the
World Tour
Experience PTV | SWS | PVRIS | Mallory Knox
must-read
up close with
echosmith
album reviews
essential
exclusive interview with
AAron carter on the
cover
Melanie martinez
handguns BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 1
Table of Contents Staff
Editor in Chief
Acacia Evans Sarah McGonagle
Art Director
Alyson Coletta Andi Rogers
Contributing Photographers Sara Comer Alli DelGrippo Miranda Eliot Nolan Feldpausch Nolan Knight Samantha Madnick Dana Mansbart Clark Terrell
Contributing Writers Miquella Baker Luke Duran Niki Major Kaitlyn Midgett
Get Social with BCT
16
Check out our tell-all with Handguns, this issue’s featured artist.
Website:
bigcitythoughts.com
Instagram:
@bigcitythoughtspress
Facebook:
facebook.com/ bigcitythoughts
4
BCT gets love from Miss May I’s own Levi Benton!
25
Photos of Slaves ’
very own
Jonny Craig
BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 2
10
Get to know Melanie Martinez
{ 26
BCT’s review of Meghan Trainor’s newest album.
21
}
An inside look at the World Tour with PTV &SWS
04 - Interview: Levi Benton
21 - The World Tour Photo Experience
08 - Photography by Sara Comer
22 - Interview with Rilan
09 - South by So What Dates
24 - Photography by Nolan Knight
10 - Interview: Melanie Martinez
25 - Photography by Miranda Eliot
12 - Photography by Acacia Evans
26 - Album Reviews: Meghan Trainor
14 - Show Review: WinterJam
27 - Album Reviews: January Releases
15 - The Best of Insta
28 - Photography by Nolan Feldpaush
16 - Featured Artist: Handguns
30 - Interview: Say We Can Fly
20 -The Stigma Behind Mental Illness
32 - Interview: Youth in Revolt
BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 3
n o t n e b i lev of
miss may i BCT: I’m Anthony, and this is Tori. We’re from Big City Thoughts Press. First question I have here is: Give us a brief background on how you all found each other to create a band.
Levi: Basically we were sort of a Myspace band, it like exploded on Myspace overnight. We went to 250 plays a day and literally, no joke, the next day was like 250,000 plays.
Levi: We basically were all just friends in high school, and I just actually moved to Troy right before we started playing together – we all skateboarded and we were probably in eighth grade when we met, and then Freshman year of high school, we started just jamming. We just played cover songs, really bad cover songs, in our basements. And the cool thing was, we didn’t play to anybody, we just would hang out every night and play the same songs after school. And then we started writing our own music and having our own music and, (hears something in the distance) – sorry, that’s my favorite song. We got into uh, yeah writing our own songs. I think end of freshman year we played our first show and we just kept playing locally. It sort of got really crazy our junior year, probably like 2008 got really crazy and then 2009 we got a record deal, and then we’ve been touring ever since.
BCT: What song was it?
BCT: So how did that occur? Were you guys at a show and someone approach you? Or did you send them a demo?
Levi: “Swing.” Yeah, we put “Swing” up and “Architect.” And then people were listening to our original stuff and not just our cover. And once we released an original song that was really big, we were just at the top of all of these charts and actually, we got a record deal – we got three record deals, and they were from different labels but they all came through Myspace messages because we didn’t have an email set up. So yeah, that was 2009 and then, yeah, it wasn’t even like real life. It was crazy, cause it was like “oh I’m checking through messages” and it’s from a label and we were just like, “Holy crap this is the real deal.” So yeah, we were a Myspace band. It was right when Devil Wears Prada was the biggest thing in the world. We knew that Rise Records had Devil Wears Prada and all our friends actually were getting signed. We used to play local shows. It used to be us and Attack Attack and I See Stars and then Attack Attack and I See Stars got record deals but dropped out of school, and we didn’t want to do that, so Rise let us stay in school and finish. That’s why we ended up picking them over other people.
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“
...it’s good because I think that’s what keeps our band sort of being able to do this for so long, because we actually listen to the feedback...
