Tag: Rock

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Concert Reviews

Bring Me The Horizon Soak up Love From Packed Detroit Crowd

British Rockers, Bring Me The Horizon, are back with an emboldened fire that is morphing into a blaze. Riding the high from their first and well-earned #1 Album in the UK with the recent release of ‘amo’, the gents of Bring Me The Horizon are soaring to new horizons with an Electronic and Trip-Hop element that invites listeners from all backgrounds and walks of life into their dynamic Rock world.

Kicking off their sold-out Detroit show with “I Apologise If You Feel Something”, the gents hyped up the frenzied crowd by waxing and waning through their growing eclectic discography. Rounding to second with their hit single, “Mantra” and floating effortlessly into “The House of Wolves”, Bring Me The Horizon proved that they are a band that creates their own rules and fans are receptive and impassioned by their every move. Creating an experience of a lifetime, Oli Sykes created a frequency within the room at The Fillmore in Detroit last night that was both hypnotic, captivating and a showcase of the band’s immense growth over the years. Traveling back to their third studio album, ‘There is a Hell, Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There Is a Heaven, Let’s Keep It a Secret’, to play tracks such as “Antivist”, long-time BMTH diehard fans were enamored by Oli and the gents ability to capture the heart of the band’s ever-growing legacy within a two-hour set.

All Photos: Jessica Golich

Grab your tickets HERE to the remaining US dates of the ‘First Love’ Tour with Bring Me The Horizon, Thrice and FEVER 333.  

February 5 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom

February 6 Minneapolis, MN Armory

February 8 Dallas, TX South Side Ballroom

February 9 Houston, TX Revention Music Center

February 11 Denver, CO The Fillmore Auditorium

February 13 Los Angeles, CA The Forum

February 15 Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theatre

February 16 Las Vegas, NV The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Bring Me The Horizon Social Links:

Facebook • Spotify • Website

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Gatherers

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.  

Gatherers Social Links:

Facebook • Spotify • Website

Photo Credit: Kelsey Hunter Weinberger

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Hopesfall

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.

Photo Credit: Josh Cannon Photography

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!!

Photo Credit: Stephanie Augello Photography

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!

Thanks for listening to us over the years. It’s a privilege to have this creative outlet and we are all grateful for the support!!

Hopesfall Social Links:

Facebook • Website • Spotify

Photo Credit: Natalie Bisignano

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Dig The Kid

LA Alternative Pop Duo, Dig The Kid, are bringing their colorful insides forward through their music and artistry in a magnetic way that touches on their roots, transcends boundaries and spreads love. I caught up with Lisa and Cory to discuss the personal meaning behind “Raw”, the power of consistency, the boundless talent out there in this world, reminding yourself that all human beings see through different eyes and minds and more.

Congrats on how well “Raw” was received and felt. Tell us about the creative and recording process behind the track and what it personally means to you.

Cory – We really had a great time putting the song together and couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. The process of writing and recording “raw” was a bit of a balancing act of “feeling”. We wanted to tell a story not just with the word but also with the structure of the composition. At what point does the listener need to feel this and does the composition as a whole feel organic, because love and intimacy at its best should be organic. We were trying to capture that and retain it’s natural push and pull. Personally for me it was a bit of a milestone in our songwriting, in the past we’ve strayed away from more mature subject matter but it was exciting to tap into another side of ourselves for Raw and new self discovery is always a great endeavor.

What are some new techniques that you have recently learned in the studio that you can share?

Lisa – Don’t rush the precious studio time you have, even if you’re on a budget. That extra $500 you spend could be the extra magic that makes the song shine. Grab your guitar, try out some pedals, and play single notes to add depth. Sometimes, you may even find another melody that completes what you’ve been missing. Those are the best parts of recording for us. Grab the most random things to record and try those too. Try it all.

