Norway Rockers, Mantric, have joined Solid State Records and are still in the midst of celebration during quarantine as they have put out their latest release, ‘False Negative’. In celebration of the recent release of ‘False Negative’, I caught up with John Robert Mjåland for a great chat about the trajectory of the album, the advantages of technology, taking personality tests, hanging with the family during quarantine and more.
Congrats on the recent release of your new album, ‘False Negative’. Tell us the message that you intended to portray throughout this release.
Thanks! The album has been baked together over the last three years, so I don’t feel like there’s a red thread in our lyrics, it’s definitely not a concept album, and we’ve all been writing lyrics, so they differ a bit. Maybe one theme, or something that comes close, could be “relationships”; how we interact with people, what values and beliefs we hold, motions and emotions. When we were brainstorming the album title, Tor, our guitarist, came up with the medical term “False Negative”, which works as a back layer for the album figuratively speaking, but we had no idea then that the title would hit the nail on the head clinically speaking, exactly when the corona epidemic hit the western world.
I know that the Coronavirus has been really impactful on all, yet tell us the lowdown on how you have been utilizing all of your time in quarantine.
In our family we’ve been able to work from home, so we’re lucky to keep our jobs, but it’s been difficult to get work done with kids hanging over and maintaining homeschooling, kindergarten and online work meetings at the same time. So I’d have to say we’ve been more busy than ever, but maybe not so productive. And I know one shouldn’t complain, probably a lot better to be in a crowded house these days than quarantined all alone, but right now I wouldn’t mind a few days of loneliness. Highlight of the day is to go outside and find a desolate place and just do something with the kids, and then have some grown up time in the evening when everyone is in bed. Anything on tv that makes you think of something other than coronavirus has been very welcome in our house.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
My wife has pointed out to me, more than once, that I can be overly meticulous at times, and especially these last few weeks where everything floats and everything changes from one day to the next, things have been challenging for me.. and needless to say my environment. I think it has to do with being in control, which isn’t easy nowadays, so stepping back, taking a deep breath, trying to take things as they come and deliberately don’t give a crap about everything has been helpful. I’m still working on this, but the current lockdown has put things more in perspective.
What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
The advantages of technology are incredible, not just the equipment we keep around us every day, but also the amount of information more or less anyone can access around the world. I also like following technological development and try to keep up to speed, but everything goes so fast these days. I’ve enjoyed watching Westworld among other great shows, and I think it brings up some important issues on the pace of technology and artificial intelligence, and I’m not so sure how sci-fi something like that will be in the near future. I think we will have to make many ethical considerations and decisions along the way as we make advances, and I hope and think technology in the end will save us from rather than speed up world disasters to come. As for social media, I’m not very positive. I think it’s generally destructive, and for young people growing up today I think it’s more damaging than rewarding. If you take a look at someone’s social wall online, almost everything is bragging in some way or another, very little is information or actual sharing. Many posts are sugar-coated to portray a perfect life and seldom represent reality, and young people growing up might not see the distinction between “professionals” making money on social media and their friends trying to do the same thing on a lesser scale. Building your own self esteem on social media is particularly a way of dragging others down at the same time. Maybe I’m being a bit cynical here.
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’ve taken some personality tests over the years and also followed quite a few podcasts that take on the “Big five” tests in a talk-show format, so I think I have a good idea of where I’m at personally as well as compared to others. What struck me was that I’m maybe not the most empathetic person after all, meaning being able to put myself in the place of others. I don’t take pride in this, and was a bit hard to swallow at first, but I acknowledge this somewhat lacking trait and actually try harder to empathize with others and try being more open minded about people. It has awoken a feeling in me, maybe because I’m conscientious by nature, but being aware and reminding myself helps in this case, and I think it’s possible to make some personal changes although it’s usually very difficult.
Tell us about your experience so far with Solid State Records. How has being a part of the label enhanced your artistry?
Being on Solid State has been good so far, just being on board and knowing there’s a label with people into your music, wanting to share it with the outside world. Obviously, they have a much larger network than us as a band, so they’re busy spreading the music. Promotion is half the job when the record is done, so simply making an album available on Spotify or iTunes wouldn’t do the trick.
Are there any fun or new recipes that you’ve tried cooking up during quarantine?!
We’ve taken things quite easy, I must admit we’ve eaten more hot dogs and pancakes than usual, but we’ve also gone hiking with our backpack stove to justify everything. The kids have also been a bit more eager on making treats while staying inside for so long, so we’ve had desserts more or less every day lately. We even had dessert for dinner one day, a promise made to our youngest daughter a long time ago, which was just as easy pulling off when they’re getting desserts anyway. This was a success by the way. We’ve also used our fair share of random food coloring to spice things up and gone through all our kits for making slime and homemade soaps.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?
