California Rockers, Joyous Wolf, are steadily rising and making a name for themselves while ensuring to remain grounded along the way. Through the success of ‘Place in Time’, the guys have been able to tour with some of the greats and are gearing up to join Deep Purple on a North American run. I caught up with Lead Vocalist, Nick Reese, to discuss finding balance in the digital age, words of wisdom from Myles Kennedy, keeping your ego in check on the road and more.
Congrats on the release of ‘Place in Time’. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the EP.
Lyrically it all sort of fell together into a theme of writing about my generation and the current one coming up. The way the norm has changed so drastically so quickly and how that effects young people coming up. It’s my interpretation of that.
What have you learned about yourself and what skills have you developed through bringing Joyous Wolf to life back in 2014.
That’s a long list of things… The music business is definitely a hurricane and through all of our travels we’ve really have adapted to just about any challenge thrown our way. You name it we’ve probably experienced it.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
Every day is a development, a chance to build on your flaws. I’ve spent a great deal of time and energy working on mine. The one I battle with the most is always feeling responsible for any issue that happens around me. I take it personally and want nothing more than to fix it. I’m learning to overcome that.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
Like anything else there are pros and cons to social media. It’s been said over and over that these things are meant to bring us together, but they can drive us further apart. My only idea to counter this, is how I would go about countering any addiction, by living in moderation. Finding balance in life in all forms. If you fall too far to one side, you will fall over.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
I take pride in my writing. I’m always penning something, whether it’s a few words or an essay worth it helps me sort out my thoughts. I take pride in being physically fit because it has been a matter of mastering parts of my self discipline. I take pride in all of the wonderful friendships I have made these last four years, unforgettable human kindness and binding community. At the end of the day, all I ever wanted was a lot of real friends. I was a lonely kid so that really does bring me happiness.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
I’m definitely self deprecating to an extent I try my hardest to keep my ego in check and I always remind myself of every challenge and obstacle that I cleared along the way. I remember all of the people who have helped me and I work hard to do right by them. On the road I write and performing on stage really helps me sort out my demons. There are bad days, but that’s just life. All about keeping the momentum forward from today to tomorrow.
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.
My personal favorite was a small talk I had with Myles Kennedy earlier this year. He said to me “You bleed for the audience and don’t give a fuck, never change that”. So I won’t. I’ll cherish that moment always. I hope he knows how much that meant to me.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
Thank you for all of the support for the boys and I. The fact that so many people have hopped on this train with us is unbelievably humbling. I love you all!
Pakistani-American Sister Duo, Krewella, are back and have channeled a transcendent energy that is beyond the physical with the release of their energetically rich single, “Mana”. Diving inside to find the power within, this electronic-infused bundle of hope, joy, love and power balances the masculine and the feminine while reaching beyond the boundaries of the common soundscape within the Electronic world. Do yourself a favor and check out the music video for “Mana (Magical Power)” below.
Nashville Indie Singer, Resurrection Fern, dials into the nooks and crannies of her heart and draws listeners into a state of heart-wrenching bliss right from the start throughout her beautiful new track, “Savanna”. Strumming away with a light and lush guitar, Resurrection Fern isn’t an artist that is in it aiming for the stars; she’s in it for the love of music that comes straight from her heart. Lyrics that speak of melancholy laced with a bruised heart that has reached a place of facing the truth of the situation, the heart that is cold in Indiana is coming around with awareness and a new outlook on the next chapter.
Having entrusted songwriting duties to a close friend, there is an intimacy spiraling throughout the lyricism and energy of “Savanna” that leads toward the magnetic pull that listeners naturally feel throughout every listen. Being the first single stemming from Resurrection Fern’s upcoming EP, there’s plenty of room to state that we’re in for a delightful bundle of musical joy to come. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Ingrid Michaelson, Regina Spektor and Colbie Caillat, then keep an eye on the ride ahead for Resurrection Fern on YouTube.