Cory – Not necessarily new but one that really helped the process on “Raw” was being fortunate enough to be able to come in weeks early to lay down a multi tracked live demo. It allowed us to be able to listen to it back and decipher within it what we might want to change or adjust. And in the case with “Raw” we actually kept the drums from that demo. No click, it added a whole new layer to the song title! it’s a testament to Lisa’s skill and professionalism in the studio that it moves so fluidly through each musical segment.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?

Lisa – We find it’s incredibly hard to hurry up…and wait. Everyone wants you right now, whether it’s a project, song or business deal. So you scramble to meet a deadline, only to barely make it, and then you wait what seems like forever. The music industry is famous for that. You have to learn to deal with certain situations individually and take things one at a time. Believe in your team and keep positive, no matter the struggle.

Cory – One that we’re constantly faced with as song writers is staying relevant in a soundscape that moves at the pace of bullet train. There isn’t really a way to predict what people will want they will just know when they hear it. To overcome that fear, we’ve tried to think less about relevance and more about consistency. Over time we’ve built a trust between ourselves and our listeners that we will buck trends in order to always produce a well thought out and uniquely constructed piece of music that stands up to our caliber of quality.

What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

Lisa – The struggle is real. Everyone’s music is now based on numbers. Industry folk pass on artists because they’ll come across someone who has 500 followers on Spotify or Instagram vs 50,000. There is a world of talent out there and everyone is focused on the numbers of an artist. Now that you can buy likes and friends, how do we know what their actual numbers are? Let’s discover what an artist is really about through their music, not their status, because most of us have so much more to offer than hashtags.

Cory – Personally it saddens me a bit that as a populace so many of us can get lost in our phones, fishing for likes and follows. I grew up in the middle of that change I watched the internet connect us and inform us as it grew into and now out of our desktops and laptops and phones into our everyday vernacular. Checking our phone is part of the same routine now as brushing our teeth or putting on shoes. I think it’s about time to move past and out of the information age, and if I can dream, into a new age of understanding.

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.

Cory – I love to consume a lot of my time with movies, not just watching them but the whole production of them from their initial thought to their retrospective. It sounds geeky but it’s true! These are our storytellers these are our myths. And every once and a while they will open up a truth within you that you’ve yet to discover. And sometimes if you’re really lucky they can inspire you to create your own stories. For me it’s a constant never ending cycle of watching really talented individuals work together to produce incredible creative feats.   

Lisa – I live my life for my friends. I love being out, being apart of the world. I’m often the life of the party and I love people (for the most part). If I could pick one restaurant a day to discover, I would. It’s hard to be a human sometimes, and even harder to keep positive. When you surround yourself with people (and food) who love you, everything else is a bonus.

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?

Cory – I’ve always looked for holes in the wall. We are very fortunate as musicians that travel is part of the job, and in traveling there is so much to explore along the road. Sometimes it’s a simple matter of disconnecting with our job at hand and reconnecting with people and the world around us. We’ve been to so many unique and hidden places and meet such a wealth of wonderful individuals who want to share their lives and stories with us. It’s very honoring in fact that we get to carry a little part of their lives with us.

Lisa – I think the question should be how’s your mental health when you’re NOT on the road. We get along quite well, and even though we are completely opposite, we still are into the same things. We try and respect each other’s space on the road and look out for each other. It’s when we’re not touring that brings us down. We write songs fairly fast, and when we can’t showcase them is when we get the music industry blues. It’s hard to avoid, so we throw parties at our studio here in LA. We invite tons of local and touring musicians to come jam. We remind ourselves that we’re all in the same boat and music is about a feeling, and that commonality is why we’re here.

Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way of your journey of being a musician.

Lisa – Don’t forget to enjoy your life while you’re on the road to success, because your level of success shouldn’t be measured by your own standards. You are succeeding right now. Trying, is a form of success. “Keep moving, keep pushing” and don’t ever put your eggs in one basket. Hatch them eggs everywhere! 

