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Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
2019 Artists Guide DAILYWILDCAT.COM
Who’s playing • Who’s local • What you need to know
Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
B2 • The Daily Wildcat | DUSK Artists Guide
DUSK | CD REVIEWS
A review of DUSK performers albums, from KAMP
COURTESY ATLANTIC RECORDS
ARIZONA ASYLUM Electro-pop Dance-pop
BY BENNETT TOLAR @KAMP_Radio
BY MATT INGARGIOLA @KAMP_Radio
The New Jersey band A R I Z O N A has a lot going for them. The easy-going pop melodies on their second and most recent album ASYLUM lend a relaxing air to the project, belying the heavy emotional undertones. The lead single from the album, “Nostalgic,” is led by a chorus of “Ok, fine, maybe I’m a little nostalgic/Cause the memories are flooding my mind.” Who doesn’t relate to the shame of wanting one more taste of a dismantled relationship? It’s easy to see why A R I Z O N A fits so strongly into the canon of the late ‘10s era lackadaisical dance floor material. It’s not difficult to step into the groove of band member David Labuguen’s keyboard on “Trouble,” or lead singer Zachary Charles’ Bastille-esque vocal refrains on “Freaking Out.” A R I Z O N A clearly has a future in the realm of Top 40 groovy hits. Their debut GALLERY charted at No. 24 for U.S. Alternative, and with sufficient good press. ASYLUM could easily outperform that.
Arkade Destinations Iceland is a brand new addition for Kaskade’s series called “Destinations.” The series itself is a compilation of various artists streamed from said location(s) featuring artists such as Mr. Tape, Late Night Alumni, Classic Unknwn and more. Kaskade started the series in Tulum, Mexico, back in 2018, but this time it continues in Iceland. This recent album primarily focuses on House. To simply describe the album in one word: “chill.” The album has a mix of ambient and electronic rhythms that release pure eccentric vibes. Going through my first listening, it gave me the impression that the series itself wants us as the listener to feel as if we are a part of the location it’s set in. There are songs that are simple and have buildup, making it more intricate. This album, in my opinion, serves two different functions for listeners — dance or chill — and it definitely shows through each track, which transition well into one another. I definitely would suggest giving this a listen; this is a set guaranteed to make you move.
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB FALSE ALARM
Kaskade Arkade Destinations Iceland EDM House
FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS ALL THE FEELS POP NEO-SOUL
POP-ROCK ELECTRO-POP
BY NATE SMITH @KAMP_Radio
BY RUBY FULFORD @KAMP_Radio
False Alarm is one of those wonderful albums that is undeniably fun to listen to the whole way through. It’s poppy and dance-able, but with interesting lyrics and musical twists and turns that make it unique and stand out from more generic indie-pop contemporaries. The album makes excellent use of synth and electronics, blending a variety of tones and effects from soft ambient chords to sharp riffs to pretty chime-like noises. The electronics are mixed with distorted guitars and thumping bass, creating an album with layers and depth. The wide range of sounds used on this record is one of my favorite things about it – there’s even a sampling of birdsong at the beginning of “Break.” I liked how the vocals switch tones, sometimes quite suddenly, from cleaner lower and mid-range vocals to lofty falsetto. Vocal distortion was used well, most notable on “Think” and “Dirty Air.” I was surprised by Open Mike Eagle’s feature on “Nice To See You.” It admittedly felt a bit out of place, seeing as there aren’t really any other hip-hop elements on the album, but I still appreciated the unexpected addition to the song. Another element of the album that surprised me was the ending. The last song cuts off abruptly, right in the middle of a phrase, with no resolution
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COURTESY MAISON KITSUNÉ
whatsoever. The first time I heard it, I checked Spotify multiple times to be sure I hadn’t accidentally played the album on shuffle or unintentionally skipped a part of the song. I was frustrated at first, as the closing track “Already Gone” had been one of my favorites, and I was disappointed to be left without a satisfying ending. However, after coming to terms with the lack of closure, I feel that this ending was an interesting and bold decision. The sudden stop provides a definite end point that demands the listener’s attention and leaves them wanting more. I’ve never heard an album that ends like this before and I certainly think it was a worthwhile creative risk. Overall, Two Door Cinema Club’s False Alarm is loads of fun, perfect for a sunny weekend day or for times when you need some tunes that will put you in a good mood.
Let’s start with a quick caveat. As a metalhead and only previously knowing “Handclap,” I wasn’t expecting anything spectacular from this new Fitz and The Tantrums album. That being said, I do feel that I can still provide a quality, unbiased take on the new record. Starting with the lead single “I Just Wanna Shine,” what first struck me was the top-notch production and how much it reminded me of Cage The Elephant’s “Tell Me I’m Pretty.” Layered instrumentation and interesting production choices obfuscate what is essentially a very basic pop song. Uplifting lyrics and some great melodies really make this song a true banger, despite it not being the most groundbreaking thing out there. “I Just Wanna Shine” is definitely the best song on the album. The final song, “Livin’ for the Weekend,” is a strong closer for the album. The melody feels oddly familiar and it is very groovy. It sounds like a song Panic! At the Disco would do, which is not a bad thing. Second best song on the album. Throughout the album, the band nods to soul roots with cool piano samples and catchy horn lines. While I wouldn’t consider the album’s sound electronic, it has a lot of samples and I don’t think I heard any real drums. I would have liked a bit more guitar or acoustic instruments, but that is personal taste. Vocals
COURTESY ELEKTRA RECORDS
are a strong point of the album, mixing pseudospoken lines with high poppy melodies and very sing-able choruses. I’m sure there is some autotune in there, but it’s never too obvious. Once again, nothing super original here, but this isn’t a huge issue. Lyrics in pop songs aren’t required to be intellectual, but it would have been interesting to see some deviation from the norm. Overall, this album isn’t amazing, but it is enjoyable. Catchy tunes abound and the album flows well. I don’t think Fitz and The Tantrums was trying to produce a groundbreaking album, and that’s okay. The songs are well done, if a little uninspired at times. If you want a fun, easy pop album, look no further.
Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
The Daily Wildcat | DUSK Artists Guide • B3
DUSK | BY THE NUMBERS
Dusk Music Festival facts and figures BY AMBER SOLAND @its_amber_rs
100%
cashless
According to the official Dusk website, the Dusk Music Festival is going 100% cashless this year to improve safety, security and the experience at the festival. “A cashless festival is easier to control and gives a lot more data after the fact so we can continue to make the festival better for our attendees,” said Chad Shearer, the media contact for Dusk. All attendees will be receiving an RFID wristband as their ticket into the festival, which they can either add money value to or connect to their credit or debit card. No vendors of any kind will be accepting cash at the festival.
$50,000 to charity
According to Shearer, Dusk’s primary charity partners are the Tucson Children’s Museum, the Rialto Theatre and the All Souls Procession. The festival donates approximately $50,000 per year, with the bulk going to the Children’s Museum. Without its sponsors and local partners, the Dusk Music Festival wouldn’t be possible and neither would their generous donations, according to the official Dusk website. Dusk has 32 national and local community sponsors and partners in 2019 and seven media partners.
3 stages For 2019, the Dusk Music Festival has garnered three separate stages for their musical artists. On the main stage, attendees can look forward to seeing their biggest national acts, according to Shearer. A local DJ decided in a recent competition will open for these acts. The second stage is for some national acts and a few lucky locals. This year, the third stage is set aside solely for local acts.
11,000 people According to Shearer, 9,000 people attended the Dusk Music Festival in 2018. This year, festival organizers expect about 11,000 people in attendance.
500 staff
15
artists
Of course, the main draw of the Dusk Music Festival is the music lineup. This year, 15 popular bands from all over the world are coming to Tucson. The lineup has been in the planning stages for a while and Dusk has been releasing the names one by one since the festival date was announced. According to Shearer, a lot of work went into deciding which artists would be attending — festival organizers looked carefully into what is popular in Tucson as their target demographic, up-and-coming artists whose live performances are of a specific quality and how well each artist meshes with other artists at the show. “We definitely try to get a little something for everyone and I feel like as the festival evolves, we will get even more variety,” Shearer said. Kaskade will be kicking things off on Saturday, Nov. 9, followed by other major artists like A R I Z O N A and Fitz and the Tantrums. The following day will bring other big names like Rezz and Two Door Cinema Club. To learn more about this year’s music lineup, visit the Daily Wildcat or the official Dusk website.
Anywhere from 100 to 200 people run the event each day, according to Shearer, but security officers and vendors add another 200 to 300 people working at the festival. Including music artists and their accompanying staff, as many as 500 people at any given moment are working to make the festival a reality.
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Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
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30 ARTISTS
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Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
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The Daily Wildcat | DUSK Artists Guide • B5
B6 • The Daily Wildcat | DUSK Artists Guide
Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
DUSK | LOCAL ARTISTS
Locals dare to dream at Dusk DJ Competition BY SHANNON SNEATH @DailyWildcat
With the Dusk Music Festival right around the corner, festival organizers have scanned the city for local artists — specifically local DJs. The Dusk Music Festival DJ Competition was held on Thursday, Oct. 24 at Gentle Ben’s Brewing Co. on University Boulevard. The competition began on Sept. 16, calling all DJs to apply for a spot to open for the performers during the festival. For 14 days, potential openers submitted music mixes of their own creation, hoping to earn a spot. The only limitation set for applying for the competition was an age limit — the DJ’s had to be 18 years or older. According to Tori Cachia, the Dusk Music Festival director, about 45 people apply for the spot each year, but the process is incredibly competitive. Only five DJs will compete for the final spot in front of a live audience and only one will go on to open at Dusk. “I applied last year for the DJ competition at Dusk,” said Drew Chickering, a junior at the University of Arizona. “I sent them in my material, but I was turned down since there were so many sick DJs already applying.” This is only the second DJ competition Dusk has held. This year’s competition lineup includes five local DJs: Thoolan, Wolfie, Low Audio, ENRI and Cookie Joe. “I’m super stoked for the competition and have been putting in lots of work,” Wolfie said. “Winning this competition is really important to me and I want my set to reflect that. I’m also really excited to be competing with some of my good friends. It’s going to be a good time regardless.” At Gentle Ben’s, each DJ performed 30 minute sets, according to Gentle Ben’s Facebook page, and the winner was decided by crowd voting. However, that is only a small percentage of the total vote. “[Crowd voting] can be a determining factor on who wins,” Cachia said. “About 95% of the score is determined by our judges who have a certain criteria that was relayed to our contestants.” The low acceptance rate of the competition gives the DJ chosen for Dusk lucrative advantages in terms of experience and public exposure. That DJ will have the opportunity to play on the main stage at Dusk alongside popular performers like Kaskade and Two Door Cinema Club. “We have set times, already structured, and we have a time slot set aside on our main stage for our DJ competition winner,” Cachia said. “That information will be released closer to the event.” Look out for this year’s winner at the Dusk Music Festival.
