2 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
NEVER LET THIS GO // 36
TIME ATLAS // 34
SMOKE SEASON // 32
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 3
ISSUE TWO TABLE OF CONTENTS 42 // GOING TO SHOWS ALONE VS. WITH FRIENDS
4 // LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 5 // STAFF PLAYLIST 6 // SHOW REVIEWS twenty one pilots Marianas Trench Phoebe Ryan Weezer & Panic! at the Disco Halsey 5 Seconds of Summer Parachute
43 // TRAVELLING FOR SHOWS 44 // MOST ANTICIPATED Wild World by Bastille As Seen On TV by Alex & Sierra Upside Down by Set It Off Shin Gojira from Toho Pictures
13 // BOOK REVIEWS How to Ruin Everything by George Watsky 14 // FEATURED FILMS Finding Dory The Secret Life of Pets 16 // MUSIC REVIEWS Trickster Guru LANY Kyle Britton Good Charlotte 28 // LIVE PHOTOS Neck Deep twentyonepilots Bastille RKDN Never Let This Go Parachute Tonight Alive 5 Seconds of Summer Smoke Season State Champs 26 // INTERVIEWS Mood Swings Midoca Smoke Season Time Atlas Never Let This Go
STAFF FOUNDER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Rachel Leonard CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Mykell Bowden, Lanie Davis, Emily Jacks, Rachel Leonard, Sydney Maes, Bryce Mousseau, Marisa Neil, Jessica Pulos FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHERS: Brooke Benway, Mykell Bowden, Emily Jacks, Taylor Leigh, Rachel Leonard, Marisa Neil, Amanda Puglisi, Linda Wang, Gabbe Yoder GRAPHIC DESIGN: Jessica Pulos LAYOUT: Rachel Leonard If you are interested in joining our staff or having your work featured in an upcoming issue, please email us at aspectsmagazine@gmail.com.
4 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR We made it to issue two! That’s ridiculously cool. Thank you to everyone who helped with this issue including my fabulous staff, the epic publicists and managers of the bands we worked with, the lovely ladies in Mood Swings, the talented Midoca, the great guys in Time Atlas, the incredible Smoke Season, and the amazing dudes from Never Let This Go. This issue wouldn’t have happened without any of you so THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. If you haven’t noticed by looking at the first few pages, we’ve made a TON of changes in the last two months. We’ve added a couple new staff members. We have a new layout. We even have a new logo. Like I said last time: this is all trial and error, and it will be for a long time, so thank you in advance for hanging in there with us. Like usual, we’re always open for submissions. If you’re an aspiring writer, photographer, or journalist, feel free to contact us at aspectsmagazine@gmail.com. If you’re an artist or musician looking to be featured, please email us at the same address. Thank you to everyone who has worked on this issue and to everyone who has taken the time to read it. I hope you find something you enjoy. -Rachel Leonard
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 5
STAFF PLAYLIST “WEEKEND MILLIONAIRES” - KATELYN TARVER “WARM BLOOD” - FLOR “FLAWS” - VANCOUVER SLEEP CLINIC “EVERYTHING I NEED” - MIDOCA “TALKING TO MYSELF” - WATSKY “VAPOR” - 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER “SMOKE AND MIRRORS” - CAL SCRUBY “PRETTY IN PINK” - THE DRESDEN DOLLS “WHERE IT ALL GOES” - LOSTBOYCROW “PAY MY RENT” - DNCE “MULDER AND SCULLY” - CATATONIA “I TOOK A PILL IN IBIZA” - MIKE POSNER “INDUSTRY STANDARD” - MOTH WINGS “CLOSER” - THE CHAINSMOKERS FEAT. HALSEY “EMPTY WORLD” - SHADOW ROYALE “WHAT YOU WANT” - THE HEIRS “FREAK” - LANA DEL REY “BE MY ESCAPE” - RELIANT K “DANG!” - MAC MILLER FEAT. ANDERSON .PAAK “YOUNG & RELENTLESS” - AGAINST THE CURRENT “FAKE IT” - BASTILLE “NEVER COMING DOWN” - MIDOCA FEAT. LOSTBOYCROW “ECHO” - DARK WAVES “DINNER BELL” - WITH CONFIDENCE “EVERY MORNING/THERE SHE GOES” - RUSTY CLANTON
6 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
SHOW R TWENTY ONE PILOTS
EMOTIONAL ROAD SHOW WORDS & PHOTO BY MYKELL BOWDEN A large white banner shrouded the stage as we waited for Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun to make their appearance. The crowd was buzzing with excitement. Some of the attendees had been waiting at the venue since the night previous to try to get a coveted spot on the barrier. After what seemed like hours, the lights finally dimmed and the banner dropped, revealing the two people we were all anxious to see. The pre-chorus of “Fairly Local” smoothly transitioning into “Heavydirtysoul” made for a strong start to the set. They went on to play an amazing mix of songs, including their new song from the Suicide Squad soundtrack, “Heathens,” and a medley of older songs. Whether new song or old, the crowd was always singing along as loud as they could, gaining smiles from the duo. One of the greatest parts of the show was the vibe. Fellow Aspects writer, Emily Jacks, described the show as having the numbers of an arena but the interactivity and vibe of a small venue show. Despite there being thousands of people, Dun and Joseph were still able to connect with the crowd. They had two stages and some tricks up their sleeves, like Joseph’s inflatable hamster ball, to get themselves and the crowd closer. If I could describe the Twenty One Pilots show in one word, it would probably be “visual.” They had so many different things to catch the audience’s attention. Videos, projections and lights in their iconic red, aqua, white, and black, costume changes, and more added flare to the set. Even sitting in the upper section of the arena, I could clearly see what was happening at all times and I was amazed at it all. There was not a single dull moment. If you ever have the opportunity to see Twenty One Pilots live, don’t pass it up. They have, hands down, one of the best live shows I have ever seen.
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 7
REVIEWS MARIANAS TRENCH SPF 80’S TOUR
Canadian rock band Marianas Trench brought the heat to the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, North Carolina with their SPF 80’s Tour.
WORDS BY LANIE DAVIS PHOTO BY RACHEL LEONARD
Despite being over 90 degrees all day, the Lincoln Theater was packed with excited, and sweaty, fans. Young pop artist Skylar Stecker warmed up the crowd with her originals and a cover of DNCE’s “Cake By The Ocean.” Music played between sets was all from the 80’s, to match the theme of their tour and 80’s inspired October release, Astoria. The band came onstage playing the title track from this release, and the nearly seven-minute song set the tone for the rest of the show: fun and a mix of new and old sounds. The band fully committed to the 80’s idea, complete with decade-inspired clothing and bright neon graphics on the screen behind them. The guys played a 90 minute set that included songs a mix of songs from albums Astoria, Ever After and Masterpiece Theatre. Despite a few technical difficulties, their performance was truly amazing. Their energy was at one hundred percent the whole time, even though it was extremely hot in the venue. The vocals and harmonies were so on point, it was almost like I was listening to the CD. Lead singer Josh Ramsay is a true entertainer. He worked the stage and was full of theatrics, all while singing the songs flawlessly and full of emotion. It felt like a treat to watch him perform these songs. The highlight of the night was watching “End Of An Era,” a nearly eight-minute ballad from Astoria. The song is very dramatic and powerful, which was amplified when paired with lights and a cheering crowd. I walked out of the venue with my jaw dragging the floor. The setlist was the only disappointing part of the show. While there was a good mix of new and old, I was hoping for a little more new. Most of the songs played from Astoria were from the first half and were the upbeat ones, such as “Burning Up” and “Shut Up and Kiss Me.” The second half is full of ballads that were not included, but I was hoping to see at least one. Also, the title track from Ever After was not included, which is one of my favorites. Being that this was the first time the band has played Raleigh and the first opportunity that I have had to see them live, I was really hoping to see them perform one of the greatest songs ever made. However, “Ever After” did not make the setlist, and that was a slight let down. Overall, Marianas Trench put on a musically brilliant, high energy show, right down to the last note of “End Of An Era.” It may have been the first time they’ve played in Raleigh, but hopefully, it won’t be the last.