Vancouver Musician, Aza Nabuko, is in bloom both as a musician and a human being who is bound to stretch beyond the boundaries of her known over the years to come. Experimenting with a variety of seasons of life metaphorically throughout her lyrical back-tale, Aza’s recently released self-titled EP is one that mesmerizes both young and mature listeners. Here’s our track-by-track thoughts.
Kicking off with the first track, “Strangers”, Aza channels the maturity of Banks as she begins lyrically spinning a web of intense feeling that showcases how two individuals that were once insanely in love can fall apart once lies and thoughts become hidden behind closed doors. “Ordinary” is the second track that showcases self-awareness as lyrics that put concrete truth into Aza’s ability to discern her supposed faults empower listeners to be more of themselves when falling deeper into intimate relationships. The third track, “Fade Away”, begins with a soft and emotive piano instrumental that leads into the highlight of Aza’s seemingly divine vocals that spill forward words of yearning for release.
“Heart of Concrete” is the fourth track that takes listeners down a tunnel of dark and back into the light as lyrical awareness shares Aza’s thoughts of being alone in her mind with her ever-growing brick wall heart that she is aware has grown through the pressures of heartache and pain. The fifth track, “Space Between”, is an EP highlight that speaks to the lucid air that stands between two human beings that once shared their entire lives together as Aza becomes increasingly lyrically aware of the distance that continues to grow. Closing out with “When We Fell in Love”, Aza lyrically reminisces on the moments in which she felt like nothing in the mind of a human being that she perceived as her everything through phenomenal songwriting that is bold and abounding with empathy and truth.
If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Banks, Grimes and Halsey, then keep an eye on the promising ride ahead for Aza Nabuko on YouTube.
Los Angeles Musician, Dirty Chime, creates a dreamy musical atmosphere that aims to remove fear from love throughout his latest hypnotic single, “Fifty One Fifty”. Through lyrics that speak of denial that is trapped within the veins of his lover, Dirty Chime dives deeper than life under the covers to uncover the remnants of pain within the eyes of a lady that he once perceived as divine. Knowing his emotional limits and lyrically speaking of feeling as though he has reached the point of no return back into a state of love, Dirty Chime is vulnerable and full of human feels throughout “Fifty One Fifty”.
Leaving listeners in a trance through atmospheric instrumentals that mimic the likes of an array of artists such as Bonobo and Blackbear, Dirty Chime has created his own signature rhythm and rhyme that meets both the modern-day of Electronic listeners and those who prefer diving into a more sultry mood through music. Matching the visuals that provide the inner elements of a sinister soul that has lost control, the music video for “Fifty One Fifty” shows Dirty Chime’s ability to extend his creative prowess throughout many genres of art. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Blackbear, Mod Sun and Gnash, then keep an eye on the ride ahead for Dirty Chime on SoundCloud.
LA Superstar Musician and Artist, Jillian Shea, is as consistent as it comes and is having fun coming into her own and claiming her throne throughout her latest single, “Talk Too Loud”. Approaching vulnerability lyrically without a slight bit of hesitation, Jillian Shea embraces that her voice is heard throughout the nation and beyond and has reached a place within in which all veils have been replaced with the courage to simply be herself. Having thoroughly embraced the expansive opportunities that have come through the digital age, Jillian is commonly recognized through her lead role on the Disney hit series, ‘Walk the Prank’, but it is becoming evident that she is also becoming recognizable and notable as a musician.
Through each and every new single that Jillian Shea puts out, the color palette in her mind continues to burst and expand and come together to paint musical pictures that emit nothing short of humble confidence. Maturing with each and every new hit, Jillian Shea is on the edge of stardom while remaining grounded as an artist of many talents. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Selena Gomez, Halsey and Camila Cabello, then keep an eye on the promising ride ahead for Jillian Shea on Soundcloud.
Los Angeles Pop-Rock Band, Potty Mouth, have come a long way since their days in Massachusetts and have used their passion for artistic expression to blend together as a unit of love. As the ladies gear up to head out on tour, I caught up with the impassioned band to discuss the recent release of ‘SNAFU’, money management, recognizing emotions and more.
Congrats on the release of ‘SNAFU’. Tell us about the creative and recording process and what you learned about yourself along the way.