ERICKA RIOS | THE DAILY WILDCAT
LOCATED ON THE SECOND floor of the bar is a projector screen being used as part of a decoration. The winner of the competition will fill one of the local spots during the Dusk Music Festival.
ERICKA RIOS | THE DAILY WILDCAT
LATE NIGHT AT GENTLE Ben’s a DJ performs music on stage as the crowd stands around listening. Many of the locals performing know each of the other DJs and think of the competition as a fun get-together.
Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
The Daily Wildcat | DUSK Artists Guide • B7
DUSK | FOOD MENU
Quick bites at Dusk Music Festival BY MIKAYLA KABER @KaberMikayla
There is much more than meets the ear at Dusk Music Festival. This is a guide to the food experience offered by a variety of vendors. Wining and dining with the show According to the Tucson Foodie website, the Gastronomic Union of Tucson is a featured vendor comprised of “more than 30 local chefs, restaurateurs, and food service professionals” that will be taking festival food to another level. GUT will be serving dishes such as guajillo shredded pork, garlic and parmesan fries, chicken and waffles and many more selections. Fox Restaurant Concepts will also be featuring two of their popular local eateries at the festival: Culinary Dropout and Zinburger. Culinary Dropout is a gastro-pub that serves cocktails and comfort food. “Our menu includes the pretzels with fondue, turkey pastrami sandwich and then our rib entree,” said Will Grijalva, the
manager of Culinary Dropout. “The turkey pastrami and the ribs are our top-five bestsellers.” Zinburger will have some fresh burgers on the grill for everyone at the festival to sink their teeth into. According to Zinburger’s website, the hamburger restaurant invites you to “treat yourself to a Zinfully indulgent experience at Zinburger.” For festival-goers enjoying the DUSK VIP Experience, rolled tacos from Rollies Mexican Patio will be available for anyone who wants to chow down on some local Mexican Cuisine. Another unique culinary experience comes from the New American cuisine of Dante’s Fire, a classic gastropub and cocktail bar.
“
“We were thinking of doing a bunch of gourmet grilled cheeses that went over really well last year, and a bunch of rolls, like spring rolls, summer rolls,” said Kenneth Foy, owner of Dante’s fire. “Fun things for them to grab while they are having fun at the festival.” While there are multiple restaurant dishes to be savored, there will also be food trucks serving up a variety of dishes. For New York-style pizza lovers, Empire Pizza will be serving up the slices. Sweeten the experience Want a more organic choice? Purple Tree Organic is a food truck that will be offering healthy vegan options, from açai bowls to smoothies and juices. According to the Dusk website, this vendor provides “yummy
The turkey pastrami and the ribs are our top five best-sellers,” WILL GRIJALVA, MANAGER OF CULINARY DROPOUT
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Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
DUSK | WHAT TO EXPECT FOR 2019
Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
The Daily Wildcat | DUSK Artists Guide • B9
2018 DUSK MUSIC FESTIVAL PHOTO GALLERY
Dusk Music Festival 2019 pulls out all the stops BY JAMIE DONNELLY @JamieRisa11
With deep roots in Tucson, Dusk Music Festival is coming back to Armory Park for its fourth consecutive year on Nov. 9-10, bringing old favorites as well as adding new art installations, food vendors and stages. “I think Dusk is successful in Tucson because of how much heart and soul that we put into it,” Festival Director Page Repp said. “Everybody that founded Dusk and is part of Dusk, they are all Tucsonans. Three of us graduated from the University of Arizona, so we have real deep roots here.” According to Repp, Dusk is going to feature new art installations and new food vendors, such as the Gastronomic Union of Tucson and Empire Pizza. “Some of our food vendors are pulling out all of the stops and doing some really cool activities,” Repp said. “Culinary Dropout and Zinburger are teaming up to make this really cool food and games area, and then in our VIP section, Rollies Mexican Patio is doing a really cool VIP food experience in there as well.” Aside from new art and vendors, Dusk will be adding a third stage exclusively for locals. Tori Cachia, another festival director, said they are working on building the stage as well as building the acts. “We have only had our main stage and our second stage, so we are adding a third stage for locals to perform,” Cachia said. Not only will local acts perform on the third stage, but art will also be featured on it. Repp said there will be “really cool” art pieces associated with the stage. “It’s kind of in an area that you’re going to have to discover — it’s maybe not as obvious as the other stages are,” Repp said. “It will give you something to do throughout the day, discover little spots here and there.” This year Dusk will be incorporating more of the Tucson community into the festival. Zohar Amar, who is in charge of all marketing, events and interns for Dusk, said they want the audience to feel like they’re a part of the festival. “Last year we had this idea to kind of incorporate our target market and our audience a little more into the festival,” Amar said. In order to include their audience in the festivities, Dusk has a DJ competition and has added a battle of the bands, letting the winners of each perform on the main stage. “It’s kind of a way for all of these artists to show us their talent,” Amar said. “You never
know what can come from it.” Being the festival’s second time in Downtown Tucson, Repp said the festival fits the location and is easy for students and Tucson residents to get there. “We love the location. We think the festival really belongs downtown in the heart of all the activity that’s going on down there,” Repp said. “I think it’s just an area that people expect there to be large events, so they know how to get around and park in the downtown area.” Repp said the festival is not only for Tucson residents, but it is great for UA students, stating that anybody can have a good time at Dusk. “I think it’s especially great for students, because the three of us were all students at the UA at one point, so we kind of remember what it was like to be students there,” Repp said. “The other part of it is just the proximity to the UA campus. You know when we were at Rillito Park or now that we’re downtown, either direction we were only a couple miles from campus. So it’s really easy for students to get there and have a good time.” Similar to last year, Repp said the lineup has a good mix and has something for everyone to enjoy. “I’m most looking forward to Two Door Cinema Club,” Repp said. “That’s what I’m most excited about, but Kaskade and Rezz are going to be great as well. So I’m excited about a lot of the lineup.” Overall, Repp is looking forward to seeing the community come together and see how excited people get as they discover new things about the festival. “I hear this as people walk by and they say,
‘I can’t believe this is in Tucson,’” Repp said. “Just to see the sense of amazement and see the wonder as people see what we have done with this downtown park and transform it in a couple days into something that looks completely different.”