8 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
SHOW R PHOEBE RYAN
BOYZ N POIZN TOUR WORDS & PHOTO BY EMILY JACKS
Indie-pop songstress Phoebe Ryan made a stop on her “Boyz n Poizn” tour at Kilby Court in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 13th, 2016.
New York based pop-rock duo Secret Weapons opened the show. They played an energetic and passionate set, composed of the songs from their self-titled EP. The stand out of their set was their sing and dance-a-long friendly most recent single, “Something New.” While it seemed as though many of the crowd were newcomers to the band, but the end of the set, they were as engaged and pumped as long time fans. Next up was the direct support, Cardiknox. Cardiknox’s set was inspired and fun. Lonnie Angle, the band’s lead vocalist, had perfect charisma, interacting with the crowd and getting them involved with the set, which was filled with the band’s brand of shimmery, eighties inspired dance pop. Their youthful and rebellious single “Wild Child” was a definite highlight of the set. Finally, the headliner took the stage. With a combination of fun songs with great beats, paired with empowering lyrics, Phoebe’s live set made quite the impact. Her set featured her most popular singles, “Homie” and “Mine”, she also performed an older, slower song “Northern Star”, along with unreleased material, including a song she was in the process of demoing. The combination of Phoebe’s stage presence and her crowd engagement made it clear that despite playing a small venue on this tour, she will soon be adeptly selling out much bigger stages.
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 9
REVIEWS Weezer & Panic! at the Disco’s Summer Tour 2016 kicked off in June this year in support of the bands’ latest album releases (Weezer and Death of a Bachelor, respectively) and the double headliner drew quite a crowd at their only Utah tour date. The gig at Usana Amphitheatre sold out, leaving the lawn area fairly packed even when some of Panic’s fans left before Weezer took the stage.
WEEZER & PANIC! AT THE DISCO SUMMER TOUR 2016 WORDS & PHOTO BY MARISA NEIL
Brendan Urie may be the only remaining member of Panic! at the Disco (Dallon Weekes stayed on as a touring member), but he still gave a highly entertaining performance. He wowed the crowd with his falsetto in every song, but it never got old. The opening riff of the first song, “Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time,” alone got the crowd ready to rock, but the chorus and lyrics like “I’m not as think as you drunk I am” created a perfect opener. The entire set list felt like a party, even with the slow Sinatra-esque “Death of a Bachelor.” I noticed a couple straightup swing dancing in the aisle during “Crazy=Genius,” a song whose beat and brass section make swing the most appropriate style for dancing along. Other singles from Death of a Bachelor (“Emperor’s New Clothes,” “Victorious” and “LA Devotee”) appeared on the set list as well, along with all the older hits you’d expect such as “I Write Sins Not Tragedies,” “This is Gospel” and “The Ballad of Mona Lisa.” Most of the songs in Panic’s discography give Urie a big enough range to show off his vocal ability, but none quite so much as their cover of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” If you rolled your eyes when you saw the cover on the Suicide Squad soundtrack and passed it off as the filmmakers pandering, I assure you that it truly was one of the highest points of their set (as far as both pitch and mood go). The moment Urie sat down at the keyboard and began singing “is this the real life?” the entire crowd joined in. Urie also revealed a connection to Weezer; as a teen, he stole his sister’s cassette tape of Weezer’s Blue Album. He sounded genuinely honored to be touring with such an iconic band. Weezer opened their set with “California Kids” from their new record. This song brought a strong beach vibe to this outdoor venue in the middle of a desert, as did “Island in the Sun” (featuring ukulele in the live version), “King of the World” and the ever-classic “Beverly Hills.” The chorus of “Beverly Hills” demands singing along, and the volume from the crowd neared that of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The most visually impactful moment of the night came during “Thank God for Girls;” the screen displayed pictures of influential women, such as Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, Emma Watson, the Virgin Mary, Rosie the Riveter, Maya Angelou and Caitlin Jenner. Upon first listening to the lyrics, I detected hints of gender stereotyping (what with the cannoli and all) but clearly Rivers Cuomo means it when he sings “thank God for girls.” Weezer has enough hits in their repertoire that none of the songs performed qualify as album filler (notable highlights include “Hash Pipe,” “Pork and Beans,” “Perfect Situation” and “Say It Ain’t So”). Panic’s set felt like a party, and so did Weezer’s. The Weezer party just involved more headbanging and less theatrics. As noted by the band while displaying on the screen tweets from concert attendees, “It’s all smiles and cuteness at a Weezer show. And a fair amount of rock.”
10 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
SHOW R HALSEY
For many of us who have taken a trip to the Badlands with Halsey, we knew that this final installment tour was going to be huge. From production to merch to venue size, everything was next level. Prior to this tour, I had personally seen Halsey three times live WORDS & PHOTO BY JESSICA PULOS and within a year I saw her play a medium sized show at the Fonda theatre, with little stage theatrics, to playing the Shrine with the most intriguing stage set up I’ve ever seen. The pyrotechnics that shot off during her songs “Gasoline,” “Colors,” and “New Americana” gave the songs a whole new level of intensity and feeling. Along with the pyros, there were also cryotechnics in her songs “Roman Holiday” and “Is There Somewhere.” Although the cryos weren’t as intense, it gave the songs a more meaningful setting, capturing the true beauty of feeling love.
BADLANDS: FINAL INSTALLMENTS TOUR
The stage was set up with giant screens that played various animations throughout the show, including an army of robot drones that marched as she sang. These live elements created a powerful energy throughout the entire venue. At one point during her show, Halsey climbs the barricade in order to get closer with her fans. This is one of my favorite things artists do because once you grow to be a fairly large artist, it’s sometimes hard to find ways to connect with the fans on such a personal level; therefore, climbing into the crowd is an amazing way to connect because what better way to scream out all of your pain than to do it while holding on to the artist that helps you alleviate it. With various wardrobe changes throughout the set, Halsey leaves you wanting, even craving, more. She leaves everything on that stage and you can clearly tell. Her stage presence is confident and strong and through small speeches in-between songs you can feel her passion for her fans. She is nothing but humble and grateful for every face in the room, and makes sure to point out the fact that some of those faces she recognizes. Halsey crowds hold some of the most passionate and overwhelming fans I have ever met. Sometimes the room would sing louder than she did and it is incredible to be a part of something so moving. There’s something about Halsey shows that help clear your mind and leave you feeling invincible. Halsey ended her Badlands: Final Installment by playing a SOLD OUT show at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was truly a career defining moment. There’s no doubt in my mind that Halsey will continue to rapidly become an artist known by all. With the night ending with confetti canons, I highly recommend trying to catch a Halsey show because there’s nothing like it.
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 11
REVIEWS On July 18th, Australian pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer played to a packed PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, North Carolina on their Sounds Live Feels Live world tour.