Abby: Thank you! This record has been a long time coming so it feels great to finally be putting it out into the world. I think the big thing we learned while recording and releasing this album is just to trust ourselves. Over the course of our career we’ve had a lot of people come into our lives and act as if they knew what was best for us, and we didn’t know any better than to just believe them. We always knew when something felt weird, but it takes experience and perspective to know the difference between growing pains and something that’s just not right for our band. Now we know better and I’m proud of us for powering through it.
What new techniques and/or skills did you learn in the studio through experimentation while working on ‘SNAFU’?
Victoria: At the beginning of the recording process we programmed electronic drums to act as the skeleton of each song. All of the guitars, vocals, etc. were recorded over that. I went in afterward and recorded the live drums you’ll hear on the record. In the past we’ve always recorded drums live with scratch guitars and then gone back and overdubbed everything. This process is great for a lot of reasons, but I was happy to try something new. Our approach to SNAFU offered a different workflow and a new kind of flexibility in conceptualizing my drum parts.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
Ally: Being in a band really pushes you to wrestle with your own feelings of jealousy. Part of the nature of being an aspiring band/artist is that you also tend to be friends with a lot of other aspiring bands/artists. When you’re on the outside looking in – usually from the perspective of social media – it’s easy to feel like everyone else is getting something bigger and better than you are: more opportunities, more tours, more recognition, more followers, more money, more whatever. That kind of thinking is based on a mindset of scarcity; the idea that there isn’t enough “good stuff” to go around for everyone, so we all need to compete with one another in order to thrive. It’s a yucky and unproductive feeling. Where’s the joy in any of what we’re doing if you can’t celebrate the successes of your peers? Growing with this band has really helped me figure out how to recognize feelings of jealousy for what they are and turn them around into something more productive. I remind myself how much I love being part of a larger network of hardworking, talented creatives that inspire me to keep pushing forward, even when things get hard. Moving to LA has made me feel even more supported in our band’s endeavor because we’re constantly surrounded by so many people with similar goals. It doesn’t feel threatening. It feels exciting, and I feel so lucky to have a part in the journey.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
Victoria: I use Instagram mostly to post and look at pictures of animals.
Abby: I hate it and I love it. I hate that I get so lost in scrolling through meaningless content, but I also love that it’s an endless source of inspirational art and people. I think it’s important not to spend too much time on social media though, because it’s easy to get lost in comparing yourself to unrealistic standards. Sometimes I have to force myself to take time away from Instagram because when I do I always feel more free and confident. I’m able to focus on my own ideas and where I’m at in my path instead of looking at someone else’s accomplishments and feeling like I’m way behind them.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
Abby: I love sewing! My mom taught me how to use a sewing machine when I was pretty young so I use to make most of my clothes in middle school and high school. I love going to Goodwill and finding old clothes that can be made into something new and original.
Ally: I’m proud about how responsible I am with money! I’ve been financially independent for a long time and it’s forced me to be really “prudent” with how I manage my money. In LA, I pay twice as much for rent and make half as as much money as I did in Massachusetts. It sucks. But I wouldn’t be able to swing it if I didn’t have the responsible money managing skills that I have. Sometimes I’m truly amazed by how much of a shoestring budget I’ve managed to live on out here. Hopefully it doesn’t last forever!
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
Abby: It’s hard but getting as much sleep as possible is really important. Touring is really rough on the body, the most you can do is be honest with the people around you about how you’re feeling so everyone can be aware and sensitive to the different needs we all have.
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.
Victoria: Play like everybody’s watching.
Ally: Remember that when you play a show, you’re somebody in the audience’s ‘one night out’ that week. Maybe it’s the one night they’ve been looking forward in weeks. Make it fun for them.
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old that you were?
Ally: If I looked into my soul, I think I would see the soul of a 60 year old woman. If I think about my heart though, I still feel young.
Abby: I’m 25 now and I’ve felt 25 for the last few years haha!
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
Abby: I hope you love the record as much as we do!!
London Musician, Ámaris, is back with a full force lyrical spin through her her intuitive side throughout the release of her latest album, ’26’. Here’s our track-by-track thoughts.