Stay safe in these strange times! Go outside and into nature if you have the chance, bring your hammock and check out our new album.
Los Angeles Musician, Leah Capelle, has been utilizing her time for good and spending time at home giving her fans live-stream shows. I caught up with Leah in the midst of quarantine life to discuss the deep and personal meaning within her debut release, ‘triptych’, her passion for film and graphic design, coming back around from a period of isolation, cooking and more.
Congrats on the recent release of your new LP, ‘triptych’. Tell us the message that you intended to portray throughout this release.
Thank you so much! ‘triptych’ both is and isn’t a concept album, if that makes sense. The thread throughout the record is my story of growth that was both painful and beautiful. I had been very comfortable, and very happy for a long time – until I gradually wasn’t. Yet, my unhappiness was inexplicable to me. And unfortunately, that unhappiness led to a series of poor decisions that completely upended my life. Now, looking back on it I truly believe I needed that push. My greatest art comes from times of uncertainty, and I believe this to be my most pure, most relatable piece of art to date. The core message of the album is this: it’s okay to be sad, to have flaws, to make mistakes, to miss people. It’s what you do with those mistakes and that emptiness that ultimately shapes who you will become, and the process itself – though terribly difficult to understand in the moment – is what makes all the difference.
I know that the Coronavirus has been really impactful on all, yet tell us the lowdown on how you have been utilizing all of your time in quarantine.
I have been surprisingly busy in the time of Corona. I thought I would be losing my mind with boredom but being in an album cycle takes up a lot of bandwidth. I’ve also been fortunate enough to continue having part-time work on the side, so promoting ‘triptych’ and working has taken up the bulk of my time. But in down moments, I’ve been reading again! Right at the beginning of the shelter in place order, I power-read “Breakfast of Champions” by Kurt Vonnegut, and am now almost done with his post-apocalyptic novel “Galapagos.” I binge watched Tiger King along with the rest of America, and finally watched all of Rick and Morty. I’ve been trying to meditate (which I’m terrible at) and have moments of peacefulness throughout the day, as well as cooking more diverse meals for myself (something I’m also terrible at.) And of course, video-calling with friends and family on a more frequent basis than usual which definitely helps keep me sane.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
It’s an irrational yet common fear amongst artists but I’ve been having the challenging thought that I’ll never write as good of songs as are on ‘triptych.’ I’ve been putting a lot of pressure on myself to start writing the next album, which is crazy since ‘triptych’ came out only two weeks ago! I was sharing these concerns with my friend and fellow artist David Ramirez, and we were working through the feelings I had of restlessness for the “next thing.” It was helpful to talk it all out, and I realized that literally no one is putting pressure on me to write any new music besides myself. So, right now, I’m working on giving myself space to just be in this moment, without forcing myself to be creative.
What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
I feel that social media and the “digital world” are a double edged sword. They have become absolutely crucial for promoting art, sharing music and obviously provide the opportunity to connect with others in ways that were never possible before. But the digital world can also be extremely toxic. I struggle with knowing that I need to post certain types of content consistently and tailor each piece to each individual platform, while also simultaneously wanting to turn off all my technology and sit in a garden. Social media also makes it more difficult to not compare yourself to other artists or really other human beings. I’m fortunate to have a very supportive creative network in which most of us are musicians but of course, pangs of jealousy can pop up when your friends and peers are “more successful” than you at any given point in time. I think navigating social media is the crux of our generation – allowing it to be a platform from which to promote and connect while not letting it be something that consumes your whole life.
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 like to think of myself as a passionate learner and creative person in many senses outside of music. My day-job is in film and I love graphic design, interior design, video editing, etc. I spend my time doing lots of creative things that have nothing to do with music, which in turn makes the time I spend doing music even more special. I also have a business degree, and hope to start my own company someday nurturing young, up-and-coming artists. Another dream of mine involves designing my own house or compound out in nature somewhere like possibly Wyoming. I picture it to have little guest houses for my family and friends along with an on-site studio. I also have this little dream of opening a coffee shop / wine and beer bar that has a stage for singer/songwriters that I would book myself to perform. Lastly, I love hiking, scuba diving, and traveling to new countries and cities I’ve never been to!
There is a very deep and personal meaning throughout ‘triptych’. Has your perception and approach toward your interpersonal relationships changed throughout your journey toward healing?