Cory – Patience, and understanding they are the most valuable tools we all have in life. Be patient with those around you, in your job, and in life. Success takes time, no one became or achieved what they wanted overnight. Also understand that those around you see through different eyes. They will never be able to see the world the way you do so take the time to see things as they do. The more perspective you can have in life the more you’ll understand the bigger picture. The world as we know it isn’t flat, and the motives of others are no different.

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!

Mongelli – We have big plans coming soon. We’re playing the long game. Prepare for new music, whether it’s on Spotify or in a Movie or TV show. And thank you for being with us and showing us everyday that we’re still on the right track.

Cory – I couldn’t say it any better, thank you for all of your love and support!

Dig The Kid Social Links:

Facebook • Website • Spotify

Photo Credit: Linda Wake Garza Photography

10 And 8 Management:

Website •  Facebook • Twitter  

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Morning in May

Ohio Pop Rockers, Morning in May, are consistently subconsciously celebrating their ability  to be on tour and share their music that is created from the heart with the world. I caught up with Lead Vocalist, Jake Bartolic, to discuss the creative process behind ‘Survive The Night’, perceiving social media as either a platform to your benefit to promote your artistry and connect or a battlefield, having a conversation with himself as a senior citizen and much more.

Congrats on the release of your recent EP, ‘Survive The Night’. Tell us about the creative and recording process and what you learned along the way. 

The creative process behind ‘Survive The Night’. Josh (Guitar/Backing Vocals) and I wanted to write an EP that encompassed elements of all the music we love and grew up listening to. We wanted break downs and pop punk elements and all of the Feelings we could pack into 6 songs. Josh and I sat down over a couple months and wrote our hearts out trying to formulate perfect songs that people could feel confident, laugh, and just simply feel something to. We write songs for when you’re sitting in your bed at night alone from the world scrolling through your phone and seeing all the stuff you want to be or think youll never have. when you’re completely alone and your friends are gone. We wanted a medium for people to start helping themselves from within. We learned how to write and capture those ideas and really getting our troubles into songs.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with yourself as either a child or a wizened senior citizen, who would you choose and why?

I would sit down with myself as a senior citizen. If I told myself as a child everything was gonna be okay. I wouldn’t be as crazy and passionate about what I do. The fire may be doused and I would of had a safety net. Therefore, I pick my senior self and figure out what I could have done better or faster to help myself actually enjoy things in life instead of always trying to progress.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?

A challenging thought I’ve had to or always have to overcome is the doubt and struggle our whole career. “What is this for?”, “Have I wasted my whole life on something that’ll never be?’, “Am I destined to fail because I’m made for something else in life and just haven’t figured it out?”…..Over time these questions sway back and forth from worse to motivation and our progression and goals we achieve and lives we touch just prove me wrong and I love that.

What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

Our perception on the digital world. I believe there’s always a balance in life. With the digital world being more accessible to get your music or whatever you’re creating out there. everyone else is as well. So it’s easier but your competition is stiffer. Figuratively we shouldn’t be looking into our neighbors yard to see what they’re doing or how well, but were forced to on social media. it could be motivation or horribly discouraging. Social Media just like anything else isn’t the problem, it’s people. A platform is only a foundation or a battlefield depending on how its used.

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.

Parts of us beyond being musicians; we’re entrepreneurs. I myself do a little bit of everything. I do woodworking, metal sculptures, skateboard, all of those as hobbies. But what the guys and I share is that we love just being therapists for people, friends/fans whatever it is we all love talking about life to others and just sharing stories. We always wanted to help lives and spread so much beauty. We don’t have a lot of time here so we wanna do as much as we can with the time given.

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?

Honestly being on the road is our dream come true and with that being said, we also get those questions “Does this matter?”, “Are we close to where we want to be?”….. We love our families and friends of course but we have different lives and none of them really know what’s going on or how far we are or the fact that people all over the world listen to our songs and were out here doing what we do. So the guys and I all share the same separation. We have something to go back to but we really don’t have anything to go back to if that makes sense. So our mental states always swaying. It’s like, ” Cool we can be on the road forever cause no ones checking in on us….oh… no ones really checking in on us.”…..So like i said there’s always a balance. We really have each other so we kinda just write the best story we can with each other.