THE DAILY WILDCAT PHOTO STAFF
A COLLECTION OF PHOTOS taken by the Daily Wildcat photography staff at the 2018 Dusk Music Festival. This year, the festival will be held on Nov. 9 and 10. Both days have artists that are locally and internationally renowned. For more information you can go to duskmusicfestival.com.
B10 • The Daily Wildcat | DUSK Artists Guide
Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
DUSK | ARTIST BIOS
DUSK LINEUP 2019 The staff at the Daily Wildcat introduces you to the 2019 Dusk Music Festival roster. Including everything from house to indie-pop, these artist bios run through page 14
Kaskade Chicago-born Kaskade, aka Ryan Raddon, is a Grammy Award-nominated electronic dance music artist who is pushing the boundaries of music while remaining loyal to who he is. He first fell in love with the underground house music scene while still in high school and began to spin his own beats on a turntable with a couple of old records throughout college. Now, as the first EDM artist to sell out both the Staples Center and the Barclays Center, he has paved the way for other artists in the industry. He has produced numerous full
albums, many of which have graced the top of the charts. He has performed at Coachella and the Electric Daisy Carnival and has established himself as a resident DJ at the Kaos Nightclub and Dayclub in Las Vegas. Kaskade’s 2012 “Freaks of Nature Tour” was cited by Billboard Magazine to be “the only successful national stadium tour undertaken by a solo electronic music artist,” and Rolling Stone Magazine declared that “Kaskade represents an intensely positive side of dance music culture.” His recent album, Automatic,
ARIZONA
landed a spot on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Chart at No. 2, took No. 15 on the U.S. Digital Chart and had over 50 million streams on Spotify. Kaskade is currently on his Redux Tour, traveling to multiple cities in the U.S. He will be performing at the Dusk Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Fitz and The Tantrums Combining Indie pop with retro-soul and ‘80s new wave, Fitz and The Tantrums have been in the scene for about a decade and they still seem to captivate their audience with their distinctive style. In 2008, lead vocalist Michael Fitzpatrick, 49, purchased an old electric organ that ignited his love for songwriting. He was working solo on a neo-soul project that he had originally called the Tantrums. However, after realizing he needed more people to join, he contacted his old college friend and saxophonist James King. In a domino-like effect, King brought along Noelle Scaggs (vocals), John Wicks (drums), Joseph Karnes (bass guitar) and Jeremy Ruzumna (keyboard). A year after their formation, the band Fitz and The Tantrums released an EP titled Songs for
a Break Up, Vol. 1 and were getting ready to perform their first festival show at South by Southwest. The group signed to Dangerbird Records, an independent label that is also home to artists like Silversun Pickups and Minus the Bear. Fitz and the Tantrums’ second studio album, More Than Just a Dream, hit the charts in 2014 with the lead single “Out of My League” reaching the number one spot on the Billboard Top Alternative Songs Chart. However, they are most noted for their hit 2016 single “HandClap,” which has been featured by American Idol, The Oscars and NFL football games. The single went viral with a million streams on Spotify its first week out, according to the band’s Facebook page. According to Fitzpatrick in
an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, there was a lot of pressure in trying to best that single. However, their latest album, All the Feels, was said to have been released with a lot of effort this year on Sept. 20. The band also recently performed two tracks off of the new album at Jimmy Kimmel Live! Dusk Music Festival attendees this year can see Fitz and the Tantrums play their music live on Saturday, Nov. 9.
All information comes from the artists’ websites unless otherwise specified
Nate Esquite (guitarist), David Labuguen (keys) and Zachary Hannah (lead vocals) are the members of the contemporary electronic indie pop band A R I Z O N A. According to an article by Baeble Music, the band met in Boston and created a studio while they were attending Berklee College of Music and Emerson College. In 2017, they released their debut album, titled GALLERY, which has been streamed over half a billion times. The album includes “Oceans Away”, which is one of their most popular singles. A R I Z O N A is known for doing things differently, from their music to their band name. In an interview with Hollywood Life, they mentioned that they named the band A R I Z O N A during a FaceTime call. Labuguen was wearing a hat that read “Arizona,” and he pointed at the name and suggested it as the band’s name. The other members didn’t think he was serious, but they decided to keep the name and add spaces between the letters for a hipster effect. According to them, it didn’t matter what they named the band because they believed that no one would listen to their music. However, with only a couple of years in the music business, A R I Z O N A has made a name for themselves. Their alternative electronic style has gained them a strong following. They’ve toured with Panic! at the Disco and most recently made their Coachella debut before starting their North American tour, “Find Someone.” Currently, A R I Z O N A has over 3.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify and has a new album titled ASYLUM that released Oct. 11 earlier this year. A R I Z O N A will be performing at the Dusk Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 9.