BCT: That’s sweet. Yeah, I didn’t know all that. Who or what were your biggest inspirations in writing your most recent album, “Rise of the Lion?” Levi: Oh man. We tried to change it up a little bit, cause we’re known for the As I Lay Dying/Killswitch vibe. So this last one was sort of brought some In Flames, some Slipknot, some Lamb of God, heavier old-school metal stuff. We were influenced by some Pantera, like Wreckage, in the new stuff and it was a lot more old school and overseas Europe kind of metal bands that are sort of sprinkled on this new record. Yeah, to change It up a little bit. BCT: What’s the biggest musical difference between your first album, “Apologies Are for the Weak” and “Rise of the Lion.” Levi: I think the biggest difference is we structure songs. People don’t really notice, but on “Apologies Are for the Weak,” nothing ever repeated, it was literally just us jamming and recording it and, even now we listen to it and it doesn’t make any sense to us.
BCT: It just kind of worked out? Levi: Yeah, just sort of went together and we just learned how to write songs and structure them and write choruses. But that was the biggest difference. BCT: Your new music video, “Hero With No Name,” seems to me like a pretty powerful video. Which of your videos has been your favorite or the most powerful and why? Levi: “Hero with No Name” actually has been, surprisingly the most powerful. We didn’t think that we were going to get the response we did because it’s sort of a live video and then we, post-production tacked on all the extra footage that really makes it meaningful. We’ve been getting so much mail and letters even people from overseas stationed in the military, it’s been really really emotionally like a rollercoaster. It’s been crazy, so that was probably the most powerful. My favorite one was probably doing “Hey Mister,” because that was the most fun for us. It took three days at different locations and it was crazy shooting that video.
”
BCT: Yeah, I love that music video. I think it’s really cool. Tell us a little bit how your fans and letters from them influence the band as a whole. Did you read into what fans were saying and then tweak a little bit of things? Levi: Oh yeah. I think we’ve done that sort of on every record. It’s funny because after “Apologies” it was “you guys don’t have any structure in your songs” so we learned structure and after “Monument” it was “you guys don’t sound raw enough,” so we tried to write a raw record. So every time, we listened to everyone’s criticism, and I think that for our next record, we already have it planned out. And a lot of it has to do with the criticism. But, I think it’s good because I think that’s what keeps our band sort of being able to do this for so long, because we actually listen to the feedback and since we write what we want to write, but we don’t really shut out the fans, because we don’t want no one to show up to the shows BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 5
BCT: Right. Again, you have to find that perfect medium of what the fans want and what you want yourself. You can’t just do something that you’re not loving to do and playing music that isn’t so really hitting home to you versus what other people are telling you to do. You’re currently on tour with August Burns Red and Northlane. Even though the tour’s just begun, what has been your favorite date so far and why? Levi: Montreal is the craziest. We used to play there, like, every three months until I think in 2012 we stopped. We didn’t purposefully stop, it’s just we started focusing on worldwide touring. We came back and it was the biggest venue we’ve played, in Montreal, and the crowd was literally insane. And that was probably my favorite show of the tour so far. It was nice to come back and everyone sort of not forget about us. They were waiting for us to come back, so it was nice.
“...it’s sort of our foundation, so it’s going to be nice to play back to our foundation.
”
BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 6
BCT: If you could tour with any other three bands in any genre at all, literally just not even having to make sense why you guys are on tour with them, who would they be? Levi: Justin Timberlake, The 1975, and In Flames. BCT: That’s definitely a shuffle mode. What are your guys’ plans for the future? I think I heard you say something about maybe a new album coming out this year? Levi: Yeah, we’ve been writing a lot. We don’t really know when we’re going into the studio, but the one thing we’ve been working on this year is, this year we’re supposed to be touring the US again and Canada because we sort of focused 2014 worldwide, so we’re going to turn that down a little bit and focus more in the states. We’re really excited for that because it’s not a lot of flying and it’s sort of our foundation, so it’s going to be nice to play back to our foundation.
This tour has been great because we haven’t played to most of these fans in like two years, cause the last two US tours was with Five Finger Death Punch because we were trying to gain fans and then Killswitch Engage we were trying to gain fans, so it wasn’t really our fan base. So we’re really excited to play back to our fan base. This whole year, we have a lot of cool tours lined up. BCT: You guys think that you might play Rock on the Range again? Levi: We’re not playing Rock on the Range. I don’t… I think we’re actually doing something else during it but I can’t tell you. But we are doing something else. BCT: And finally, is there anything that you’d like to say to your fans? Levi: Stay metal. Thank you guys for sticking with us over the years, and hopefully I get to see you guys on the US tour soon.
BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 7
Artist: Papa Roach Photo By: Sara Comer
Artist: Seether Photo By: Sara Comer
BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 8
BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 9
exclusive interview with
melanie martinez by acacia evans
AE: Give us a brief background on how you became an artist. MM: I started writing music heavily by myself with guitar. I first taught myself to play the guitar when I was 14. I’ve been writing poetry since I was in 5th grade and I’ve been singing since I was little, so I don’t know! I grew up around music. My parents didn’t play music though. They weren’t musicians, but my dad loves all types of music. He would always play The Beatles but then he would play a lot of Hip-Hop, so I think that has influenced my music. AE: Your EP “Dollhouse” came out in May! Who or what were your biggest influences, and what is your fascination with dolls? MM: Well I love vintage dolls and I make necklaces out of them all the time. I can’t wait to get my own place so I can decorate with like arms coming out of the walls! I just cling to it, I naturally want to kind of use that as a medium. AE: You were on The Voice, Season 3. What was that experience like, and what was the hardest part about being on a televised singing show? MM: I think the hardest part was that I had to sing covers and couldn’t sing original music. It was really hard to be under that much pressure in a short amount of time, and there were a lot of people telling you what to do. I had to stay really strong about who I was as an artist. It was hard for me because I just wanted to write music and have people hear my original music, so it was really difficult after the show to break out of that.
BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 10
“
I’m in a phase right now, my music, my style… I think it’s just me. I get into these weird things where my whole life is apart of the music, the way that I look at life, the way that I dress, stuff like that. I think it all just fits together...
AE: How did you get involved with the American Horror Story theme song, and are you a fan of the show?” MM: OH MY GOD, I love the show. It’s my favorite show. I love the first and second season and this current season. I haven’t watched the finally though, I just don’t want it to end! I actually wrote “Carousel” in October of 2013. So, I wrote the song and then a couple months later I found out that the new season, what it was going to be about, was leaked and I was like this is similar to “Carousel”. I told my manager to shoot out emails and didn’t hear back from them for a year! I found out literally two days before they aired it. I didn’t hear anything about it, we didn’t talk about it at all. Two days before it aired we get an email saying “Melanie Martinez for American Horror Story.” I was freaking out, this is my favorite fucking show! I left a voicemail for all my friends. AE: You filmed a music video for both “Dollhouse” and “Carousel.” Which one was your favorite to film and why? MM: Well okay, for “Dollhouse” there was a little more of a struggle because I had a strong vision for it and had to make sure everyone was on the same page as me, but I think with “Carousel” I got to the point where I would not work with anyone who wasn’t down with what I wanted to do. I had a different director and a different person shooting. I just needed people who were supportive one hundred percent of what I wanted to do. So “Dollhouse” was a little more tricky, but I think it was a better take of what I wanted to do, They’re both very special to me because they’re what I wanted to accomplish, but I’m just excited to make more visuals for songs!
