, Cameron is an awesome filmmaker and director. He actually filmed our last three music videos!
Jessica – That puts you in full creative control. Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
Cameron B – Thank you so much for everything. The fans are literally the ones that keep us alive and we couldn’t do this without you.
New Jersey Rockers, Gatherers, have spent countless hours on developing a concept and album that served as a dose of their Hardcore roots coming forward with heart. I caught up with the guys to discuss ensuring to keep their friendship at the forefront, comparing success and failure on social media, ‘We Are Alive Beyond Repair’, the importance of eating right and sleeping on the road and more.
Congrats on the success and release of ‘We Are Alive Beyond Repair’. Tell us about the creative and recording process and what you learned about yourself along the way.
Thank you! We started writing initial ideas for the album around winter of 2015 if I recall correctly. At the time Adam was in the process of moving into a new recording studio and I believe we initially started writing what would later become the opening track “Spill”. We were going through several member changes at the time so we had to explore a lot of ideas between bass, drums and vocals. In hindsight, I think it was a very healthy way to go about writing in a more focused direction. Eventually, Anthony and Rob joined on guitars respectively. They both provided a much needed perspective on the songs we’d been sitting on for months. We finally finished things off as a complete band by writing “Ann Liv Young” and “Starve. I think writing and recording this record taught us to be more objective for what best served each song and the album as a whole.
Who did you work with on the album cover/photography for ‘We Are Alive Beyond Repair’ and how did you come up with the visual concept?
The album photography was lent to us by Evelyn Bencicova and is part of a series titled “Asymptote” She’s an award-winning artist based in Berlin and has an extremely original way of building these “worlds” within her photography and filmmaking. We discovered the photo early on in the writing process and felt that it also existed in the same world as the album we wanted to write. We reached out to her with demos and the album title and she was very receptive to the idea.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
To stop comparing our success and failures based on the facade of social media. It is a habit I battle on the daily, but I’m learning that we should only speak when it counts, to only think about our band within the framework of things that excite us, and to not get caught up in the rat race of everyone trying to “make it” overnight. Above all, I’m learning to value my friendship with my bandmates more.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
Any “culture” born on social media is very uninspiring to me. I think things now move at such a pace that the baseline for culture has been lowered, which means trends die even quicker with more people attached to them. I would be a hypocrite to not admit how valuable of a tool social media plays in the promotion of our own band, after all it has become this requisite extension of our music and art. However, I have a distaste for the way it herds people into various (very predictable) patterns of behavior. I notice it especially in new bands, touting the same style of content, the same way of speaking and so on. It’s all feels very commodified.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
We all simply try our best to respect our friendship to one another and to be the best versions of ourselves every day.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
Eat right. Sleep right. Avoid excessive time on the phone. Take in the sights and make the most of each show. Also, it’s critical to make each other laugh as much as possible.
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.
Stay humble. Study other bands. Also, get your shit on and off the stage as quickly as possible!
What do fans of Gatherers have to look forward to in 2019?
We’ll probably end up touring a bit more and then who knows? We’ve been flirting with some loose ideas for our next album, so that might end up occupying our time towards the end of the year.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
Thank you for your support. Listen to Great Grief.
Soulful, grounded in positive intent and delivering a Motown vocal style that listeners could never forget, Ali Caldwell is it. I caught up with the New Jersey Musician to discuss the Summer of 2019 release of ‘88’, her experience on The Voice, keeping her family and best friends close while touring, clearing space for a healthier mindset and more.
Congrats on upcoming release of ‘88’. Tell us about the creative and recording process in the studio and what you learned about yourself along the way.
‘88’ is scheduled to come out Summer 2019! The process is going really well and I am working really hard to make it perfect.
Let’s talk life beyond ‘The Voice’. How have you handled spreading your wings and transcending as a musician ever since you have moved on from your experience on the show?
After my time on The Voice I realized that I have grown so much as an artist. I have grown in my performance skills as well as vocally. Seeing the growth made me want to keep going harder, and I was very proud but well aware that I still have some growing to do and was ready to take on the world after coming off of such a platform on a high note.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
I would worry about what people thought of me. If I was pretty enough. IfI was the perfect weight, if my hair was straight enough. Many non-productive thoughts would constantly run through my head so much that at one point it took control. Basically, lots of over thinking. Through growth, self-love and realization, I am in a much better head space then where I used to be but AS A HUMAN. I learned not to be too hard on myself and realize that no one is perfect.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
I do believe that social media has literally taken over not only our younger generation, but the world. I admit It’s fun, but some don’t know how to separate the internet world from their actually reality, and to me that’s the scary part. But overall, I love the positive things about the internet and social media. I love the ability to touch and talk to my fans globally at the click of a button. For me it’s my vehicle to spread love and positivity worldwide.
No career path or number of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
I’ve always taken a lot of pride in my relationship with my family. My grandmother is literally my heart, putting a smile on her face always makes me proud. I’m very proud of never getting in any trouble as a young lady coming out of high school and figuring out this thing called grown up life. I remained focused on doing whatever it takes to accomplish my goals. Being a focused and driven woman in a male dominated world especially in this industry; I take LOTS of pride in that. As a young girl I’ve always been one to never like to ask anyone for anything including my parents. I’ve always wanted to prove to them I can figure it out on my own and I have been doing just that for years making my parents and myself very proud. I take pride in being the best person i can be and spreading as much light and positivity to those I come in contact with.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
Massive amounts of prayer! I’m never afraid to pick up the phone and call my parents, grandma or best friends to bring me back to reality, and keep me grounded and humble. I make it a habit of keeping the circle of people around me clean and beautiful. I believe the energy we keep around us is very important when it comes to mental, emotional, and physical health. Peace and a stable mind are everything to me. I love life drama-free!