PHOTOS COURTESY CHAD SHEARER / CAREN WEST PR
Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
The Daily Wildcat | DUSK Artists Guide • B11
DUSK | ARTIST BIOS
shallou Maryland-born, indie-electric artist Joe Boston, also known as shallou, has over two million monthly listeners on Spotify. In an interview with Music is Our Weapon, shallou explains how he never really excelled at any instrument in particular while growing up. It was when he discovered that he could create any music using a laptop that a world of possibilities opened up. Using his knowledge gained from studying music and his confidence built from previous songs, shallou was proud to release his song “After” and fully reveal his voice. shallou was then placed in the spotlight with the release of his debut EP All Becomes Okay. Tracks such as “Lie” and “Begin” landed on multiple No. 1 spots on SiriusXM charts, as well onto the Billboard Dance charts. In 2018, shallou released Souls, a new EP that expanded upon his debut, while also taking his moody style in new directions and collaborating with others. “I was open to collaborating, to
Wax Motif
being in the room with someone else and bringing other people’s talents into what I was doing … diversifying my sound while still keeping it my own,” shallou wrote. shallou is also an advocate for fighting climate change. He encourages listeners to donate to the Environmental Defense Fund, an organization with the mission to “preserve the natural systems on which all life depends.” Not only does 100% of donations through the website are given to the EDF, donors also receive a copy of his All Becomes Okay EP as a token of gratitude. shallou is wrapping up his year at the Dusk Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 9.
What So Not What So Not debuted in 2011, as a collaborative project between artists Chris Emerson aka Emoh Instead, and his partner Harley Edward Streten aka Flume, according to What So Not’s All Music biography. Together, the two Australian DJs released their first EP 7 Dollar Bill and a second, The Quack, in 2013. Flume left the project in 2015, shortly before What So Not released the EP “Gemini,” featuring singer and songwriter George Maple. What So Not’s most recent collaboration is “20:25” with Flux Pavilion and The Chain Gang of 1974. According to a 2015 interview with Vice, Emerson was an accountant following his graduation from university, before What So Not. He used to DJ four nights a week with other local DJs at clubs, notably
King’s Cross. Emerson takes inspiration from being on the road, he said in the same interview with Vice. According to Emerson, some of his best work was the product of the “emotional roller coaster” of touring. What So Not’s only full album, Not All the Beautiful Things, was three years in the making and was finally released in early 2018, featuring many artists like Skrillex, Toto, San Holo, Daniel Johns and Dyro. Following its release, What So Not embarked on a 150-show tour through 45 countries. Emerson told Dusk that he is still riding that high in 2019 and that this year is about seeing the world. What So Not will perform at the Dusk Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Danny Chien, a.k.a. Wax Motif, is an Austrailian-born DJ and producer in Los Angeles known for his G-House sound. According to his media platforms, Chien is a highly sought-after musician with support and acclaim from a host of other artists including but not limited to Diplo, A-Trak, Knife Party, Deadmau5 and Tommy Trash. His unique style draws influence from a range of genres, including rhythm and blues, disco and U.K. bass. Chien has collaborated with scores of artists, releasing tracks on Diplo’s “Mad Decent,” A-Trak’s “Fool’s Gold” and Steve Aoki’s “Dim Mak Records,” as well as creating remixes for YG, Kid Ink, Chromeo, Deadmau5 and Warren G. According to his Facebook page, producing the same sound is not Chien’s interest. In terms of music, Chien is always looking for a new challenge. His latest collaborative dance single, “Divided Souls” with Diddy, dropped in August from his new label of the same name. In an interview with Billboard, he discussed why he chose
to name the label after the track. “I feel like it says something about people in general, but also about myself and my music,” Chien said. “I like rap — most people know that — and I like house music. I think a lot of people don’t see them in the same sphere, but I also think a lot of people like different genres now. There isn’t a kid out there that doesn’t like some DJ and Migos or whatever. The crossover is pretty strong, so it’s a reflection of that, not really feeling like it’s from one side of the coin or the other.” Wax Motif will perform at the Dusk Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Whethan
Chicago-born Ethan Snoreck is the man behind the music put out by electronic producer DJ Whethan. At just 20 years old, Whethan has already compiled a catalog of chart-topping collaborations, including ones with Charli XCX on “Love Gang,” Dua Lipa on “High” and Broods on “Be Like You.” The L.A.-based DJ has gained a massive following, racking up 4.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 275 million streams worldwide. Snoreck got his start as a producer on SoundCloud, where he first received attention from fans and other artists. Whethan’s career has escalated since, becoming a breakout artist to co-headline a European tour alongside his friend Louis The Child. Whethan has also been able to garner attention at music festivals such as Coachella’s DoLab and Billboard’s Hot 100 Music Festival. In November 2018, fans saw the release of his anticipated debut EP, Life of a Wallflower Vol. 1. The assemblage
of songs features electronic bands HONNE, Oh Wonder and Broods as well as artists Mascolo and Bipolar Sunshine. The EP is nothing short of his usual, well-known sound that presents funky beats and original production. With Life of a Wallflower Vol. 1, he continues his streak of cool dance music and superb collaborations. Whethan will perform at the Dusk Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 9.