”
AE: I have a few fan questions! Sara asked, “How do you come up with your original look including your hair, makeup, wardrobe, etc.?” MM: I’m in a phase right now, my music, my style… I think it’s just me. I get into these weird things where my whole life is apart of the music, the way that I look at life, the way that I dress, stuff like that. I think it all just fits together and I feel like I just kind of naturally cling to things that I wear, the pastel colors, I just like it. AE: Jeff asks, “Will you ever release your EP on vinyl?” MM: Yes, actually I think for right now it’s going to be half baby blue and half pink. I’m really excited for that, but yes, definitely going to do vinyl for the full-length album too. I’m so into it, I love physical records. AE: What are your plans for the future? MM: I think I want to just write more music. I want to actually write for other people very badly. I wanna work with other artists, write for them, and get into their head. It’d be really interesting. I love pop music and how every artist has their own thing, they’re in their own lane, you know? Just to change it up and write all sorts of different things. I think it’s people’s experiences that shape their music. AE: Lastly, what would you like to say to your fans? MM: That I love them, and I’m really excited to put out the album for them so they can have more music to listen to. AE: When can we expect that album? MM: Spring. BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 11
Artist: AARON CARTER Photo By: ACACIA EVANS
Artist: AARON CARTER Photo By:THOUGHTS ACACIA EVANS BIG CITY - 12
Artist: PVRIS Photo By: ACACIA EVANS
Artist: Mallory Knox Photo By: ACACIA EVANS
BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 13
SHOW REVIEW:
104.5 WINTER JAM Twenty-six degrees…t-w-e-n-t-y-s-i-x. It was 26 degrees on Saturday, but I, along with Andrew McMahon-followers, Walk the Moon-fanatics, Cold War Kids-obsessors, The Gaslight Anthem-devotees, and every combination thereof, danced, and sang, and sported huge smiles that covered chattering teeth, for none other than 104.5’s Winter Jam. With doors opening at 10 am, devoted and excited fans started lining up for the day around 6 am – with Andrew McMahon and the Wilderness on schedule to take the stage at 12:15. No shocker here, he was awesome – the setlist consisted of new tracks, as well as covers of Jack’s Mannequin and Something Corporate favorites. The set came to a close with McMahon joining the crowd, as they simultaneously jumped up and down to Jack Mannequin’s La La Lie, shortly followed by Cecilia and The Satellite. Walk the Moon started around 2 pm, but with getting a late start and a slightly-too-rambunctious crowd, the set was not the best I’ve seen from Walk the Moon. But as always, the combination of Shut Up and Dance, and I Can Lift A Car, enraptured the crowd and got their feet moving (as in pulling them into the music long enough to stop giving crowd-surfers, and a few unlucky people under them, concussions or black eyes). Cold War Kids also faced some issues setting up, but once they were all set, their show was intense – I was particularly excited for song two, Miracle Mile, which I spent trying to dance wildly and sing too loud while taking pictures in the photo pit. Numb-toed and cold-nosed, The Gaslight Anthem took the stage around 4 pm. Jersey boys or not, Brian Fallon was quick mention the cold and gained the crowd’s attention with witty jokes and an incredible set list. Whereas this was my second time having seen Gaslight (the first time being in Asbury Park, NJ – a wonderful town, featured in many of the band’s lyrics), and we were without the Jersey-bandplaying-in-Jersey magic, the band did Philadelphia no injustice. There was no question why The Gaslight Anthem was picked to headline – their energy, stage presence, and performance were second-to-none. All in all, my toes took about three hours with three blankets to regain feeling, and my cheeks were frozen for quite a while – but with a face-breaking smile. From 10 am – 5 pm, I had the pleasure of wandering around 104.5’s Winter Jam on my own. But as with all live-music-enhanced events, I was surrounded by people who love what I love, and spent the time singing and dancing with my fellow gleeful strangers as we tried to keep warm by hiding within the crowd, jumping up and down with the music, and embracing pure adrenalized-excitement.
REVIEW + PHOTOS BY: ALLI DELGRIPPO BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 14
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FEATURE ARTIST
hand guns W
hen I first met Handguns, they had just undergone various recent member changes, a setback that had left them without a van, had just released their debut album, and were playing small shows in the New England area to raise money to get them and their equipment back to their homes. The band was set to embark on a UK tour supporting Senses Fail and to play the UK’s Slam Dunk Festival. Exhausted from shooting the music video for their song “Stay With Me”, you could still catch a glint of excitement in their tired eyes for what was yet to come. When I inquired as to who they were most excited to see at the festival, guitarist Brandon Pagano answered definitively, “All Time Low. All Time Low’s awesome. Fast forward two years to the present day. Handguns is wrapping up a US run supporting Four Year Strong and Comeback Kid, having not only released their second full length album, but having written and recorded it with the help of the vocalist of the very band they were so anxious to catch at Slam Dunk. “On “Life Lessons” we worked with Paul Leavitt, who had done all of All Time Low’s earlier records, and he’d done (The) Dangerous Summer records, he did stuff that I really enjoy. And Alex Gaskarth from