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.
There are a few things I never forget. Some very important people have shared with me as advice and uplifting words of encouragement while touring and traveling (to name a few!) which are….
“Be Yourself, It’s Okay”
“Perform like it’s your last time”
“Leave it all on the stage”
Patti Labelle once told me, “People will hate for no reason, but your job is to remain a class act, smile, love them anyway, and then kick their butts later!”, and these words I have always kept with me and it helps me so much every day.
What do fans of Ali Caldwell have to look forward to in 2019?
My new album, ‘88’, will be released in the Summer 2019. new videos, more collaborations with some of my favorite singers, more show dates and a possible States tour and European tour. Of course, my limit is beyond the stars so who knows. I do know 2019 will be special. How special? MyAlikats (fans) and followers will have to stay tuned to watch and see.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
I absolutely adore my Alikats. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. Without their undying support I wouldn’t have a following or a career, so I’m beyond grateful for each and every Alikat that loves and supports me and my journey and my dreams. I truly feel like we are riding this thing together. I can say thank you over a billion times and never get tired! It literally means the world to me. I’m very excited to share this new music. I can’t wait!
North Carolina Rockers, Hopesfall, shocked long-time fans who continue to spark their Hopesfall fix with classic albums such as ‘A Types’, and ‘The Satellite Years’ in 2018 with an unexpected yet well-received comeback with the release of their fifth studio album, ‘Arbiter’. I caught up with Guitarist, Josh Brigham, for an in-depth conversation about ‘Arbiter’ his challenging and impactful journey with chronic pain and choosing to be proactive with Foundation Training, less is more mentality, the world being full of amazing people and more.
Congrats on the recent release and success of ‘Arbiter’. Tell us about the creative and recording process this time around and what you learned along the way.
Honestly the process was the same as our other records. A bunch of us get in a room together and we play each other riffs that we’ve written individually and then we jam on them until the energy feels right. Sometimes we stumble across ideas and write music on the spot which may sound simple but it can be a painstaking process. I’d say for every 20 hours of passing ideas back and forth we’ll come up with about a minute of usable material. It’s all about capturing a vibe and everyone has to agree. Recording is the payoff for all the hard work that the writing process is. Getting to go to an awesome studio to work with talented engineers and a great producer is work, but it’s really fun work. Those guys help you bring to life a sound that’s only been playing in your head. You get to make it real, it’s exciting!
I’ve been listening to you guys faithfully ever since the ‘The Frailty of Words’. I can truly state with ease that I have listened to ‘The Satellite Years’ at least 100x in full. Tell us about your time away in Hopesfall and how it served to enhance your experience in the studio while creating ‘Arbiter’.
We thought Hopesfall was dead and buried. Everyone moved on with their lives. We got jobs, got married, bought houses you know; the grown up stuff that you have to do in your 30’s. I think the time away let us appreciate all the things that were good about Hopesfall. The bonds that you make when you write together and play together. It made us appreciate how special it is to get to create music. It made us more grateful for the opportunities that have recently presented themselves.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
Chronic pain. I know you asked for a thought, so I’ll need to unpack that statement. Dealing with chronic pain is a battle of will as much as it is a physical sensation. I have a wrecked spine. Years of bad posture, living in a van, headbanging, combined poor self care routines left me with a severely ruptured disc between my C6-C7 vertebrae. This disc lodged itself inside the neural canal leading to my right arm. The result was a “dead limb” and an eventual surgery to install an artificial disk. When reviewing my MRI’s after the surgery, the neurologist told me that I had the spinal health equivalent to that of a 75 year old brick mason. My spine was massively degenerated. I would have to stop doing all the physical activities that I was involved in. Long distance running, mountain biking, etc. He told me I would need a fusion surgery in my Lumbar spine in the not too distant future, a surgery that could potentially cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and put me on my back for up to 6 months. Over the next 4 years, as I tried to go about my normal life, I began paying a heavy physical toll. Cortisone injections every 3 months, muscle relaxers, pain killers all with lessening degrees of effectiveness over time. My life became muted, the pain began to take away all the activities that I enjoyed. Chronic pain eventually robs you of your identity. You become a shell of your former self. Pain turns into fear. Fear takes away hope. Essentially I was a person living in a headspace that was completely dominated by avoiding pain. That’s not living.
Eventually I found “Foundation Training” which is a practice, a series of corrective exercises designed by a doctor who avoided surgery and had gotten himself out of chronic pain, that turned my situation around. But finding the will to embrace a new technique, to put the effort into healing your own body when everyone in the established medical field is telling you to take more pills, to have a surgery, that there is no way out; that’s a mountain to climb. Choosing to move threw pain and fear was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
It is what it is. I try not to judge it. The world is changing rapidly around us and I just try to keep adapting to it. Whether I think social media is right or wrong, good or bad, is of no consequence. Social media just IS, and it’s not going away, so how can I use it to help me? That’s the question I’ve been asking myself.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
I alluded to this earlier when talking about my degenerated spine and living with chronic pain. Besides meeting my wife, finding Foundation Training, finding a practice that empowered me with the knowledge to fix myself is the most important thing I’ve ever done. I was recently certified in FT and look forward to sharing this work with others who are suffering from chronic pain.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
Nowadays, less is more. We don’t play out nearly as much as we used to. On our most recent adventure, which was only 3 shows in 2018, I just tried to stay in the moment and enjoy what was going on around me. Getting to share the music you make with your fans was something I took for granted before. This time, I just focused on the here and now. Back in the day, I would escape into books. I would just read and when it was my turn to drive, I would just listen to my favorite bands. I wouldn’t say I was operating at a high level of emotional stability back then, books and music were my outlet.
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.
The world is filled with amazing people and amazing places. Try to see as much of it as possible!!