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.

Words of wisdom. Always be nice to everyone. No one owes you anything. Smile and be grateful you’re there. Always be on time and make everyone else’s job as easy as you can. Always help. Yes even if they’re not good to you.

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!

Find the beauty in all things and create it where there is none. Something I like to say. Life’s not what happens to you, it’s how you react to it. Never see your problems as crutches only lessons.

Morning In May Social Links:

Facebook • Twitter • Spotify

10 And 8 Management:

Website •  Facebook • Twitter  

Categories
Music Reviews

Stories Untold – “Mrs. Blues” Music Video World Premiere

Michigan Rockers, Stories Untold, are bright-eyed and alive as they soak in the energy of one of the most enduring times of their lives as they prepare for the release of their farewell album. Their latest single, “Mrs. Blue”, is a track that simultaneously emits emotive intensity and impressive musicianship within a forceful blend of instrumental intensity and sing-along appeal. Rising from the ashes in search of lucidity, Stories Untold finds comfort in their puzzlement and lyrically portrays a state of flux with electric vocal emphasis on the feeling of crushing desperation.

Stories Untold Social Links:

Facebook • Twitter • Website

Photo Credit: Jacob Giampa

Production: Marguerite Wasinski of Stargazer Digital Media

Click below to experience “Mrs. Blues”

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Awake At Last

Delaware Rockers, Awake At Last, have proactively chosen to not allow another season of life pass without living out their Rock ‘N’ Roll dreams. I caught up with Lead Vocalist, Vince Torres, to discuss the doses of spirituality laced within their ‘Life / Death / Rebirth’ EP, writing songs about overcoming obstacles, playing video games ever since he was in high school, food as medicine, law of attraction and more.

Your ‘Life / Death / Rebirth’ EP is laced with spiritually rich doses of lyrical wisdom. What personal experiences led you toward taking that creative route with the release?

I had reached a point where I thought a lot about the afterlife, and what it means for most people. I’ve seen plenty of movies and read some amazing books that had described it and I wanted to explore one based on what I think mine would be like. There are themes of anxiety and depression, themes of love, and themes of heartbreak, and self realization.  

Tell us about the profound connection that you have developed with ‘The Awakened’ and what it means to you.

The Awakened is still in its infancy, but I think that gatherings like “The Awakened” are key to success in this modern era of the music industry. I believe that an artist, and their fanbase are symbiotic in nature and anything that can remove all the smoke and mirrors, and put an artist directly in front of their fanbase should be explored. We sing songs about overcoming the obstacles we face while trying to chase our dreams and we hope that it will inspire others to experience an “Awakening” of their own. We want to be the voice in the back of your head that tells you to “Pick up that Paintbrush”, or “Write that song you’ve been working on.”….together we can be a support group that helps each other find ways to live fulfilling lives.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?

This industry is a hard one to navigate, and the recent success has boosted the band onto a slightly larger platform. I struggle with anxiety and there have been plenty of triggers that send me into chaotic thought processes. Like all artists I think we always ask, “Are we good enough?” or “Will anybody really listen?”, but the one thing that always remains constant to me are the voices of our listeners who loved a song that helped them through a hard time, or finished a drawing, or project they were working on while listening to us. Every wall that I come up to is met with hundreds of extended hands to inspire me to continue to push forward so that I can continue to inspire them. But when I take a step back and realize I’m just a piece of “The Awakening” myself, I don’t feel so anxious, or it’s a more excited form of it.  

Photo Credit: J Marko Washle of Life of the Party Entertainment

What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

Truthfully, I find it difficult to navigate. It has been both a burden and blessing for us in this band, but overall I’m beginning to understand it more. For the first time we live in a world where artists are right at the fingertips of their fanbase and the people who support them. I think that the digital era is revolutionary and i’ve seen how it’s transformed artists and given us the tools to scream our visions on the largest platforms ever. It is highly competitive, but I love that it gets us right in front of the people who support us. I think that like all cultures it has its positives and its negatives, but without it we wouldn’t have been able to do what we do today so it has helped to guide and challenge us.  