All Time Low came in to help produce the vocals on the record, which was also a really cool thing for us. It was a different team, and it worked really well, and I think it was the perfect team for what we were trying to accomplish with that record,” says Brandon from our perch on the balcony of the Sinclair in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as we watch small gatherings of fans trail onto the main floor of the venue, buzzing with excitement for what that evening’s show had in store. He pauses, taking in the rising noise around us, then continues, “Yeah, it was weird, because we wrote that record in pieces. Like, we’d write a song here, write two songs in a week here, leave for tour and not write for months, come home, piece together another song… It was cool because each song was meant to capture a part of that year, and the entire record was written through the span of that year, so it kind of felt like a natural thing, a natural growth.” But it isn’t just the writing process that sets this release apart from their debut album, “Angst”, he continues. “I don’t want to say that it was a lot less produced – but it definitely was. It was a little bit more of a raw record for us. I like to think that it was a little bit more aggressive for us, and a little bit faster, and I think we worked a lot differently on those songs, because a lot of the previous BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 16
release was done in-studio. And these songs, minus most of the vocals, were done before we even went in to record. So it was definitely a different process, and it was cool. I think this one was the one that we really wanted to put out.” I ask what his favorite track is, and he hesitates before responding. “”Love Them to Hate Us” I think is my favorite, only because it was kind of an accident when we wrote that song. We only had a drum part, and a rhythm guitar part, when we went into the studio to record. It was the one song where we weren’t ready to go. So we kind of built that from the ground up with the people we were working
Noise Tour” with State Champs, a tour that was compiled of Pure Noise Records talents exclusively. With so much going on, you’d expect it to be hard for the guys to keep themselves motivated to create new music, but Brandon says he gained inspiration from a variety of different sources. “I like to read a lot. Recently I’m not reading as much as I wish I was, but I like to read a lot of books, I like to watch a lot of narrative movies and stuff like that. And even if I don’t have something in my head to write a song about, I can pick up on something that made me feel something while I was reading, connecting to something in a book or
with, and it was cool because we were able to get their input on it and do different things. It was definitely more of a collaborative effort, and it was cool. That without a doubt was my favorite song, actually. The lyrics were cool, and I just love the way it came out. I think everybody did a good job with it.”
connecting to something in a movie or whatever it is… Trying to pick out the root of an emotion where, maybe, it’s not so much about you. That’s where I try to take inspiration from if I feel like I can’t come up with something on the spot.”
Besides the release of this latest album, this past year proved to be one of the biggest yet for Handguns. Fresh off their first Vans Warped Tour in the summer of 2013, they kicked 2014 off with a full US run supporting All Time Low, a summer tour with Hundredth, and co-headlined the “Pure
Now, the band eagerly awaits another summer on Warped Tour, with the band already beginning their list of acts to catch. “Rotting Out, Being as an Ocean, Wonder Years. Riff Raff. no doubt. I’m pumped on Riff Raff” states Brandon. “Those bands, specifically, I’m really excited to see. It’s going to be sick.” The music isn’t all that the band looks forward to. Warped Tour also provides them with the BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 17
“
…Trying to pick out the root of an emotion where, maybe, it’s not so much about you. That’s where I try to take inspiration from...
”
opportunity to learn more about their craft from likeminded individuals. “It’s cool because it’s more like a big social thing because there’s so many people. So the social aspect’s really fun. I really want to get into learning more about the music industry, and that’s a good place to be because there’s a lot of big players on that tour who come out. And it’s cool to pick people’s brains, like people who’ve been working on Warped for twenty years now, like they know how it works. It’s cool to go to the production office and just be a fly on the wall for a second and see what goes on in there.” When asked what fans can expect to see from Handguns this summer, Brandon indulges, “A lot of songs from every release. We’re trying to even it out and do as many as we can from everything. We’re going to be very proactive this year with meet and greets at our table, working with more nonprofits than we did lasttime because we really did enjoy working with a lot of nonprofits last year…. Meet and greet stuff, hopefully some giveaway stuff, just things to keep you more interested and coming to the table.”