5 SECONDS OF SUMMER SOUNDS LIVE FEELS LIVE WORDS BY LANIE DAVIS PHOTO BY RACHEL LEONARD
Fans were full of energy and excitement as they watched opening acts Hey Violet and One Ok Rock, despite the heat being well over 90 degrees all day. Not one person wasn’t sweating or fanning themselves with anything they could find. This did not stop the enthusiasm of the fans, though. 5 Seconds of Summer entered playing Sounds Good Feels Good closer “Carry On” while a sea of fans held up signs that read “I carry on because of you.” They continued to perform a mix of songs from their October release Sounds Good Feels Good, like “Hey Everybody!” and “Castaway,” and old favorites from their debut album, such as “Voodoo Doll.” All four members of the band were lively and committed to giving their all to the show, even though the heat was almost unbearable. Singer and guitarist Luke Hemmings gave an incredible vocal performance. Songs like “Disconnected” and “Waste The Night” gave him an opportunity to shine vocally, and he was a diamond. The one song that really stuck out to me was “Outer Space,” a moving song from their latest album. All members had a chance to show off their vocals, and Michael Clifford put down his guitar to take place at the piano. Behind me, a sea of cell phone lights were swaying in the air, and everywhere I looked, fans were singing this song back to them with just as much passion and emotion. There is something to be said about the crowd at this show. For the most part, the air did not cool, but that didn’t stop fans from giving 100% as an audience. The energy was high the whole time, especially when Clifford took an over three minute pause before starting “Jet Black Heart.” Fan’s screams were deafening for his pause while he stood on stage alone and stared into the crowd, and they intensified every time his expression changed. However, the stage itself lacked ramps or a catwalk, something that 5SOS usually includes. The lack of a stage production is inhibited the band’s ability to reach more fans, creating an even more of a lack of intimacy in an already large venue. It’s still safe to say that the hours of sweating and the slight sunburn was worth it. 5 Seconds of Summer did not disappoint with this show. The next part of the North American leg of the tour starts August 18th and continues for a month. Don’t miss out on this one!
12 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
SHOW REVIEWS PARACHUTE
On their forty eight-city North American tour, pop rock band Parachute took the Jersey Shore by storm. The show took place at new venue, House of Independents, located in the heart of downtown Asbury Park. Also accompanyWORDS & PHOTO BY AMANDA PUGLISI ing them on the roster was former front man of band Once Upon a Time Andrew Long and singer, songwriter Brynn Elliot. Hundreds of fans packed in, eager to see them take the stage.
WIDE AWAKE TOUR
The first to step into the spotlight was singer Andrew Long. He and his live band performed an acoustic set of both covers and originals. They opened the show with their own version of Len’s “Steal My Sunshine.” Andrew got the crowd warmed up, encouraging everyone to clap and sing along. As someone who was a fan of Once Upon a Time, I was really looking forward to see him perform again and he did not disappoint. Quickly following was Indie Folk artist Brynn Elliot. She performed a nine original track set, highlighting songs off her newest EP “Jungle.” In addition to showcasing her unique vocals, she also showed versatility on both the guitar and keyboard. Though I personally am not a fan of this style of music, the audience was receptive to her performance. This was it. The time had officially come for Parachute to take center stage. As the lights lowered once again, the audience waited in anticipation. Shouts and claps echoed throughout the venue. Moments later the intro started to play, screams instantly getting louder. The band members began to emerge from backstage. “One, two, three GO!” lead singer Will Anderson counts off a he take his place in front of the microphone. The crowd went wild. The band kicked off the set performing hit single “Without You” off their fourth studio album “Wide Awake” released back in March. Parachute also performed fan favorites “Kiss Me Slowly”, “She (For Liz)”, “Can’t Help” and of course if wouldn’t be a traditional performance without “She is Love.” But for me, the highlight of the night was when drummer Johnny Stubblefield and saxophone extraordinaire Kit French joined Will at the front of the stage and performed an acoustic version of “Forever and Always.” The audience quickly came together and sang in harmony. It was truly a beautiful moment. I’ve been to plenty of Parachute concerts, but I have to say this was my absolutely favorite tour yet. The stage production was top-notch and the energy between both the band and the crowd was just incredible. Parachute is heading out on second leg of the Tour De Compadres with Needtobreathe and Mat Kearney this fall. If they are coming to a city near you, I highly recommend checking them out.
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 13
BOOK REVIEW
HOW TO RUIN EVERYTHING
BY GEORGE WATSKY WORDS BY EMILY JACKS How to Ruin Everything by George Watsky is a series of autobiographical essays which contain not only slice of life anecdotes from the author’s own life, but are also relatable to many millenials. The essays reflect on the events that vary from the poignant (“What Year Is It?”, a reflection on the author’s own battle with and his family’s history of Epilepsy) to the humorous (“Tusk”, a recounting of the author’s brief stint as an international narwhal tusk smuggler). One stand out essay is “The White Whale.” The essay opens with the beginnings of Watsky’s interest in live music during his youth attending shows at San Francisco’s The Fillmore music venue. The story then recounts the misadventures of a 2013 tour, culminating in his first show on the Fillmore’s stage. Uplifting and charming, full of heart and the same panache of the author’s other works, the collection of essays has something to keep both diehard fans and newcomers engaged and enlightened.
14 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
FEATURED FINDING DORY DISNEY/PIXAR WORDS BY MARISA NEIL
Directors Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane knew what kind of audience Finding Dory would attract: children and young adults whom Finding Nemo enchanted with its adorable fish characters and compelling story about family and expanding our comfort zones. Their audience awareness is apparent in Pixar’s latest release. I fall into the second category of viewers, and I have to say that Finding Dory is impressive, particularly as far as sequels go. Most of my favorite animated Disney classics have received forgettable sequels that do not hold up to the wonder and magic of the originals. As promising as I found the clips and trailers for Finding Dory, I still worried that it wouldn’t stir up my emotions or excite my imagination the same way its predecessor did, but the team at Pixar delivered yet again by perfectly balancing nostalgia with new characters and stories. The film centers around Dory’s search for her parents, an adventure Nemo eagerly joins and one in which Marlin also tags along, but with far less enthusiasm. The neurotic clown fish still dislikes leaving the familiarity of the reef. He also feels that Dory’s short-term memory loss will hinder their progress. Following the events of Finding Nemo, I expected Marlin to have a little more faith in Dory’s strengths from the get-go, but overall the film handles Marlin’s development well enough that I let this slight inconsistency slide. He and Nemo get themselves out of enough sticky situations by “thinking like Dory” that he and the audience remember that although Dory forgets nearly everything, she is one smart fish. Dory learns to have more confidence in her own abilities as well. That said, the film also carries a powerful message: no matter how independent you are, it’s good to let your friends help you. Teamwork consistently carries the characters to victory. Finding Dory satisfies its audience with plenty of loveable characters, an abundance of cuteness (five minutes in, my friend leaned over and whispered that he was going to have a stroke), action and humor, as well the emotional pull no one does quite like Pixar. It’s a worthy sequel.
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 15
D FILMS
The Secret Life of Pets was a summer cartoon definitely worth seeing with the rest of your family or even on your own. I was excited going into the theatre because the trailer had done its job and lured me into imagining what crazy things animals get up to when their owners are away. The film ended up being more than just that funny movie about animals home alone just as as Toy Story was more than just toys when humans weren’t around. There’s actually a deeper storyline that shows the development of a friendship that started off rocky between the two main dogs, Max and Duke, as they try to make their way back home and away from a gang of animals that were “anti-owner”. There is character development and lessons taught to the audience as egos must be compromised and fears must be conquered, by every pet involved, in order to get Max and Duke back home safely. As I watched this film, I noticed quite a few similarities it had with the first two Toy Story films. The interaction between the bickering enemies-turnedbest-friends was just like Buzz and Woody in the first Toy Story, in addition to Max and Duke’s journey back to their homes and friends who were searching for them just as the other toys did for Buzz and Woody in Toy Story 2. Despite those similarities, The Secret Life of Pets is still worth watching if you’ve ever put some thought into how your dog interacts with your lizard or what they’re like when you leave the house. You’ll leave giggling and coming up with even more crazy quotes your pet would say to you if they could speak!
THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS ILLUMINATION WORDS BY SYDNEY MAES
16 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
MUSIC R
TRICKSTER GURU - PROBLEM CHILD
LANY - KINDA
INDEPENDENT
POLYDOR RECORDS
“It’s easy to see why LA-based musician Christopher Caplan is making a name for himself as Trickster Guru. His EP, Problem Child, celebrated its release in early April 2016 at KCRW’s It’s a School Night. The EP is a vibrant mix of an older rock sound and modern indie pop. Caplan’s vocals cascade over intricate guitar and synth leads making his music perfect for fans of bands like Walk The Moon and The 1975. The track that most caught my attention is “Feel the Spirit,” which was the first single from the EP. The song pays homage to Los Angeles while simultaneously speaking of a car accident experienced by Caplan and his former band mate a few years back. Despite some of the subtly sinister lyrics and musical undertones, the song still manages to sound energetic, matching the vibe of LA. Overall the EP is a carefully constructed work of art anyone can enjoy.” - Mykell Bowden
“Hailing from Nashville, TN and currently residing in Malibu, CA, LANY could best be described as a silky, indie-pop band. Their sound sometimes sounds like the soundtrack to an 80’s high school movie. Out of nowhere in June 2016, the band dropped their latest project kinda. The EP grasped my attention with the song ‘current location,’ a heart breaking anthem of longing, distance, and love. Singer Paul Klein croons about his lover moving to London and him needing to be in the same place as them. Many can relate to this song and feel the passion and aching. This EP tells a story and takes you on a trip through a relationship with its ups and downs and all of the feelings that are entangled between two people. I highly recommend giving this EP a full listen through, preferably in a dark room through headphones, but that’s just a personal preference.” - Jessica Pulos
APRIL 4, 2016
JUNE 24, 2016
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 17
REVIEWS
KYLE BRITTON - RIDDLE
GOOD CHARLOTTE - YOUTH AUTHORITY
INDEPENDENT
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP/MDDN
“Indie-folk artist Kyle Britton brings his own unique flair to folk music with his new EP, Riddle. With his soulful voice and knack for songwriting, Britton makes his songs an all-around authentic experience. They tell a story while having a distinct sound that is original to Britton. In an age where it is hard to be one-of-a-kind and true to oneself, Britton makes it look easy on this EP.” - Lanie Davis
In 2010 Good Charlotte released their album Cardiology which was then followed by the band’s breakup in 2012. After a 4-year long hiatus, Good Charlotte made a full-fledged come back and released their newest body of work Youth Authority in July 2016. Although I was unsure of what to expect from the album, there was a sense of the ‘old’ Good Charlotte mixed amongst the new. Fans who have been there since the beginning can find comfort amongst songs like ‘Life Can’t Get Much Better’ and ‘Life Changes.’ Both songs are extremely easy to relate to and hold the most resemblance to the past Good Charlotte that we hold dear and true to our hearts. After some label battles and other personal issues, the company MDDN was created by the Madden Brothers to help represent artists as well as resurrect the Good Charlotte name. This album overall encompasses all the things that this band stands for and is a close personal favorite from the band. You can catch them on their comeback tour this fall.” - Jessica Pulos
JULY 8, 2016
JULY 15, 2016
BEN BARLOW OF NECK DEEP PHOTO BY GABBE YODER
TYLER JOSEPH OF TWENTY ONE PILOTS PHOTO BY MYKELL BOWDEN
DAN SMITH OF BASTILLE PHOTO BY RACHEL LEONARD
PHOTO BY RACHEL LEONARD
CLARK WIESENBERG OF RKDN
PHOTO BY MYKELL BOWDEN
DAVID KLEINEBREIL OF NEVER LET THIS GO
WILL ANDERSON OF PARACHUTE PHOTO BY AMANDA PUGLISI
JENNA MCDOUGALL OF TONIGHT ALIVE PHOTO BY TAYLOR LEIGH
MICHAEL CLIFFORD OF 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER PHOTO BY TAYLOR LEIGH
SMOKE SEASON PHOTO BY MYKELL BOWDEN
DEREK DISCANIO OF STATE CHAMPS PHOTO BY RACHEL LEONARD
26 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
MOOD SWINGS WORDS BY MARISA NEIL PHOTOS BY RACHEL LEONARD
“We’re your worst nightmare… a bunch of grandmas who started a garage band,” Colleen Gordin says, introducing Mood Swings to the small crowd gathered for their free concert. If that preamble made anyone in attendance nervous, the band’s obvious skill should have put them immediately at ease. These five Cache Valley ladies sound good together, not like a nightmare at all. I went down to the venue (Salt Lake City’s Brigham Young Historic Park) an hour before show time with Aspects Magazine’s editor-in-chief to interview Mood Swings, and let me tell you, they entertain with conversation as well as they do with music. Aspects Magazine: How do you all meet and form Mood Swings? Karen Campbell: Kathi and I were in a band called Hot
Flashes for years and then it dissipated and we really missed it. So we picked up our sister, Mardyne, on keyboard. I was at a dinner and saw a wonderful lady playing guitar and entertaining the crowd, so I asked [Colleen] if she would like to join a band and she said “I sure would!” Then we looked for a singer. We didn’t look very far. We knew Robin was an amazing singer so she joined us and that was that! AM: How does your time in Hot Flashes compare to your experience in Mood Swings? KC: It’s very similar, but we live up to our name a little more. We’re kind of moody. [laughs] But it’s good! We’re getting used to each other. Mardyne Andrews: We have a lot of energy, I think, with this group.
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 27 AM: All of you have children and grandchildren. What do your kids and grandkids think of the band? MA: What was it my grandson said? Oh yeah! He said “My grandma’s a rock star!” [laughs] AM: How old is he? MA: He’s five. No! Seven! I have 20, so. KC: I don’t know much about what my grandkids think of the band, but the love to play with my instruments because I have a lot of shakers and various toys and they think that’s a lot of fun.
of your favorites to perform? KB: My favorite is “House of the Rising Son.” It just gets in my soul. KC. “Twist and Shout” or “Drift Away.” CG: I love “Drift Away.” MA: I like “Lips Are Movin’,” but we’re not playing that tonight. RC: I like “Under the Boardwalk,” but my favorite song of all-time is “In This Life.”
Robin Cooper: My kids think it’s cool. My youngest daughters are 20 and 22 and if I’m singing a song that’s on the radio, they’ll correct me if I don’t do it exactly as it sounds. But they think it’s really cool.
KC: We try to cover a lot of decades to appeal to a wide audience.
Kathi Bischoff: My kids think it’s cool but they’ve never seen me play. [laughs] But my little grandson loves to pick up my bass and just pretend that he can play. Actually, I think he knows a lot more about music than I do and he’s only nine.
CG: I’ve always been in bands. My mother and father met in a band, so I can’t imagine my life without playing and being in bands. I think if you’re raised with that, then it’s just a part of your soul.
Colleen Gordin: My kids and grandkids all love it. They think grandma is pretty cool! In fact, most of them will be [at the show] tonight.
AM: Why is music important to you?
MA: And music speaks to the soul like nothing else can. KC: It’s the universal language. Everyone understands it.
AM: On your website, you have a list of songs you cover. What draws you to a song and makes you decide to cover it?
MA: [Karen, Kathi, and I] grew up with our dad in a barbershop quartet and we’d go to sleep at night listening to his quartet sing and it got in our blood.
KC: For me, it’s the beat. Anything with a beat is what I’m after.
KB: We always had music playing in the house. I have always been a music appreciator. I don’t know anything about music. I can’t read it or anything. In fact, all I knew about my guitar at first was that it was orange and I just decided to learn how to play it.