Oh absolutely. Many of the songs on ‘triptych’ were written during a time in which I essentially isolated myself from being close to other people. It was terrible, but I wasn’t being a good friend in those moments and had to take the time to focus on my healing. During that time I was acting in self-serving ways and no longer listening to the concerns or advice from the people closest to me. I’ve learned so much throughout the whole process of creating this record as it forced me to take long and hard looks at myself, my behavior, and my bad habits and process them in real time. I feel like a completely new and improved version of myself now, two years after the start of this journey. I’m insanely grateful to everyone for sticking by my side through all of it.
Are there any fun or new recipes that you’ve tried cooking up during quarantine?!
As I mentioned before, I’m not a very creative or inventive cook. I pretty much cook just for the sake of sustenance. But I’ve been refining my favorite pasta recipe: sautéed red onion, baby bella mushrooms, sometimes sweet potato, red bell pepper, and whatever other yummy veggies I have in the fridge with olive oil, salt, pepper, and red cayenne pepper. I also add vegan sausage, sliced and crisped in a cast iron skillet. I’ll use whichever pasta fits my mood that day – either tortellini, gnocchi, or good old farfalle and top it with pesto and parmesan. The trick is to mix the veggies, sausage, and pasta all in a skillet once it’s been cooked to get the pasta crispy! Super easy to make in a large batch and have leftovers for when I don’t want to cook again later, which is most of the time.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?
I know these are really scary times for everyone. The level of stress is skyrocketing, and there is so much uncertainty. If you can, try to take time for yourself every day. It’s okay if you don’t feel motivated – it’s okay if you’re sad.
As for me, I’m doing my best to stay connected and do lots of live streams on social media. I hope you’re enjoying “triptych,” and I’d love to hear from you! You can reach out to me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! We will hopefully all be able to be together soon, and I’ll finally be able to play these songs live for you all.
Back in action in 2020, Anna Dellaria continues to shed down to the soul and embraces her bare bones throughout her songwriting style that naturally tugs at the hearts of listeners. I caught up with Anna for a chat about the recent release of her new single, “Sorry Doesn’t Work”, finding passion through her philanthropic contributions, gratitude for the things that are often overlooked, dreams of playing Outside Lands and more.
Congrats on the release of your new single, “Sorry Doesn’t Work”. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the track.
Thank you! Honestly, the message with this one is more of a question. What can I say or how do I fix/take back the pain that someone I love is feeling? For me, it was following a fight with someone I loved and I had said words that I didn’t ultimately mean but knew would sting in the heat of the moment. Afterward, I was left with this desperation to take back those words or just console the person and make it better but ultimately knew that it would be out of my control.
You have worked with foundations such as Beyond Differences in the past. Tell us about your philanthropic contributions and what they personally mean to you.
I’m really looking forward to doing more work with organizations like Beyond Differences to bring awareness to causes I think all of us can relate to and unite around. Beyond Differences was special because it focuses on giving young teens tools to be kinder towards one another and feel less alone. Programs like “No One Eats Alone” Day where literally every student is paired up with a new friend at lunch or tools on how to handle cyberbullying. I think it’s important to take care of our youth right now – they are the future.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
I love this question! I’d say the overall question of “am I good enough?” or the thought of “you’re not doing enough” comes to mind frequently. Often that’s initiated by social media, or having a day of feeling “off”. What I’ve found to be helpful for me is to physically get out of my head/house. Often I’ll force myself out for a walk with only the expectation of “just go to the corner and back” and 95% of the time I end up walking a few miles with a fresh perspective and sense of gratitude cause I’m not huddled over on my screen watching everyone “do better” than me. Dogs are the same thing – find an animal if you can to just literally remind you that the world is so much bigger than yourself and you’re doing the best you can.
What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
I have a really mixed opinion on it. Frankly, I think social media is particularly toxic because it’s become a platform for us to usually post a “highlight reel” of our lives that inevitably makes others feel inadequate or alone. At the same time, I think the digital world, in general, have allowed friends and family to connect, and as an artist, it’s allowed me to share my music without having to go through the big pearly gates of a major label like it used to be. I guess a good way of putting it is it can be used for evil as much as it can be used for good haha.
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 being an active family member and trying to find gratitude in the things around me even when it’s hard to accept. There’s always been this weird guilt inside for feeling bad while having a roof over my head & pursuing my dream when so many around the world are in worse places. However, I try to utilize that guilt to be kinder to those around me and do little things to raise awareness for those who need it.
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’ve found writing to be really helpful, even if it’s just like a single paragraph. Other times I’ll make sure to stay in touch with loved ones or try to find a routine someway that creates a sense of stability.
If you could jump on any festival roster that’s been released already for 2020 and play a set which festival would you choose and why?