PHOTOS COURTESY CHAD SHEARER / CAREN WEST PR
B12 • The Daily Wildcat | DUSK Artists Guide
Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
DUSK | ARTIST BIOS
Rezz Beneath a black hat, her ponytail whipping back and forth on stage, LED lights blaze brightly over the eyes of Isabelle Rezazadeh, more famously known as Rezz, as she mesmerizes fans with her trippy VR goggles and hypnotic beats. Rezz, age 24, is a Canadian-born, self-taught DJ and music producer. Her relationship with the EDM scene began as a teenager, when she would sneak out to Toronto nightclubs, according to her biography on All Music. She began learning the basics of music production from online tutorials and first posted her music online at the age of 16. She gained a following on Soundcloud, which included EDM giants Skrillex and Deadmau5. She released her first EP, Insurrection, in 2015 under Skrillex’s label, OWSLA’s Nest Imprint. The album was critically applauded
by media critics, and Rezz earned positive descriptions, such as “Queen of the Dark Techno Scene” from MTV and “prodigy” from EDM.com, according to Rezz’s Dusk bio. Rezz is now signed onto Deadmau5’s label, mau5trap. She has gone on to produce two fulllength albums. Her debut album, Mass Manipulation, was released in 2017 and her sophomore album, Certain Kind of Magic, was released in 2018. Rezz is considered one of the top EDM artists in the industry, her latest album peaking at the No. 12 spot on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Album chart. Her music has been described as “unique” by MTV, and she was dubbed the “Female Gesaffelstein” by Vice. Rezz herself has called her music “hypnotic” in an interview with Billboard, in which she discusses how sharp beats,
Two Door Cinema Club
bass heavy compositions, crowd interaction and her spinning LED goggles come together to make her style memorable. Her fans have lovingly adopted the nickname “Space Mom,” according to YourEDM, as she has a large fanbase now that she has two albums under her belt and two famous EDM artists backing her music. Rezz will perform at the Dusk Music Festival on Sunday, Nov. 10.
CRAY Since entering the EDM scene in 2015, Cheney Ray has established herself as a notable artist using her childhood nickname: CRAY. The Arizona-born, Vancouver-raised artist’s career gained momentum from opening the HyperHouse tour in 2016 and touring Japan with Skrillex in 2018. Her recent 2018 single “Fractions” has over 1 million listens on Spotify. In addition to CRAY’s successful music career, she also runs a Twitch channel, where she started
Malaa Aside from being Parisian, not much is known about the man behind the mask. Malaa surfaced in the Parisian EDM scene in 2015, according to his All Music biography. Clad in a balaclava ever since, his face has never been revealed on stage. Though his identity is mysterious, Malaa’s career speaks for itself. His debut track “Pregnant” dropped in 2015 and,
experimenting with DJing. Using the money she received from her Twitch fans, she was able to fund her music career and has since built up an impressive portfolio. CRAY’s music takes inspiration from multiple genres including classical and swing jazz. She had named musical artists Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra as some of her musical inspirations. As a result, CRAY’s music appeals to fans of various genres including indie, electronics and pop. CRAY also
according to Discotech, he has co-signed with DJ Snake and Tchami. His successful singles like “Notorious” established him as an artist to watch out for. Malaa has also released hit remixes for popular artists like DJ Snake, Sheck Wes, Major Lazer, Post Malone, Skrillex and Diplo. Malaa will perform at the Dusk Music Festival on Sunday, Nov. 10.
uses her own vocals for songs when producing music. CRAY will be performing at the Dusk Music Festival on Sunday, Nov. 10.
Two Door Cinema Club is living the cinematic life every grassroots garage band dreams of. Formed in 2007, the founding members of the band — Alex Trimble, Sam Halliday and Kevin Baird — met in their Northern Ireland high school and skipped university to focus on their music, according to their All Music biography. Huge film fans, they named themselves after the Tudor Private Cinema in their hometown of Bangor, Ireland. Their EDM, alternative and indie guitar-punk concoction has been compared to bands like Phoenix and The Postal Service. Besides their own music, the band has also made remixes of songs by big names like Lady Gaga, Young the Giant and Phoenix Chew Lips. Two Door Cinema Club became more well known in 2010, with their first released album titled Tourist History and singles like “Something Good Can Work” and “Undercover Martyn.” The debut album was selected to win a 2010 Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year. According to Song Facts, in the same year, Kanye West posted the band’s “I Can Talk” music video on his website and blogged about how much he enjoyed Two Door Cinema Club. Two Door Cinema was the opening act for Phoenix during the band’s U.S. tour, which also occurred in 2010. Their most recent album, False Alarm, was released in June 2019. They have recorded four albums, three EPs and 17 singles. Of these songs, Two Door Cinema Club has created 15 music videos. The band is currently on tour, with concert destinations throughout the U.K., Ireland, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and some European countries. Two Door Cinema Club will play at the Dusk Music Festival on Sunday, Nov. 10.