KB: I think we all bring songs to do that we like. And a lot of them are really old because we’re old! [laughs] KC: We like the way they make us feel, whether it’s the lyrics or the beat. As long as they feel good to us. CG: We’re singing one I wrote tonight, though. KB: Yes, Colleen did write one. We’re hoping to get more originals. AM: What is the name of the song you wrote that you’re playing tonight? CG: “I Knew You My Friend.” I wrote it for my husband. AM: Out of the songs in your repertoire, what are some
KC: A lot of us were late bloomers. I didn’t start playing drums until I was 45 and a lot of people think that’s a little late in life. But if you have desire and determination, you can do anything almost. RC: My sisters and I were in a trio that played 40’s music. I’m number 10 out of 11 kids, so we always had music in the home, too. In the car, we would always harmonize. We were always singing in the car. It was never quiet. It’s just become a part of me. MA: Our soundman is one of 11 kids. And we should mention Wayne, because he comes to every practice and solves all of our problems.
28 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
KB: Tonight, my bass was broken and he fixed it. I was trying to call music stores to rent one or borrow one. We can’t survive without him. CG: He changes my strings if I break them in the middle of a performance. AM: And he’s married to which of you? All: Karen! AM: While you were raising your families, how was music a part of your lives? CG: I’ve always performed. I’ve never stopped. I was a teacher and principal at Bear River High, but even during that time I always played programs for nursing homes and things by myself just to, you know, keep going. MA: I taught piano lessons for almost 30 years. I had one daughter that played the flute and the piano. I had all my kids play piano, but she had to get up at four o’clock in the morning to practice both instruments so
she could play with friends after school and because the piano was always tied up with lessons. KC: I just took my kids to lessons all their lives and when they were done I thought “It’s my turn!” [laughs] MA: Honestly, Karen and Kathi, to some extent, used to go around our house banging on the pots and pans growing up. KC: I played the cello for eight years, and loved it. But I always wanted to play the drums, so when it was time, I got myself a set. MA: I played the viola, mostly. I don’t know how I ended up playing keyboards. KB: I tried to play the kazoo, but it didn’t ever work out. CG: And Robin, you started taking lessons, didn’t you? RC: Yeah. I’ve sung my whole life, but I did dance for several years. I took dance and I taught dance for ten years and then my kids did the same as Mardyne. I
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 29
made them take piano, but they also take clarinet and my daughters play guitar. We just like to sing at home. We sing and harmonize out of the blue. If you don’t like singing, it can be very annoying. [laughs] MA: But basically, we are just a group of old moms and grandmas that decided to have fun and that you’re never too old to just have fun! CG: And we’ve been busy. We always have gigs. It works! AM: What are your plans for the band’s future? KB: World tour. We’re hoping to do one in the near future. [laughs] CG: We just don’t want to die or topple over onstage. We’re getting old! RC: Survive the grandkids. CG: And I try to pick up a new instrument every ten years.
KC: She just got a banjo! CG: I did! I just started the banjo. I’ve got a Celtic harp. I think if you pick up a new instrument every ten years, it keeps your brain cells very active. MA: It’s too late for my brain cells. [laughs] RC: We’ll sing a song about that, too! - AM www.moodswingsband.com
30 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
MIDOCA WORDS BY JESSICA PULOS PHOTOS BY JESSICA PULOS & LINDA WANG
The best thing about music is the fact that there are no rules. It’s a way for people to express themselves and connect with other people. Talking to musicians and getting a sense of what their mindset is when it comes to creating music is something so magical. DJs, singers, and bands alike, they all have different reasons for pursuing music and using their creations as an outlet and a place to escape. An accidental find while searching through the depths of SoundCloud, LA based artist, Midoca, captured my attention when I heard his track “Lost and Found” ft. Cal Zafiro. After seeing him live back in April, he’s done things from open up a few dates of the Jai Wolf tour to charting #1 on Hype Machine with his latest, “Never Coming Down” ft. Lostboycrow. Many people are starting to become familiar with the artist. In my opinion, he’s definitely a hidden gem in the music world. With recent hype, I wanted to ask him a few questions and get a feel for the artist that is Midoca. Aspects Magazine: Where are you from originally? Midoca: Youngstown, Ohio. AM: What finally convinced you to make the move to LA? M: I felt overwhelmed by the pressure of attending college in my hometown and the fear of never finding another opportunity to get out. I needed to leave and explore my interest in music. AM: How did you get involved in music? M: Music has always been there, in some way. I remember writing my first song about getting in a fight with a neighborhood kid when i was 9 or 10. I took music more seriously as time went on. I began studying jazz guitar at 16 and played in a few bands. AM: What is one of your main motivations that helps keep you positive?
M: My circle of friends, to be honest. I’m so fortunate to work with people of such a high level of talent. I’m learning something from them with every session. AM: What’s been the most difficult part of being a musician for you personally? M: Learning how to set realistic expectations. I am always torn between wanting more and being deeply grateful for being where I am now. AM: Do you have a specific process when it comes to creating? M: Personally, I don’t. You have to be open and receptive to any means of inspiration. AM: What’s it been like connecting with other LA-based artists and collaborating with artists like Dark Waves, Lostboycrow, and CYN? M: They’re all amazing. Each connection started on either Twitter or SoundCloud, then each became a great personal connection subsequently. Working with Dark Waves and Lostboycrow so closely inspired me to start singing on my own tracks again, something I haven’t done in years. AM: Do you have a favorite song that you’ve released? M: That’s a hard question to answer. Each song represents a specific time and place in my life. AM: How did you get involved with Sexy Electric and what’s it been like to have them as a team? M: I met them through Lostboycrow, actually! It’s been really good so far. I used to watch Kill Paris’ YouTube tutorials when I was trying to wrap my head around Ableton and now he’s a personal connection. That feels reassuring in itself. The rest of the guys are also very supportive and help me make decisions as well as help me cope with the anxiety of releasing music.
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 31 AM: What’s something that you hope people take away from the music you make? M: Honesty. The music I make and the music that inspires me tends to be very vulnerable, both lyrically and tonally. I want to say what I feel in a completely honest way and then have my listeners not be afraid to say what they feel in their own lives. AM: You’re playing the Das Energi Festival in Utah. Are you nervous at all? What are you most excited for? M: I’m not too nervous. I’m just excited to perform some of this music to a large, new audience. AM: What can people expect from you in the remainder of 2016? M: I have a few more songs to release before the end of the year, an EP, and I’ll announce more shows soon! -AM @Midocamusic @Midocamusic
@Midocamusic
32 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
SMOKE SEASON WORDS BY RACHEL LEONARD & MARISA NEIL PHOTO COURTESY OF SMOKE SEASON
Gabrielle Wortman and Jason Rosen met in 2013 after moving to California from the east coast. Since then, they’ve made a name for themselves as Smoke Season. This up and coming duo has spent the last few years touring and bringing their sound to the stages of South by South West and CMJ. With their selection of music videos and three EPs (most recently Ouroboros released on April 15 of this year), they’ve attracted quite a bit of attention. We sat down with Smoke Season to discuss their process and what they’re working on for their first full-length album. Aspects Magazine: What made you decide to form Smoke Season? Smoke Season: This band was a happy accident. We decided to casually play music together and then realized we had accidentally written our first song. Some bands create really organically together and that’s what happened for us – no Craig’s List ads – no intention of forming a band. AM: What is your songwriting process like? SS: For us, music is really a sonic response to an emotion. So, we usually start with a really palpable emotional concept or plot - if you will – and build out the song from there. We tend to write our beats early on so all our guitar, keys and vocal lines are based off that beat concept. It helps us to keep our songs really rhythmic by nature. Oh, and lyrically, Gabrielle usually sings complete jibberish until they evolve into comprehensive words and phrases. We like to say watching her write lyrics is like watching someone pluck invisible threads out of the air. AM: How does your Ouroboros EP demonstrate how you’ve grown from your previous work? SS: Our music has often been described as ethereal or cinematic, with the release of Ouroboros, we decided to take that to full fruition and concept the album as a film release. We worked with VMA-winning production
team, APLUSFILMZ, and created the film. Each music video from the EP is a different installment in the short film. It’s definitely our proudest creative moment. AM: What can fans expect from one of your live shows? SS: We always want our live shows to be a multi-sensory experience. We often tour with complete light installations and projections so that our performances take on a multimedia direction. We also have a tendency to evolve our songs in live settings. We never just play what is on the record. AM: What kind of visual elements would you like to incorporate into future shows or releases? SS: We been working on a lot of video and cinematic elements to incorporate into our shows – shooting HD footage of landscapes around the country that often inspire our music. We can’t wait to roll that out. Also, Gabrielle continues to be our lighting mad scientist. She designs light shows for every tour and is always cooking up something new. AM: What is your favorite type of venue to play? SS: Our favorite type of venue to play is a place full of human beings who are intensely feeling our music. AM: Are there any bands you would love to tour or collaborate with? Who? SS: Too many to count! We’re huge fans of Glass Animals, Alt J, Radiohead, Sigur Ros, The Weeknd, and more that we’d love to tour with. In terms of a writing/recording collaboration, we’ve been saying for a while that we’d love to write with Ennio Morricone and put some spaghetti western soul into some of our elec-
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 33
tro-Americana vibes. AM: What are some things fans can expect from you over the next year? SS: Honestly, we can’t stop writing. Since we’ve beenback from our summer tour, we’ve been going through the most prolific writing period that we’ve had to date as band. All of a sudden, we’re sitting on ten new songs that we feel are the strongest we’ve ever written. Also, we have parts two and three of our Ouroboros EP music video series that are still yet to be released in the remaining 2016 months and we’ll be rolling out the official Ouroboros short film in early 2017. Saying we’re excited would be the understatement of the century.