A little tricky now with the ongoing virus, but Outside Lands is a dream festival of mine. It’s 20 minutes from where I grew up and was one of the first music festivals I ever attended in high school, so it’d be surreal to be on stage one of these days looking back.
Photo Credit: Lilly Duran
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?
Thank you for your support and love and stay safe. <3
Australian Musicians, Violent Soho, are utilizing their artistry to portray their perception of what many sacrifice for comfort and what comfort commonly means to mass society. I caught up with Drummer, Michael Richards, to chat about the recent release of ‘Everything Is A-OK’, the band’s relationship with Pure Noise Records, staying occupied in quarantine and more.
Congrats on the release of your new album, ‘Everything Is A-OK’. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the release.
In a very broad sense the messaging of the album is intended to point toward the poverty inherent in middle class suburban comfort in and by the way that it encourages a hollowing out of human impulse for the sake of economic convenience. The irony of our current moment also offers a tendency to further point toward questions of just how secure that consideration for life really is. It seems middle class ambition is perhaps now more a skeuomorphic provision for what is in reality a plugged in and forever clocked on and inescapable banality. Mundane and unfairly rewarding.
I know that the Coronavirus has been really impactful on all, yet tell us the lowdown on how you have been utilizing all of your time in quarantine.
Up to this point, having a new album to promote has been a nice project to work on and has served a decent role in distracting me just a little bit from how completely fucked up things actually are right now. I feel very lucky that having this time to share a new creation of ours with the world has offered me up an olive branch of positivity. I hope people are feeling that vibe coming from us as well. Our messaging may point to our own experiences of the cynical ironies of the world, but taking life in your stride and staying positive is definitely something that we also want to convey to our audience. I hope people have been able to take some positivity from the album in that sense. God knows it’s important to have some positive convictions in your life at a moment where much of the world is going to shit.
What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
The current social climate requires you to project a desirable version of yourself onto a major corporate media platform so as to impose on others your unique and remarkable existence in such a way that will best utilise (something that is a total phenomenal abstraction) that we refer to as ‘the algorithm’ in gaining the maximum number of likes and followers, thereby commodifying your own leisure time into a self-illusory hub of pixels and fake friends. Pretty disgusting actually.
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 am proud of my family, my son, my ability to work hard on something and to finish what I set out to do. I’m proud that I’m not a sell-out. I also love my wife quite a lot.
Tell us about your experience working with Pure Noise Records so far. How has working with the label enhanced your artistry?
Pure Noise are a label who focus on building up strong working relationships. They are a no bullshit organisation who only expect you to do what you do best and to be the best version of what you do. They don’t back talentless pretty-faced garbage, so it’s very comforting to know that you can bring your output to them with the full confidence that your own honest work is going to be based one hundred per cent. It gives you a sense of confidence in projecting your work honestly, knowing that it will be backed. It’s down to us to deliver strong, they encourage us to believe in ourselves.
Los Angeles Musician, MishCatt, allures audiences with sonic explorations that pull at the heartstrings of listeners. In celebration of the upcoming release of ‘The Real Pavo’, I caught up with MishCatt for an in-depth interview about the importance of self-discipline and getting out of your head, the honor of being a part of Avicii’s tribute album, finding peace and happiness in cooking, showing support for the people that helped you get where you are today and more.
Congrats on the release of your new EP due out in April. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the EP.
This EP, ‘The Real Pavo’, is about exploring the complex relationship between me and my inner self. A sort of love story about how to connect back to my soulful roots. The songs already released look at various stages of that journey, from dreamy and melancholic to frenzied and chaotic. And with the last song on this EP, “Your Eyes,” it represents the last stage of this journey, the final act that completes the journey of the purple girl.
Being featured on Avicii’s tribute album must have been a huge honor. Tell us about how Avicii’s music has affected you and your trajectory as a musician.
It was an incredible honor to be a part of “Fades Away,” and to help raise awareness for mental health while supporting the Tim Bergling Foundation at the tribute concert. The concert had a massive impact on me. It was hard to comprehend in the moment, but everyday I’m grateful to have been a part of it, and to be able to see nearly sixty thousand people cheering and singing along to one person’s music… it definitely showcased the impact Tim had on all of our lives.
His music affected me a lot. I really gained an extra appreciation when I started playing his songs on guitar. In the simplest way, you realize how great they are, every song he did. They felt very authentic, and had a strong message behind them that spoke to people. I feel he hugged us with his music, he made us feel like we’re not alone. And I think that’s something every artist hopes to accomplish.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
Honestly, every day I have to overcome many challenging thoughts. Some days you wake up and it feels like bright blast of sunshine and creativity, other days you wake up and it’s a nightmare. Either case, it’s good to pull yourself out of your bed and get out of your home, and start moving your body. I think it’s harder for people who have to manage their own schedule, self-discipline is its own roller coaster. But the thing that has helped me the most is to just move your body. Walk, run, stretch, dance… it will help in every way, just like magic.