PHOTOS COURTESY CHAD SHEARER / CAREN WEST PR
Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
The Daily Wildcat | DUSK Artists Guide • B13
DUSK | ARTIST BIOS
BRONCHO Tucson will soon bear witness to some Bad Behavior at the Dusk Music Festival when BRONCHO comes to town, preaching about the media’s villains and vices. Based in Tulsa, Okla., BRONCHO is an indie-rock band that stirs together punkrock and art school spirit, according to the band’s website. The band was formed in 2010, according to BRONCHO’s All Music biography, when singer and guitarist Ryan Lindsey held a loose recording session with some friends and made a series of demos. BRONCHO’s sound was fully realized by the members Ben King on guitar, Penny Pitchlynn on bass and Nathan Price on drums. According to their website, the
Goldroom
band’s fourth album, Bad Behavior, which was released last year, “slinks and purrs with a sense of lascivious flirtation” and crushes the commercial expectations of bands. Having drawn inspiration from watching the evening news, the album is drizzled with references to reflect the band’s views on the world’s moral climate. “Through the writing process I watched a lot of CNN, and man there’s a lot of bad behavior there,” Lindsey said on the band’s website. “Not to mention that there’s a company making money off of people watching their depiction of it all. From an entertainer’s standpoint I get what they’re doing, calling everything ‘breaking news’ and
keeping people glued, but taking up that kind of space can’t be good for society. Although it’s pretty fun to watch.” To hear their music and catch a whiff of Bad Behavior, the band’s website boasts that it’s easy as sticking your head out of the window. BRONCHO will play at the Dusk Music Festival on Sunday, Nov. 10.
Dombresky Quentin Dombres, or better known as Dombresky, is a producer and DJ from Montpellier, France, who has gained popularity in the last couple of years due to his unique style of mixing electronic music with synth pop, rap, jazz and even Latin music into his tracks. According to an article in DJ Magazine, Dombres has been creating music for a while, but it was in 2015 when he decided to produce music under the name of Dombresky. “Music is constantly evolving, just like we do,” Dombresky said in the DJ Mag article. “Who you are now isn’t the same person you were 10 years ago, either.
My sound reflects that. I’m constantly figuring out what I want my next move to be. It’s a lot of experimenting, shaping, and redefining who I am as a person before I put that energy into what my sound is.” According to his website, he was inspired to produce music that is “fun and danceable.” Supported by artists like DJ Snake, Diplo, Anna Lunoe and other artists, Dombresky is seen to be walking into the international scene now that he has moved to Los Angeles. Some of his well-known tracks are “Utopia” and “Wait,” which was released on Tchami’s Confession label. His
newest release this year, “Soul Sacrifice” was said to be an international dance anthem, according to his website. He recently participated in the worldwide stage at Ultra Music Festival and Coachella. Dombresky is performing at the Dusk Music Festival on Sunday, Nov. 10.
TOKiMONSTA Jennifer Lee, better known by her stage name TOKiMONSTA, is an American DJ and producer from Los Angeles. Lee specializes in electronic music and performs in areas around the world in a variety of festivals and concerts. Her hit songs include “Realla” and “Rose’s Thorn.” She has over a million monthly listeners on Spotify, making a significant impact on the music industry. Lee has collaborated with artists such as Anderson .Paak, Jessie Ware and Kelly Rowland. Her music is described on her website as mixing “modern sensibilities with old-school sounds to make for a heady brew
of moonlit music.” Noted to be the first woman to sign with Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label, Lee debuted with her first album titled “Midnight Menu” in 2010. Since then, she has released five more albums. After Brainfeeder, Lee joined with record labels Art Union Records and Ultra Music. She now has her own music label, Young Art Records, which she started in 2014. She has produced music from artists Gavin Turek and CRi on her label. Her recent album Lune Rouge was nominated for a Grammy Award. The album released in 2017 after working on it for
about two years. However, while working on the album, Lee found that she was diagnosed with moyamoya disease. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, moyamoya is a rare disease caused by blocked arteries at the base of the brain. The name “moyamoya” means “puff of smoke” in Japanese, which describes the look of the tiny blood vessels tangled together. The disease primarily affects children but can also occur in adults. “During its [Lune Rouge’s] creation, I faced some of the most difficult and uplifting moments of my life. Seeing myself at the edge
of my own mortality and how I chose to move past is a story told in this album,” Lee said on her website. TOKiMONSTA will perform at the Dusk Music Festival on Sunday, Nov. 10.