great conduit for getting anywhere else on the internet you may want to find us. We’re on Spotify, iTunes, Vevo (youtube.com/smokeseasonvevo), Facebook (facebook.com/smokeseason), Twitter (@smokeseasonband), YouTube (youtube.com/smokeseasonband), Instagram (@smokeseason), Snapchat (@smokeseason) and on the tip of your tongue… -AM
@smokeseason @smokeseasonband @smokeseason
Where can readers find you and your music online?
@smokeseasonband
A better question would be where CAN’T they find it! Our official website (SmokeSeason.com) serves as a
www.smokeseason.com
34 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
TIME ATLAS WORDS BY EMILY JACKS PHOTO BY BROOKE BENWAY
Minneapolis pop-rock four piece Time Atlas has a simple aim: make music that connects people. With their new single, “Scarlet Fever” (available now via Apple Music and Spotify), the band looks to bring their sound and live show to a wider audience. We spoke with the band’s frontman, Grayson DeWolfe, about the origins of the band, the pros and cons of self-production, and what the future holds for Time Atlas.
down, like Falling, but after that we had to really re-access everything and see what worked where. We ended up choosing Sleepless Nights and then doing a piano version of Too Late. The piano for all of those was recorded in my tiny bedroom, in fact the majority of those three songs were recorded in bedrooms!
Aspects Magazine: How did you get involved in music?
GD: It definitely has both pros and cons. Cons first even though we have some really talented guys in this band with recording experience, we still don’t have the quality of a big budget studio. So we have to make ends meet there, but honestly I think we get by just fine. The biggest pro is the same as its con, depending how you look at it - no outside influence. With Obscurity we got to just be ourselves and work together and make a product that was 100% done by us, start to finish. However, sometimes it’s good to have someone from the outside looking in and giving you advice, as well.
Grayson DeWolfe: I got involved in music when I was little in 4th grade. I was in baseball and some sports before and, quite frankly, I kinda just sucked. Around that time my family had just gotten cable TV and I found Disney Channel or whatever, and saw a music video for the Jonas Brothers, “Year 3000” or one of their first songs. I remember seeing that and was like, “Yep. That’s what I’m gonna do.” There were open auditions for a bigger budget local theatre production of the musical Oliver and I ended up getting the lead role. It changed my life forever! AM: How did Time Atlas come together? GD: I was pursuing a solo career for a couple years. After about a year of playing more and more shows in the cities, I recruited Josh and Kristoff (now my guitarist and bassist) to play with me as my live band. We played some pretty big gigs for six months under my name, opening up for PVRIS and Tonight Alive and QuietDrive and what not, before deciding that winter that I didn’t want to be a solo artist anymore. We took on the name of Time Atlas instead and came back strong in May with an EP ready to be released and everything, and I guess that’s where Time Atlas started! AM: In April, you released an EP featuring acoustic renditions of three of your songs. What was the process of selecting the songs and re-recording them like? GD: We sat down a lot and really talked through the selection process. Some songs were really easy to strip
AM: Your music is self-produced. What benefits do you find that holds?
AM: Who or what influences you musically? GD: A lot of the bands we hold high on a pedestal are Coldplay, Panic! at the Disco, Marianas Trench, The Cab, Coheed and Cambria, and This Love. Personally, John Mayer and Ben Folds are big influences on my songwriting as well. AM: Which of your songs holds the most meaning for you personally? GD: We have an acoustic song on our first EP, “Too Late.” I wrote that song in the bathroom of an Italian restaurant while I was clocked in being a host on a busy Friday night (my manager wouldn’t have been too happy knowing that). I wrote the guitar part the night before, and was still trying to figure out the rest of the song and it sorta hit me. I locked myself in a bathroom and wrote it out and recorded it on my phone. It’s such a raw, lyrically honest song that I wrote about a past relationship that failed after she went to college. It’s the most honest song I have ever written, and everything about
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 35
the song is where I want it to be. Playing it live is my favorite part of the show. AM: What can our readers expect out of a Time Atlas live show? GD: I think you can expect a lot of fun. I say the word “fun” not lightly. I know of a lot of bands that kind of walk onto a stage, play their songs, and walk off. That’s not our style. We have fun and take on the role of entertainers, too. We talk and joke and goof off in between songs and talk to the audience. People laugh. We laugh. We’ve got lots of upbeat songs that people scream the words to and ballads like “Too Late” that makes everyone kind of come together and feel like one. A family almost. It’s definitely an experience that I love sharing with new people. AM: What is your songwriting process like? GD:The process is different almost every time, but generally, all my songs start off with a melody. I wait for that little hook, a phrase, a guitar riff, anything to enter my head in some shape or form. It could just be a few words, and emotion, and I write everything else based off of that. I start with the trunk of a tree and then I start to build the branches and the leaves. We have a new song coming out on August 16th called “Scarlet Fever,” and I wrote that song around a bridge idea. Then I wrote the synth line/hook, and then I knew I wanted
a strong instrumental part that made the crowd jump. I put them all in a blender, and that’s kinda what “Scarlet Fever” turned out to be! AM: What can fans expect out of Time Atlas over the next six months to a year? GD: New music. Bigger shows. We’re putting out a new single called “Scarlet Fever,” and I’m honestly more excited to release this thing, as well as the music video, more than anything I’ve ever done. We’re getting closer to where we want to be with our sound and our ideas. People can expect bigger shows, too. We’ve started playing more and more in bigger rooms where we’re able to, but I think this fall we’re going to go back to playing some smaller ones as well and really cram people in there. I can’t wait. We plan on having our next collection of brand new songs out before next summer, too! Look out for “Scarlet Fever” online on the 16th, as well as a music video shortly following it! - AM
@TimeAtlasMN @TimeAtlas @TimeAtlasMN @TimeAtlas
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 37
NEVER LET THIS GO WORDS BY MYKELL BOWDEN & EMILY JACKS PHOTOS BY RACHEL LEONARD
Having just recorded their forthcoming album at ZK Studios in Atlanta, Arizona based band Never Let This Go is about to hit their stride. Combining the honest and heartfelt lyrics fans have come to expect with a more polished evolution of their sound, the band’s hope is that the new crop of songs will take them to the next level. Aspects Magazine sat down with the band at the Utah date of their recent tour with Shatterproof, to discuss recording their new album, staying true to your vision, and building their foundation. Aspects Magazine: How was the tour kick off? David Kleinebreil: Sick! Shatterproof made it really fun. Having bands from other cities always makes it really fun because then it’s not the same old, same old. Not to say that we don’t love the Arizona bands, because we do. AM: What can our readers expect if they come out to one of your guys’ live shows? Vic Chan: Jokes. Spencer Howard: More specifically, puns. DK: I like to think, not being, like, over confident here, but a good live show. Jonas Romero: Dad mustache. AM: Those were all definitely delivered tonight [all laugh]. For people reading this article who haven’t heard of you guys before, what bands would you say you’re similar to or inspired by? DK: Jimmy Eat World, All Time Low, and Yellowcard.