Also, sometimes we get caught up in our heads too much, and we think everything is about us. But when you start directing your attention on helping others, all the problems you had lose power. You realize how much time and energy you spend feeling worried, nervous, anxious, for stories in your mind you create, that are not even real. And how much helping other people energizes you and them. You are actually able to choose how you want to feel, and that’s a power I think we should try to capture more.
What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
Well… now that’s a complex issue. On the one hand, social media can bring us together unlike anything that’s ever existed in human history. I can talk face to face with my best friends in Costa Rica and my brother in Paris, that’s incredible. Hard to imagine writing letters and waiting for one in return. But the patience involved in that process is now completely gone.
I think the immediacy of social media, social trends, and just life has gotten so crazy. Social media is also making people very depressed because they think it’s real life. It’s more like a highlight reel that’s edited to look perfect, but no one lives that way. And the ones that do often times aren’t happy. So I think we need to be careful to remember that social media is a very powerful tool, and you can do great things with it, but it can also create a lot of negativity if you’re not careful. So overall, I think it’s a blessing and a curse.
And if we look at the digital world we live in today, we have access to so much information, yet it’s still difficult to easily know what’s 100% true or false. Everything can be manipulated in the digital world, so it’s important to stay skeptical. It’s interesting to wonder what the internet will look like in 20-30 years, and how society’s relationship with it will be.
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.
Well I studied photography, so that is something that I want to continue alongside my music career, it has always been one of my passions. I also find peace and happiness in cooking, and consider it another way of meditation. I see the kitchen as another art space. I love experimenting and playing around with different foods and spices, never knowing quite exactly what’s going to come out at the end of an always changing methodology. I feel that way about music sometimes.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus and explore throughout the new content, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
When I’m on the road, I love to listen to podcasts that keep me curious and in a happy state of mind. The Tim Ferris show is one of my favorite ones. Try to keep myself busy, to keep my mind moving, like writing, drawing, making music. I like to drink lots of water and have good people around. Try to stay away from coffee and sugars, which gives me really bad ups and downs in my hormones. But then you go to Sweden and you’re drinking two pots of coffee a day and eating every sandwich in sight, so it’s always a working process. But it’s good to have goals, you know?
If you could jump on any festival roster that’s been released already for 2020 and play a set there, which festival would you choose and why?
The lineups are pretty good both in Coachella and Lollapalooza Brasil this year… but I’d say, Lolla Brasil. It would be my first time going to Brasil, which has been on my list for a long time now. I really want to live in South America for like a month and travel around. But to be there for the first time, and to have the opportunity to share the stage with the amazing quality of artists playing, wow…yes.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?
Many of the most successful people in the world didn’t get where they are just on their own, they had people that believed in them, and pushed for their success. But they wouldn’t have inspired those people to follow them, if they didn’t believe in their vision and had a strong self confidence. It’s important to quiet your mind, and feel what really excites you, what makes your heart jump, what creates a spark in you, and erases time, and everything around you when you do it. If you confined that piece which drives you, work on it and you will gain the confidence to pursue it no matter what. And with that confidence and drive, you will start attracting people who align with those goals, and help elevate your vision for what you want to do in this life.
LA-based Musicians, Bósa, emit a clarity throughout their hypnotic music that draws listeners deep within themselves. In celebration of the release of ‘Off The Grid’, I caught up with Bósa for a great chat about the importance of eating mindfully and fueling your body/mind with healthy food, their gratitude for Gravitas Recordings, taking moments to reflect on their journey and experiences, dream festivals that they’d love to play and more.
Congrats on the upcoming release of your new album, ‘Off The Grid’. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout this release.
Thank you so very much for inviting us to introduce our music to your peeps! We’re quite excited about the album’s arrival, and very grateful to Gravitas Recordings for their stellar support on this journey. Our message, in some part, is to inspire through our sound as an invitation for listeners to enter a channel for connection, a much needed release through dance as a way to bond in celebration and shed light on some global issues both conscious & climate. This album is an example of our natural expression, one that we wove heartfelt intentions into which we hope everyone enjoys themselves through listening.
Stephan, as a seasoned veteren in the festival circuit, tell us a bit of advice that you have for up and coming DJs that are entering their first year in the festival world?