Los Angeles-based songwriter and producer Josh Legg, better known as Goldroom, creates electronic tunes with an influence of soulful pop. Heard throughout his full-length debut West of the West is his ability to play multiple instruments. Goldroom blends live guitar, bass and percussion with electronic soundscapes. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Legg first learned to play cello and guitar as a child. With learning to play multiple instruments came his first beginnings of songwriting. As a teen, Legg was introduced to singer-songwriters in the likes of Tom Petty and Curtis Mayfield. However, it was not until Legg studied at the University of Southern California that he discovered electronic artists like Daft Punk that changed his musical journey. Legg did not begin producing music under the name Goldroom until after his band Nightwaves disbanded. Goldroom then emerged in 2011 with the release of his EP Angeles. Since then, Goldroom has launched multiple projects that exude his signature breezy melodies. Spotify even describes Legg’s sound as “dreamy, synthbased electronic dance music.” In “West of the West,” Legg draws inspiration from his past experiences as a longtime sailor cruising around the New England coast. The energy of each song shares parallels with these previous memories. According to his Facebook page, his goal in creating the album was to “dig really deep and come up with something more honest and meaningful than what you usually see in dance music.” Goldroom will be performing at the Dusk Music Festival on Sunday, Nov. 10. PHOTOS COURTESY CHAD SHEARER / CAREN WEST PR
Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
B14 • The Daily Wildcat | DUSK Artists Guide
DUSK | LOCAL BAND
KAMP talks new album with A R I Z O N A
KAMP Student Radio sat down with the band A R I Z O N A and talked about their new album, ASYLUM, and how the band formed. KAMP, the 24/7 free-form radio station, shared those excerpts of the on-air interview with the Daily Wildcat BY KAMP STUDENT RADIO @KAMP_Radio
KAMP Student Radio: Well, first off, Zachary, congratulations on ASYLUM. I understand this is a pretty emotional album for you guys for many reasons. What was the process of getting this album together for you guys for your sophomore album? Zachary Charles: It was interesting because we were supposed to get it done a lot quicker than we did. Basically, you always look at something like six months, right? You’re trying to get an album done in like six months, because you have to be on the road and then you’re busy and you’re all over the place. So, you tell yourself, “Hey, let’s just carve out half the year to be super creative and not worry about everything else.” But the thing is, we were coming off our first album and we didn’t know that. So we got done with GALLERY, and GALLERY’s process was so natural because it was our first one … Basically showing up and being like, “This is going to be fine,” and [then] life punching you in the face for two years is kind of what this album is about. It’s not necessarily all terrible, terrible, terrible things. I think the whole idea behind this album is that after the two years that it did take for us to get it together, I think what it really came down to was the fact that … life has been very unexpected. There has been lots of uncomfortable moments. We hear things that we’ve all gone through as people, and I think that this album kind of does reflect that … KAMP: I’ve noticed your sound is sometimes nostalgic, uplifting … almost somber, in the best way possible. But how long did it take you guys to develop your sound would you say? ZC: Well, the three of us have been friends for maybe, I don’t know, 10 years on the short end and 15 years on the long end, I think …
We all kind of had some different ideas of what the practical thing in life for us was going to be. Some of us actually did it and did music on the side, and some of us actually ended up trying to pursue music. Either way, we were always interested together. We were producing music or songwriting for other people, and we were doing just lots of different musical things and creative things. So, working together naturally has always been something that we’ve just done without kind of thinking about it. Because it was never for us, right? One day we kind of got just bored or burnt out or whatever of doing what we were doing, and we kind of gave up. But instead of giving up entirely, we said, “Well, we’ll just take a summer to work together as fun.” We’ll just make some music and not think about it, and that should be fun. No one is going to like it or care about it, but it’ll be fun anyway. That’s kind of what it was. We sat down and we started making music the same way we had been for years and years and years, except it was just us doing it, I guess on the track per se, and not someone else doing it on the track … for someone else. I just thought that was it, you know, and honestly, like, there hasn’t been no other half of the answer of the evolution of what it’s become today … KAMP: It’s like a personal friendship jam sesh that just got recorded pretty much. ZC: That’s basically what it is every time, and if you knew how many things ended up in a track, like jokes or like things that we laughed at in the moment … KAMP: I mean, there’s nothing like not only enjoying success with your friends, but working hard with your friends and getting that success at the same time. So cool that you could bring everyone together, you know? ZC: Dude, started from the bottom, dog. KAMP: Started from the bottom and now we’re here. Well, now you guys are here. ZC: That’s what it’s about, man. It’s like, if you can’t have fun with your friends,
COURTESY CHAD SHEARER / CAREN WEST PR
A R I Z O N A RELEASED THEIR SOPHOMORE album Asylum on Oct. 11 and will be playing in the DUSK music festival.
then what’s the point of doing something that’s gonna consume that much of your life? You know, that’s kind of why the band is based on that — so we can do it as a career. KAMP: So yeah, Zachary, with Dusk on the horizon right now, what are you looking forward to the most playing out here in Tucson? ZC: Well like I said, Arizona has always been lit. I mean, I’m just trying to get down, so that’s number one. But I guess number two, we have definitely had enough time now to prepare some of these new songs to be able to go out there and play them live as a band. So, I think playing Dusk and, like, bringing some of the newer songs from the album out there, and I mean, there’s a lot of them. It might be the first time we played them actually, at Dusk, live, some of them. KAMP: Oh, that’s awesome. That is awesome actually.
ZC: So that’s going to be pretty cool. I dunno, just like, there’s a couple of places particularly where the best part about the show is the people that show up … So it doesn’t matter what we do or what kind of weather it’s going to be — the best part about it for me is the people that show up … KAMP: So, Zach, I have one final, like, a really important question I have to ask you here. So, looking at pictures online, I see that you have, like, a glorious mustache. How do you maintain a wonderful ‘stache like that? Honestly. ZC: Ooh man, okay. You gotta just cut it at the corners of your mouth, my dude … Just look at, I don’t know, Tom Selleck, Burt Reynolds … But that’s the big one, don’t let it get too far below the lips and trim around the corners of your mouth. That’s really the big secret right there. This interview was edited for clarity and length. For the full interview, please visit KAMP Radio’s website
Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
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The Daily Wildcat | DUSK Artists Guide • B15
B16 • The Daily Wildcat | DUSK Artists Guide
Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2019 • Armory Park
Experience something new at Tucson Museum of Art. Modern and Contemporary art, Native American art, art of the American West, Latin American, pre-Columbian, European, and Asian art.
Abad Xuana, Animal Musicians in Overalls (4), 1990, wood, pigment. Collection of the Tucson Museum of Art. Gift of Shepard Barbash and Vicki Ragan. 2018.22.219
140 N. Main Avenue | Tuesday—Sunday, 10 a.m.—5 p.m. 520-624-2333 | TucsonMuseumofArt.org