Kicking off with the first track, “Jelly”, Ámaris bounces right into a metaphorically rich dose of songwriting that is seemingly impeccable as she describes the feelings that she encounters when it comes to connecting with the touch of another that creates a rush within. The second track, “Sunburn”, begins with the feelings of a track by Lorde as Ámaris snaps her way into a lyrical explanation of the remnants of sin that are left on her skin from a lover from the past whose aura continues to linger. “Diamond” is the third track that lyrically dives into the diamond that Ámaris is as she holds another accountable for pushing her limits with bold and expressive jabs. The fourth track, “Numb”, dives deep into the pool of wonder that left Ámaris feeling caught in a web of deceit as she claws her way out. “Last Day In The World” is the fifth track that is an album highlight that carries the feelings of a track by Madonna as Ámaris teases the individual who sparks a fire in her heart and lyrically creates the expectation of another giving her nothing short of their all.
The sixth track, “I Need You”, lyrically tackles the feelings of indecision as she attempts to follow her heart and stay true to herself as the human beings that she surrounds herself with don’t understand how deep her feelings have gone. “Snow Flake” is the seventh track that begins with a hypnotic instrumental that entrances as Ámaris’s songwriting style once again comes to the forefront as the core of who she is. The eighth track, “The Storm”, takes the album for a turn as Ámaris lyrically takes a walk through feelings of betrayal that she encountered within a relationship that just couldn’t make it out to shore. “Thankful” is the ninth track that is slow and sensual and bound to ignite feelings of confidence within a listener that is going through a tough patch of life. The tenth track, “Long Way (Disillusioned)”, begins with a long and fluid instrumental as Ámaris lyrically reminds herself of how far she has come throughout this game that we call life. “Blurred” is the eleventh track that showcases Ámaris’s ability to swing back and forth between Pop and Electronic as she lyrically recalls blurry feelings from the past that weren’t strong enough to be relevant in the present. Closing out with “Supernova”, Ámaris has remastered the track with precision that leaves listeners hanging on the edge of their seats for more of what she continues to explore within.
If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Lorde, Halsey and Purity Ring, then keep an eye on the ride ahead for Ámaris on Soundcloud.
Bloomington Musician, Michael Bruner, pours out straight from the heart both lyrically and visually throughout his easy and breezy new track, “Don’t Mean Broken”. Stepping out of moments in the darkness and back into a place of tranquility, Michael Bruner reminds listeners that self-love is what revs the engine of peace in the world as peace throughout the world begins within. Extending his ability to entrance listeners with his soft and seasoned vocals that leave the mind in a state of serenity, Michael Bruner instrumentally meshes his lyrical content seemingly perfectly and has created a true Spring/Summer jam.
Artists such as Michael Bruner create music for the right reasons. Giving the world the gift of his spirit, Michael Bruner has worshipped humanness and the ever-fluctuating emotions that we experience and in turn has morphed his into a work of musical art. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Death Cab For Cute, twenty one pilots and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, then keep an eye on the ride ahead for Michael Bruner on Soundcloud.
Norway Electronica Artist, Metaspion, has stepped away from his roots to bring to life a lyrically rich work of musical art within his latest single, “Pyros”. As envisioned through the title, Metaspion kicks off his lyric video with a blast of visual fire that carries the traces of his intent to lyrically burn the pain of the past away at last. Traces of Folk introduce listeners to the reality that the music commonly played on the radio isn’t all that there is as Metaspion spins his way into a bold new world of Poi and more.
Back in the Pretty Lights ‘Finally Moving’ days is where Metaspion takes a seasoned listener and music lover who will instantly swoon over the dynamic richness of soul that is spilled throughout “Pyros”. Tying in the violin fluidly in a manner that Lindsey Stirling has, Metaspion stands out in the world of independent musicians and has quite the journey ahead if he chooses to stick with creating art from the heart. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Gorillaz, Rage Against The Machine and Fever 333, then keep an eye on the ride ahead for Metaspioin on Soundcloud.