The festival world is a tribe so I suggest being humble while persistently honing and sharing your music as you strive to retain originality and utilize your skills to achieve something higher than you think you can. Enjoy learning new performance techniques and get familiar with the business side as well.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
There are times when we desire things that have not yet come to fruition, which is a program we are learning to change. In the grand scheme of things, life throws us up many perceived obstacles, so our remedy is taking moments to reflect on the positive aspects of our current situation, and simply taking a deep breath to feel grateful for the luxury of what we have experienced and accomplished so far.
What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
There are pros and cons to the digital world and social media has drastically changed our communication and method of creation. Sometimes we long for the analog days, but there’s always something to learn here, and many aspects of existing in this world which are very positive as long as humans keep compassion in mind as we make better decisions on how we use this technology to hopefully ascend ourselves in many ways.
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.
You see beauty in many things when you’re open to it. Living in a vegetarian manner with animals and the planet in mind, while helping out with simple donations to those in need keeps us grounded.
Stephan: I love my daughter and being a father more than anything, my circle of friends and community. Together provide a balanced life for 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?
As artists, being healthier rather than just raging every night is the new standard. Hitting the gym and hiking as often as possible. We still have fun but becoming a wake up in the morning team has taught us some valuable lessons; for positive mental health, working on music instead of staying up late and sleeping-in all day is much more productive for longevity. The more you have a formula that promotes your chill zone the better. Decompress with yoga and a conscious diet. Greens baby! Appreciate the entire journey.
If you could jump on any festival roster that’s been released already for 2020 and play a set which festival would you choose and why?
Shambala = we’ve heard such amazing things about it for decades, and many friends have performed there who would always paint this as a very mystical festival. We look forward to one day bringing our unique soundscape to delight the woodsy creatures.
Boom Festival = phenomenal festival with amazing art and music. It was really impressive how they executed the production with seasoned grace. This is a conscious event with an excellent model, that really embraces a family vibe, so this would be a sweet stop to connect with a new tribe of folks whom with we could connect.
Fuji Rock = legendary and always has a stellar line up, plus you get to be in the mountains of Japan, which is a glorious landscape and people there are so chill and sincere. you really feel something ancient under the buzz of the fast pace city and technology.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?
Try to stay positive and level headed during times of adversity, keep an open mind. Vote and eat consciously! We are super excited to have you hear and share this album with your famz! We will start seeing you in person very soon with our multidimensional live show!! Thanks for listening.
Denver Indie-Folk Band, Trout Steak Revival, have developed a kinship that translates naturally throughout their artistry. Ahead of their March 13th stop at The Ark, I caught up with Will Koster for a great chat about the recent release of ‘The Light We Bring’, building his own house over years in between touring, being proactive about mental and emotional health through taking walks along tour stops and more.
Congrats on the recent release of ‘The Light We Bring’. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the release.
Thank you! For this album we really focused on the strengths that we have individually, as a group, and in our community of friends. We self produced this album which was an empowering and expanding endeavor. The band also did a bunch of composing for the parts that the guest musicians played on the album which includes a string section, trumpet, clarinet, bass clarinet, and flute. I drew the art for the album cover as well. It felt good for us to be creatively operating as a unit and experience it all coming together.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
I just recently started solo-ing on the guitar during a Trout Steak show, I usually just strum the thing and left the solo-ing to when I played the Dobro. The first show of taking some solo’s on the guitar I had a lot of nervous/self doubting thoughts that I hadn’t experienced in some time! It has been an interesting experience feeling that again and trying to focus past the feeling and just be in the moment and stay connected to what I’m playing musically.
What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
I just joined the streaming music revolution a few years ago, I was holding out! I think it is an amazing thing to be able to listen to anything you want… anywhere… anytime. I can still get my music shopping fix with vinyl records which seems to be a format growing in popularity again. I think social media is great for connecting people and sharing joy. On the other side of the coin, it can be a distraction from what is right in front of you and really take away from real interaction. Balance seems to be the key to most things in life.
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 am very much a tinkerer and love learning how to make things. Before playing music full-time, I was a carpenter and learned the trade before building my own house over a handful of years in- between touring. I started drawing a few years ago and am now in the middle of making an illustrated children’s poetry book that adults can also enjoy. My wife is also an artist so dreaming up the next project is an ever-evolving conversation and experiment.
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?
It can be very taxing on our mental and emotional energy on the road. The most important thing is that we as a band are taking care of eachother, sometimes the gift of someone making you a peanut butter sandwich in the van is all you needed to overcome your worn-out feeling. Also, we love to take walks when we get into the next town a little early. It’s a great way to stretch out the legs and the mind as well as get a feel for the city where we are going to play a show.
If you could jump on any festival roster that’s been released already for 2020 and play a set which festival would you choose and why?