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 love music more than anything and it has always been a comfort for me through everything.  I’m also however very interested in telling stories and have also considered paths as an author, or writer. I always like to tell stories with my music in a visual way. I’m also a bit of a nerd and have been playing games like Dungeons & Dragons since high school. I love the thought of exploring other worlds, and crafting worlds for people as well. I’m also very interested in psychology and I enjoy the study of the mind. I’m also an avid believer in the law of attraction and try to live by it 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?

I wish I had a good answer for this but truthfully it can be a bit of a struggle still. I try to occupy my mind with other worlds to weave and get involved with and tend to be a bit of a daydreamer. I try to eat as healthy as I can and the band always goes to the gym while we’re traveling to exercise and create positive habits. Sometimes I’ll play a video game, or read a book or draw. I try to stay sharp and creative.  

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.

Be ready to wake up early. I love playing festivals, but they’re a grind from dawn till dusk. However the hangouts afterwards are always worth it. Another huge piece of advice or word of warning would be that the high highs can come with low lows. It’s important to reflect on the good times when you are faced with difficulties or bad times. I also think that it’s usually a good idea to follow your gut. Sometimes if you have a bad feeling about something or sense a disturbance in the force just take yourself out of the situation.  

What has been your favorite new city or country to explore while on the road? What stuck out to you?

I’m in love with cities like New Orleans, and Nashville. The culture and vibe is just very vibrant and competitive and there is music everywhere.But I’ve also fallen in love with some of the aesthetics of New England, and we have made amazing friends and fans in Virginia. I love going south because it stays warmer usually and everyone is really friendly. The musicianship of some of the artists i’ve met in Nashville are mind blowing, Canada was amazing as well. Everything was just slightly different and It was amazing to explore a new city with a slightly different culture. I love all of the pieces that make up the tapestry of what we do.  

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!

I just want to reach out and let them know that we wouldn’t be anything without them and as we come up on this new year and this new album there isn’t a better time to get involved. We finally found some people who believe in our vision and we can’t wait to show them what we have in store next. We want ‘The Awakening’ to be felt by all of our fans and loved ones and want to inspire and continue to grow alongside them and pursue fulfilling lives.  

Awake At Last Social Links:

Facebook • Website • Spotify

Photo Credit:

Adrienne Beacco

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Kaleido

Detroit Rockers, Kaleido, are a bundle of Motor City soul, electric energy and fearlessness which has been artistically translated into the inspiration behind the creation of hit tracks such as “My Enemy” and “Open Your Eyes”. I caught up with Lead Vocalist, Christina Chriss, to discuss overcoming anything through knowing within that you are capable of doing so, her choice to end a battle that she has faced for years, upcoming new music and more.

You went all out throughout the release of your single, “My Enemy”, which is accompanied by a beautiful music video. Tell us about your personal experiences that led toward the creation of that track.

Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, right? That’s part of what makes it awesome. You need the clouds and storms to appreciate when it’s clear skies & sunny. There are ups, and there are downs, there are friends and, of course, there are enemies. Sometimes there’s a blurry line between, and ultimately a lesson to be learned. Most of us can remember our first experiences with an enemy in the schoolyard… and as life goes on sometimes, we discover a different type of enemy. One that lives inside our head, inescapable and lurking in the shadows, chiming in consciously and unconsciously every day. Sometimes our greatest enemy is ourselves. No matter the type of enemy I’m experiencing, whether physically or psychologically – ultimately, I know I must overcome it. That’s what this song is about. Finding strength, rising above & conquering.

Fellow 313 born and raised here. Tell us about your experience growing up in Detroit. What neighborhood/area did you live in and how has the city of Detroit served to enhance your artistry.