DK: Maybe a little bit. VC: Acceptance. SH: That’s a good one. AM: So your music video for “Right Now” played in Journey’s stores across the US. How did that come about and how was that experience seeing your music video in stores? DK: It was really surreal. Our management team knows the marketing team at Journey’s, so with that connection they were able to get the music video into Journey’s. Magic. JR: I kept going into my local Journey’s and telling them that a band I play in has a music video on in there, could I please have a job? And it hasn’t worked. [laughs] AM: You just recorded a new album at ZK in Atlanta. Do you want to talk a little bit about what that process was like working there and what people can expect with your new music? VC: It was a lot of fun. Zack and Kenneth are really great to work with. Super hands-on and really relaxed. Probably one of the best experiences we’ve had in a studio. Definitely looking forward to going back at some point. DK: What to expect… Very real, honest songs. We sound a little more clean-cut, honestly. It’s a bit more of a mainstream sound, but it wasn’t something we were afraid of. It was actually something we were really excited to try out.
DK: Van Halen… No. [laughs]
VC: It was interesting, because when we wrote “Better” we were thinking, “Yeah, that’s probably how the record is going to sound,” and then once when we met with Zack and Kenneth and started working on more songs, it started going a little more down the pop route.
SH: Brand New.
SH: “Better” was very, like, alternative-rock-kind-of-in-
SH: I’d agree with that.
38 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE die-rock sounding. Almost grungy really. There’s moreof a sparkle to the new songs. They’re dialed back. AM: What interests do you pursue outside of music? All: POKÉMON GO! [laughter] AM: What has been the most challenging part about working in the music industry? DK: I don’t mean this in a bad way, but standing out, I think. I think standing out anywhere, really, is hard. Even growing up you want to stand out and you don’t know how, but you kind of just have to be yourself. It sounds really cheesy, but then you get out in the real world and that’s how it is. SH: I think trying to prove to fans or people who haven’t heard you before that you’re sincere. You know, we’re not out there to hustle and make money. It’d be great if we could, if one day we could. But just proving that we’re honest in what we do and we have honest intentions. It can be a struggle at times, because other bands really don’t respect things sometimes. I don’tknow, it’s just hard to stay true to yourself, I think.
DK: Yeah. Unfortunately, we do see some people that lose that path. They still try to seem that way, they want to appear that way, but you kind of just have to, like, you can’t even think about it. You have to just do it. JR: Music is how we’re doing it. It’s like a full time job. You spend a lot of time doing it. Writing, practicing, playing shows, promoting shows. So it’s hard to do all of that and then also work a regular full time job. That’s the hardest for me. AM: On the flip side, what is your favorite part about being in a band? SH: My favorite part would just be, funny enough, driving place to place. You would not believe what goes on in that van - what we talk about, where we end up stopping, what we do. It’s just a good time travelling with friends. I mean, even if we didn’t end up playing music at the end of the day, I’m just happy to be traveling with people that I’m close with. DK: I always have a hard time saying whether my favorite part is the people or music and I think I finally just now figured out how to word that. Sharing the ex-
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 39 perience of the music with people. That’s my favorite part. AM: One of the focuses of Aspects Magazine is helping people build their foundation. How did you decide you wanted to be in the industry and how did you get that foundation started? DK: I think, like we said earlier, kind of being true to yourself and just identifying the fact that you love something and can’t ignore the fact that you enjoy it, so you keep doing it. That’s the foundation - loving something. Loving anything, really.
ily, it’s just the love that you have for the people in it. You don’t love a family because of what they can do for you. You love your family because they’re your family. SH: And the fact that we can roll up to a city, a state that we don’t live in or never have lived in, and we can make a post on social media and there’s people who know who we are that can come see us, it’s the coolest feeling. AM: What does music mean to you? VC: Everything.
SH: It’s loving it for what it is, not for what it can turn into. Because if you’re into music because you want to get the return out of it in the end, that’s not how it’s going to go.
DK: I’ve had people ask me this question all the time. I can never answer this. Is it cheesy to say everything?
DK: It’s not going to last long.
SH: There are musicians who try to write songs that capture what music means to them and it’s almost like…
VC: You don’t want to do it just because you want to be famous. DK: I think it’s, like, even with the foundation of a fam-
VC: That’s what I said.
DK: You can’t. What does music mean to us? SH: I think “everything” is the most cliché thing we can come up with. DK: And the most accurate. SH: So, everything. AM: Your songs are crafted with a lot of honesty and personal detail. Are you ever hesitant or scared to share that much of yourself with listeners? DK: Oh yeah. You’re completely opening up. Even writing songs about my mom on this past record. The first time she heard those songs was the other night because she came to our show and we were finally playing them. I hesitated thus far to show them to her because I didn’t know how she would feel. VC: [To David] We even had this discussion when you were writing the lyrics to “Better.” You were asking us and you had that hesitation. You said, “I don’t know if I should say this” and we just said “You don’t want to sugar coat it. It’s all about honesty and how you feel.” AM: And was it well received? DK: I think so. The most emotional songs are and have been. AM: If you could leave our readers with one message,
40 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE what would it be? DK: Find something you love and do it with everything you have. I know that sounds so cheesy, but… SH: Something I’ve struggled with lately is trying to figure out what I want to do with my life, but that’s not a very good way of going about it. You should never limit yourself. There’s not a specific thing you’re ever meant to do. A lot of us grow up with parents saying, “Oh, you have to go to school then you have to get this job” or “We want you working in this industry” and whatnot. It’s good to give everything a shot, but don’t limit yourself to one specific thing. I mean, I’m in school, I teach, I play in this band, I’m a sound engineer on the side. I’m just trying to find my place, but the way to do that is to get involved in as many things as possible. VC: Be a good person. Be kind to one another. AM: Where can people connect with your band online? DK: Twitter is our favorite - NLTGaz, which is also our Instagram. Our Facebook is neverletthisgoaz. We have Snapchat, but we fail to use it as much as I’d like to. And Tumblr is the same. Pretty much anywhere online. AM: You guys are on iTunes, Spotify, all that fun stuff? DK: Yes, iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music. All the stuff you should be on except Bandcamp. AM: Anything else you want to add? DK: Pokémon Go is sick. I think everyone should play more Pokémon Go and eat lots of pasta, like us. - AM @neverletthisgoaz @NLTGaz @NLTGaz www.neverletthisgo.com
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 41
42 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
GOING TO SHOWS ALONE VS. WITH FRIENDS WORDS BY SYDNEY MAES