I would choose Telluride Bluegrass! That festival has its own culture which has been growing since before I was born and it is such a special gathering to be a part of. The band started going there a decade ago and the connections made with people during that festival has added so much joy to my life.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?
Thank you for your support! We wouldn’t be able to do this if it weren’t for our fans coming out to shows, sharing our music with their friends, and being a part of the friendly and connected community that is the Trout Steak family.
Standing tall and spreading his wings through the lens of passion, Kyd the Band is on a humanized ride that takes listeners of his multi-genre music straight back into their hearts. I caught up with Devin for a great chat about the recent release of “Go There”, reaching a mental and emotional turning point over the past 12 months, his devotion toward his loving wife, giving back to his little brothers and sister and more.
Congrats on the recent release of your new single, “Go There”. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the track and video.
Thanks! With “Go There” I wanted to portray a short yet important message – that while it can be painful and uncomfortable, it’s 100% worth it to be real with yourself and those closest to you.
You are out on tour with Lennon Stella and NF. What are you looking forward to visiting most?
Paris. I only got to spend about 12 hours there last year so I’m excited to go back.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
One challenging thought that I had over and over the past few years is that I will never accomplish anything “great” or really be that “great”. Over the last 12 months, as I’ve begun to do a lot more professionally, I’m having a shift in my thinking and my view on myself careerwise. I’m slowly realizing that I’ve been obsessing over the completely wrong thing, and that I’ve turned my life into a mission to be “important.” At the end of the day my accomplishments are not making me feel less alone, more fulfilled or happier. I guess this is a thought I’m in the process of overcoming.
What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
The digital world is wild right now! I feel like everybody’s attention spans are becoming shorter. I feel like we’re all just trying to one-up each other. I feel like “viral” means “successful.” I feel like there’s no rhyme or reason. From a music industry perspective I’m seeing what feels like gimmicky/meaningless music that gets elevated to the forefront of culture. And that’s not a knock on those artists, but I just feel like as an artist you have an opportunity to say something. Especially when you have a platform like this. With everything going on in the world, why not take advantage of the opportunity.
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.
Beyond being a musician, something I take pride in is being a husband. My wife is my biggest supporter and my family. She’s the only part of my life that I know will always be there unconditionally. I also take pride in being the oldest sibling. My little brothers and little sister mean the world to me, and while I don’t get to see them as often as I used to I feel an even stronger sense to take care of them and be there for them when they need me.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus and explore throughout the new content, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
I try to limit how much I’m on my phone, which isn’t easy being in my industry. I notice that when my daily screen-time average is up that I’m also significantly more anxious, unhappy, and mentally-foggy.
If you could trade existences with your favorite cartoon character growing up, who would you choose and why?
My favorite cartoon character was Peter Pan. I’d trade with him, he can fly and looks out for his homies.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?
Thank you for supporting me, none of this happens without you. BAND.
Singaporean Artist, Annette Lee, is living out her dreams and dipping her hands in a variety of creative endeavors that allow her to bring her compassionate and open heart forward. In celebration of the recent release of “Song For The Underdog”, I caught up with Annette for a great chat about overcoming thoughts of comparison, her day-to-day work as a Digital Creator with SGAG, persevering despite the odds, using her artistry to show empathy and more.
Congrats on the release of “Song For The Underdog”. Have you experienced being the underdog in any of your endeavors? If so, how do you perceive that feeling served you?
Thank you! I’ve often felt like the underdog growing up. It seemed like the odds were stacked against me – I was never the cool kid (which definitely led to getting bullied), definitely not a rich kid, my family was dysfunctional and I was constantly falling ill – the list goes on. But I also grew up hearing stories like the one of the Tortoise and the Hare, and believed that like the underdog can win. So that feeling, coupled with the hope I had, definitely spurred me to press on despite the odds, allowing me to see some victories in my life, so I really wanted this song to be an anthem for anyone out there who is in a place in life similar to where I was in my hardest times. That said, and there are also new odds that come with each passing day, leaving me to feel like an underdog once more.
Give us a rundown of a day in your life of being a Digital Creator/Comedian with SGAG.
Everyday looks different for me! Depending on what phase of video production I’m at, I could be coming in to work and brainstorm ideas for a video (sometimes they’d be videos for brands who work with us on sponsored content), or writing a script, or out on set directing/acting in a video.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
I used to struggle a lot with comparing myself with others who seem to have had it ahead in life and feeling like I’m not good enough, and feeling anxious about not achieving as much. But over time, I’ve discovered – in the spirit of the fable of the tortoise and the hare – that it’s not how you start but how you end. And how I overcame it was reminding myself constantly to compare myself to who I was yesterday instead of to the people around me.