I grew up on the east side in a blue-collar household. I experienced a lot of different situations and people from a young age. Detroit’s been an underdog for a long time and it has inspired me to work hard and persevere. When nothing is handed to you your whole life it makes you appreciate what you have because you work your ass off to get it.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?

I’ve gone through some big changes in my life personally and professionally lately, and it has caused some emotional turmoil. As I mentioned earlier, I understand that life is full of highs and lows, but it’s always a challenge to get back up when you feel down. I believe everything happens for a reason and the biggest challenge is finding the positive in a negative situation… and then turn it into a song.

What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

It’s really great to keep everyone connected, but I feel that it’s creating a whole new beast to deal with in the mental health department. A resounding theme throughout my responses here is the good vs bad in life, and finding balance. I feel that social media is an awesome thing, but don’t forget there’s still a whole real world out there.

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 a compassionate, humble human being who genuinely cares about others and the world. I strive to make the world a better place through spreading light, hope and positivity.

Photo Credit: Evil Robb Photography

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’s easy to get wrapped up in an unhealthy lifestyle in this industry. It takes a lot of self-control and will power, and I can admit that personally I have battled this for years. I don’t drink anymore, and it’s honestly one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself. I’m awesome, and I’m just even more awesome without alcohol. Eliminating that alone has done wonders for my health – emotionally, mentally and physically. Being on the road is very mentally stimulating and I absolutely love it. New sights, cities, and people every day is inspiring and invigorating.

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.

Hard work, dedication, persistence, authenticity and staying humble are major keys to success. Everyone has an opinion. Don’t let anything or anyone stand in your way. The word “No” serves as a powerful catalyst.

Is there new music coming from Kaleido in 2019?

YES! We’ve just finished recording it and will be releasing it later this year. Stay up with us on social media for release dates!

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!

I love you, KaleidoFamily! Thank you for your positivity and support. You inspire me and I can’t wait to give you our new music. It’s the best and most personal yet!

Kaleido Social Links:

Facebook • Spotify • Website

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Great Good Fine Ok

Brooklyn Duo, Great Good Fine Ok, have racked in a consistent 1 million monthly listens on Spotify and continue to ride the high tide into the new year with their latest release, “Easy”. I caught up with the guys to discuss balance and making sure that you are taking care of your part in your interpersonal relationships, their three latest singles, escaping from stimulus while on tour and more.

“Change” and “Touch” are great introductions to what is to come within your upcoming album release. Tell us about your creative and recording process so far and what you have learned along the way.

The creative process has been the same since the very beginning. Luke creates the music, sends it to me, and I write the lyrics and the melodies. Or sometimes the opposite, I’ll have a melodic or lyrical idea and bring it to Luke and we’ll work that way. After that initial step, we go back and forth and polish up everything together, but it works for us to separately do the things that we are best at.  This band has taught me the power of collaboration. Years ago I thought that writing with other people could water down my “vision”, but on the contrary, I was limiting my vision by relying solely on my particular skill set.

If you could go back to day one in the studio, would you have thought that both singles would have turned out the way that they did?

Both “Change” and “Touch” (mainly “Touch”) evolved considerably since the day we started them.  Hearing a song take shape over time is part of the joy of what we do. When we started “Touch” it had a very edgy electronic vibe that reminded me of the band Muse.  As it progressed and we added lap steel and acoustic guitar it turned into something completely different.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?

For me, 2018 was filled with a lot of life extremes. Love, death, joy, pain and everything in between. I do believe that you learn more from the pain, so in that sense, I am grateful.  Looking at it like that makes it easier to overcome these things.

What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

Similarly to the way some people are more equipped to do drugs recreationally, and some people, for whatever reasons, should never do drugs, I believe some people are more equipped to handle the social media vortex.  You only see the extremes. Famous/successful people, rich people, or people failing or battling hard times. Most of life is somewhere in between, and that is a much healthier place to focus. I use social media to reach our fans or connect with friends. Period. I try not to get caught up in just scrolling and I know that most of what I am seeing is not reality. Some people have a harder time with that, and it can be triggering and dangerous. I have mixed feelings about the digital world. In some ways, it is endlessly good, but I worry about what it is doing to the generation of people who never lived without it.  