Just a few days after experiencing the end of (quite possibly the best) Warped tour with some of my best friends, I am finding myself planning my fall according to the tours that are being announced every couple of hours. Unfortunately for me, this means that I will be going solo to most of the shows I have on my agenda since I haven’t quite found my ride or die concert pal on the East Coast yet. Fortunately, these won’t be the first shows I’ve attended solo because over the last six years I have had to experience being by myself in a crowd when my friends were too busy or uninterested in the bands playing. But with that, I have realized that experiencing a concert in any company will always result in having a great time and experiencing the personal journey I sought out that night. I like to think that the energy you put forth as an audience member is going to make the experience for you, whether that be a little bit of energy exerted with friends resulting in a nice laid back night, a high amount of energy exerted alone which results in an exhilarating night or vice versa, you’re only going to have as much fun as you allow yourself to have. Going to a concert by yourself is sometimes going to be the only option, and in all honesty it may be more fun than going with someone you’ve forced to go with you who may not share the same love for the artist as you do. When you’re on your own you don’t feel held back or embarrassed when said person don’t seem to be having as much fun as you, and on the flip side of that you won’t have to feel obligated to stay for longer than you want during the show. There is a freedom that comes with going to show alone that helps you grow and become a little more comfortable with who you are in a crowd of people. If you end up in a friendly enough place in the line
or crowd and work your way through some small talk, it can even be quite easy to make new friends. Most people are there for similar reasons as you and there is already a common interest in the artists, so conversation tends to be a little easier than talking to strangers in a different environment; it also doesn’t hurt that most frequent concert goers are pretty friendly since they’ve all been in the same lonesome boat at one point. It can be hard if you’re not comfortable holding conversations with strangers, but the beautiful part about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone in such an accepting environment is that you will usually get a positive outcome. You may find a friend for the day that you can jam with and small talk with between sets or you may luck out and find your newest best friend. I’ve been lucky enough to stumble upon some of my best friends by going to a show or two alone and our friendship has been strengthened as we continue to meet up with each other at future events. It took a little bit of effort outside of my comfort zone mixed in with some awkward conversation at first but now years later we hang out beyond local venues and can even plan to travel to shows together. It seems to have all come full circle. I’m not going to say going to a show alone completely outweighs going to a show with your friends because sometimes you won’t have as much fun as you would with your best friends. Hell, the best time I’ve ever had whilst at a concert was when I was stupidly dancing and screaming out lyrics with my friends to our favorite bands, but I will say that it’s worth going to a show alone rather than not at all. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain as soon as you start that next solo adventure.
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 43
TRAVELLING FOR SHOWS WORDS BY JESSICA PULOS PHOTO BY LINDA WANG Wanderlust: a strong desire to travel. I think we’re all born hard wired with a sense of wonder and wanting to travel and explore things that are foreign to us. I have always wanted to travel - see new states, meet new people, drive for hours in cars with friends - but I was always afraid to take the leap. This past year I’ve decided that I need to get some traveling out of my system. I’ve flown to Utah, driven to Colorado and Oregon, just to see some artists that mean a lot to me, but these have been some of the most incredible experiences. Road trips are definitely hard. Being in a car for hours on end makes you restless and annoyed. Driving when you’re tired is probably the roughest part. It’s always good to make sure that someone is awake with you and talking because keeping you awake is key. Snacks and killer jams are also a road trip must. This past May I got this idea that I wanted to drive to Oregon to see Lostboycrow play a hometown show. The last three dates of his tour with Vérité were Oregon, San Francisco and Los Angeles. I was determined to close out the tour with him. My friend and I packed up the car and headed out late the night before the show and drove all the way through to Oregon. This was such a crazy experience for me because this would be the longest I’ve ever spent in a car, but I was so excited for the show. Overnight drives, I think, are the hardest part of roadtrip driving. It’s dark and quiet and driving down a dark empty road is almost like a lullaby putting you to sleep, but we prevailed. We were able to surprise Lostboycrow and watch him put on one of the best shows I’ve seen him play. There’s always so much passion that he brings to the stage. This tour he was accompanied onstage with a drummer and guitar/keyboardist and I think bringing these live elements to his show really helped change the way he carried himself onstage; they made him more confident. It’s difficult to describe the feeling of a Lostboycrow show unless you experience it yourself, which I recommend to everyone. The mood in the room shifts when he takes the stage as “Same Old Love” by Selena Gomez makes a killer remix transition into his opening song, “My Heart Is a Weapon.” Having this as his opening was a strong start
because it’s dark and sexy and gets the crowd moving. Throughout the set he plays almost every song he’s released, including a tantalizing mashup of his song “Powers” and “Heartless” by Kanye West. After every show you’ll always find the lostboy chillin’ by the merch booth ready and waiting to give you a hug or sign anything you want (we even watched him sign someone’s arm in San Francisco). He’s easy to find and always the most genuine person you’ll meet. You might even walk away from the conversation inspired. Traveling for shows has rapidly become one of my favorite things to do. Where I used to hesitate at the thought of leaving California, I now jump at every opportunity I have. I’ve even caught myself saying things like “Oh, it’s only 10 hours away.” It’s funny how perspectives change. I encourage everyone to travel for shows whether it’s three hours away or sixteen, it’s always worth the new experiences and maybe along the way you’ll learn something new.
44 // ASPECTS MAGAZINE
MOST AN
BASTILLE - WILD WORLD
ALEX & SIERRA - AS SEEN ON TV
VIRGIN RECORDS
INDEPENDENT
“English alternative-rock band Bastille will release their highly-anticipated sophomore album Wild World on September 9 via Virgin Records. Following their cinematic-themed album Bad Blood (2013), Wild World is set to feature the catchy and exciting singles ‘Good Grief’ and ‘Fake It.’ The album will contain fourteen songs and the deluxe edition will have nineteen. Bastille will be doing an arena tour throughout Europe in October and November to support the album in addition to a few dates in the US.” - Rachel Leonard
“I fell in love with Alex & Sierra in early 2015 when they toured with Paradise Fears and Andy Grammer. Their debut album It’s About Us floored me. The duo is outrageously talented. I’ve been eagerly awaiting new music from them and luckily that wait is almost over. Their sophomore album, As Seen On TV, will be releasing on September 30 and is already available for pre-order. Those who pre-order will get a new song every two weeks until the release date.” - Mykell Bowden
SEPTEMBER 9, 2016
SEPTEMBER 30, 2016
ASPECTS MAGAZINE // 45
NTICIPATED
SET IT OFF - UPSIDE DOWN
SHIN GOJIRA (GODZILLA RESURGENCE)
EQUAL VISION RECORDS
TOHO PICTURES
OCTOBER 7, 216
“Set It Off is set to release their third full length album, Upside Down, on October 7. With two singles already released, I’m definitely interested in what the album as a whole is going to sound like. The album is available for pre-order on iTunes and Set It Off’s merch store. If you pre-order, you can get an instant download of ‘Uncontainable’ and ‘Something New.’” - Mykell Bowden
FALL 2016
“Shin Gojira (also known as Godzilla Resurgence) is a Japanese action/adventure/drama directed by Shinji Higuchi, written by Hideaki Anno, and produced by Toho Pictures. This film tells the story of Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Rando Yaguchi who is convinced that the recent natural disasters in Tokyo Bay were caused by a large animal. After attempting to warn the rest of Japan’s top government officials that the disasters weren’t caused by an earthquake or a volcano, a large creature makes its appearance in the bay, moving inland towards the center of Tokyo leaving a wake of destruction behind it. This movie marks Godzilla’s 31st cinematic appearance and is the 29th film made by Toho Pictures. Shin Gojira premiered on July 25th, 2016 in Japan, and is currently set to release in fall of 2016 in the U.S.” - Bryce Mousseau
@ASPECTSMAG
@ASPECTSMAG
FACEBOOK.COM/ASPECTSMAG