What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
The digital world is very much a false reality. I think social media culture causes us to see extremes, the worst of news and the best of our peers – both of which can easily cause us to fall anxiety or depression. Seeing bad news being amplified definitely can cause fear in people and cause us to lose hope, and seeing the ‘perfect’ lives of everyone else can make us feel like we aren’t good enough. That said, there’s also so much about the digital age that allows for good news, great art, and useful tools and knowledge to be more accessible than ever before – and it’s also able to enrich us in so many ways.
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 and digital creator that you take pride in.
I always believe that people come first no matter what. So as an artist, while I enjoy creating work and feel a need to do so, but I always think of how I can show love through my work, and how I can show love to others in my daily life. So I take pride in knowing that I understand the brokenness many people face, and that I can use my art (be it music or comedy) or my personal capacity to show love to just one person who’s hurting or struggling.
As you are exposed to a lot of stimulus working in the digital world, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health?
We’re so bombarded with noise in the digital world, and so many people are addicted to their phones and don’t even realise it. I find it so important to consciously take time off my screens and disconnect for a while as often as I can, to find my thoughts in quiet and solitude, instead of letting the noise overwhelms me.
If you could trade existences with your favorite cartoon character growing up, who would you choose and why?
Probably Perry the platypus from Phineas and Ferb, because he is a house pet who is secretly a spy detective. You can’t have a cooler double life than that haha.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?
Thank you for paying attention to my work – I can’t do what I do without you guys and I won’t take your support for granted. And I hope that you stay thankful and kind and never take life too seriously!
Arkansas Punk Rock Band, Go For Gold, continue to unfold with a dynamic punch of meaningful lyricism and infectious instrumentals. In celebration of the recent release of “Let Me Go”, I caught up with Guitarist, Jared Williams, to discuss being a part of the InVogue Records family, anxiety and criticism being a double-edged sword, trading existences with Spongebob Squarepants and more.
Congrats on the release of your new single, “Let Me Go”‘. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the track.
The new single is about a bad relationship but from an honest middle ground. It’s not colored by an individual perspective. It encompasses the mistakes on each side and takes into account that they are both at fault.
Though a broad question, what have you learned about yourself and what skills have you developed through working with InVogue Records?
Our main take-away so far is that working with a label will not instantaneously put us where we want to be. Teaming with InVogue gives us a real shot at making it; a shot a majority of artists don’t have, but this is where the work truly begins. Nick Moore has walked in our shoes before. He provides expert advice from the business side as well as from being an artist. We just have to be smart enough to utilize the tools him and his team provide us with in a way that creates success.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
I struggle with anxiety and am overly critical of my own abilities. These traits are a double-edged sword. They force me to push myself but they can also leave me in a terrible place mentally. I end up feeling overwhelmed and often like I’m not good enough. I tend to push all of these feelings down into myself. For various reasons, it took me a long time to acknowledge that I had these issues.
What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
This is kind of a loaded question! I feel that it is a blessing and a curse. It’s a great way for new artists like ourselves to connect with people. We can find/create audiences we may have not been able to if we had started our career at a different time. It also creates a larger demand for content. As an artist, we can’t sit still if we want to survive. We have to continually be creating and advocating for our seat at the table.
As a person, social media can be mind-numbing, divisive and have negative effects on a person’s perception. It’s important for people to connect in more intimate ways when possible. Nothing will ever take the place of face to face human interaction. Meeting people in-person provides us with their true identity. It allows us to develop a greater understanding of who someone is as compared to a tiny blurb on a Twitter thread.
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’m currently finishing up my DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) degree. This has been a seven year journey that comes to an end in July/August. I’ve always been attracted to a challenge and love to push myself.
As you are exposed to tons ofstimulusand explore throughout the new album, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
I think that music is the way I’m proactive about it. Up until recently, I completely ignored my mental and emotional health. I drained myself empty. Music is the main outlet that I utilize to vent my frustrations. I think that’s why people connect with it. We all get stressed out. We all can beat ourselves up from time to time. We also can learn to keep our heads up.
If you could trade existences with your favorite cartoon character growing up, who would you choose and why?
I would be Spongebob Squarepants. I love that show to this day. Even in high school, I had full episodes completely memorized. It’s a classic. Spongebob is light-hearted and easy going. He works a job he loves and seems to have time to hang out with his friends on top of that. Spongebob is living the dream and he knows it.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?
Thank you to anyone and everyone who has taken the time to listen or talk to us. We do this because we love it and the fact that you all have connected to our music or ourselves in some way is completely overwhelming. Welcome to the cool kid’s table.
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Photo Credit: Lilly Duran
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