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.

Being a good friend, family member and partner is important to me. Interpersonal relationships effect me on an emotional level much more than my career does.  I like when I can nurture those things. I take pride in being kind to others and making a constant effort to see the forest through the trees.

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?

There is a lot of down time and traveling when we are on tour, so we try to use those times to center and escape from the stimulus. We try to exercise, eat healthy, and explore different cities – helps us stay sane.

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 have collected along the way.

I heard the frontman of one of the bands we toured with say something along the lines of, “You shouldn’t get nervous because wherever you are, you deserve to be there.” I am paraphrasing, but I often think about this sentiment.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with either yourself as a child or yourself as a wizened senior citizen, who would you choose and why?

I would definitely talk to the wizened me. I’d rather learn from myself, than teach myself. The child me would definitely benefit from talking to me, but he needs to learn certain things on his own. So does current me, but…I’d still love to know the things I’ll learn in the next 50 years.

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!

We are excited for the next chapter. Lots of new stuff coming.

Great Good Fine Ok Social Links:

Facebook • Twitter • Spotify

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Charming Liars

Charming Liars, Photo by Catie Laffoon

LA-Based Alternative Band, Charming Liars, capture the heart of their former home town of London with their signature high-energy style that is fused with Electronic spontaneity. I caught up with Guitarist, Karnig Manoukian, to discuss the theme behind their latest single, “Something Dark”, being able to lean on your bandmates for mental and emotional support while on the road, putting in the work toward progression as both a human being and musician and more. 

Photo Credit: Catie Laffoon

Congrats on the positive reception of “Something Dark”. Tell us about the personal experience that you encountered that led you toward creating that track.

The key to this song was the energy from the bass synth in the verse. It created a dark mood and our Vocalist, Kilian, straight away turned to me and said, “Something dark lives in this song”, and then we were off! In terms of lyrical content, we had just watched a docu-series on Netflix called The Keepers and it goes into the dark details of the clergy in Baltimore and how they abused children for decades without punishment. That story stuck with us and essentially created a foundation for the song.

What did you learn throughout the creative process of “Something Dark” that will stick with you in the future?

We didn’t really learn anything new but we just pushed the boundaries of where we had already been. Instead of overcompensating the song with guitars we wanted to strip it back and have less. The less we had, the better it would become.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?

There is the single challenging thought that haunts us on a daily basis and I don’t think we’ll ever overcome it – Will we be accepted and invited onto the next tour? Will we get back out on the road and play every single night? We won’t ever overcome this no matter where we are in our careers. We always strive to play more shows and never want to stop!

What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

In one way, it’s opened up so many doors for people to be able to make a living and promote themselves. In another way, it means that people with no talent or character or personality can find their way to success and financial reward. If used in the right way, social media can really help people but it’s easy to see how a lot of people are negatively affected by it.

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.

Personally, putting your head down and working. There’s so much competition out there and so few places. Those people that want to work less and have an easy ride have NO CHANCE at succeeding. So I take pride in knowing that at the end of every day, I did as much as I could to make progress in life.

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’s a mission. At the beginning of a tour we’ll all pledge to eat healthy and keep fit. A couple of weeks in and we are eating fast food almost every day. Mentally and emotionally the same thing happens and we get worn out. The best thing is to lean on and get help from your brothers or bandmates. That’s how we do it. There are times where we need to lift each other up and we’re there for each other to do that.

Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way throughout your time as a musician that have stuck with you along your journey.

Not too many memorable words of wisdom yet. A couple of key obvious ones stick out though. Firstly, play every show like it’s your last and secondly, record every song like it’s your last.

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!

Thank you for sticking by us and believing in us. Our new album comes out in late February!

Charming Liars Social Links:

Facebook • Twitter • Spotify