You can’t blame the five-piece band for their enthusiasm for this year’s festival, citing their success on the tour in 2013. “Warped was – I mean, not to mince words here – but it was the biggest money making tour that we had ever done. We had made the most amount of money, it was blowing our minds that we were even touching the numbers that we were on Warped. And obviously, we aren’t the biggest band in the world, there are bands doing much bigger than us, but we were just, like, shocked at how many kids came out and really wanted to support us. And we made more fans on that tour than I think we ever made before. Coming off that tour, we had kids coming out to shows saying, “Saw you guys for the first time at Warped Tour. Now I’m coming to every show”,” Brandon smiles, and glances at the ever-growing crowd below our feet. “Doing it again just multiplies those numbers, especially on a bigger stage, (with a) different line-up, and different groups of people coming out to the tour each year. I think it’s a really cool experience and something that- if you have the opportunity- you should do as a younger band. I don’t think anybody’s too cool for Warped Tour unless it’s really not your scene. And I get that, I respect that. Warped is great, and I would do it every year if I could.” Being a teenager in a touring band is no new thing to Brandon. Joining Handguns at the young age of eighteen, he’s been on the road ever since, and has loads of sagacious advice to share with up-and-coming musicians. “Do everything yourself, always, until you literally can’t anymore. Book all your own shows, manage your band. Pay attention to where your money is and why it’s going where it’s going. Keep receipts on the road – remember why you spent this here, and why you did that there…. If you want to be serious and you want to be in a band, you have to take it seriously – it’s not a joke. So have as much fun as you want, but also be aware of what you’re doing and how you’re going to do it, and how you’re going to save and be cost-efficient and move to the next level with as much money as you can because you don’t make any money doing it really.” Mentioning each member’s job at home that helps support the expenses of touring year-round, he continues. “So just do it yourself, figure things out as you go along. Don’t get discouraged when you fuck something up ‘cause you’re going to. I fuck things up every fucking tour, no matter what! I always make mistakes, we all do, and we just get better every time, and we know, okay, don’t do this now, and we learn because this sucked and didn’t work out. You know, the trials and tribulations all eventually add up. All these bands that are huge are huge because, for the most part, they’ve been bands for a long time, and they’ve been through a lot of stuff and learned a lot of things from it. Just stay on the grind, you know? Stay on the grind.” BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 18
The crowd below us fills the lower floor of the venue now, with some kids sporting brand new Handguns merch sneaking peeks at Brandon from where we sit, whispering to their friends. A guitar screeches from where the techs are setting up the sound system, and Brandon grins at some girls as they squeeze past us to get a better view of the stage. Despite having toured nonstop for the past few weeks, he exudes happiness and jumps at the opportunity to praise everyone involved. “By far, I think (this is) our favorite tour that we’ve done in recent memory. We love everybody on this tour, we all get along. The package itself – every band on the tour is phenomenal. We love ‘em. We love watching Comeback Kid, Expire, and Four Year (Strong) and Heart to Heart every night. It’s going real well, and (they’re) just very sick to work with.” The fans have also responded well to this lineup. With sold out shows littered throughout the entirety of the run, social media has been ablaze with mentions of how alive the crowds each night has been. One show in particular holds extra meaning to the members of the band, “Philadelphia – Union Transfer – two days ago was crazy. I think it sold out - it might have been just shy of selling out - but it was packed, very packed, and kids were going insane. We haven’t played a very legit show in Philly in like two years, aside from one show at the Barbary with State Champs, which sold out so quick – and
it was cool to play to a mix of kids who have been coming out to hang at shows with us for a long time, and new people who live in Philadelphia who’ve never heard of us before. That’s where this band really started to get their kick, and it started doing really well. So it was cool to be in Philly again and kind of have a nice redo show and get some new people to come out.” Handguns, exhausted and ready for the long drive to their families following this last performance, have no plans of taking any breaks, though their sluggish walks and under-eye bags may give the opposite impression. Don’t let their momentary bout of fatigue fool you- these boys are ready for whatever comes their way. “We’re working on new material. I feel like we always are. I feel like - since “Life Lessons” came out - we’re all really excited about the idea of writing more records, because that was kind of our first record with these guys, so we were all really pumped to just start right up again afterwards. We were writing songs weeks after that record was done recording. So we’re working on stuff – we have a couple of demos written and stuff like that – we definitely plan on releasing another record within a decent amount of time for sure.” Only time will tell where we’ll be seeing Handguns next, but one thing’s for certain: these guys have no intention of slowing down. BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 19
THE STIGMA BEHIND MENTAL ILLNESS Hello class, and welcome to your first day of “The Stigma Behind Mental Illness.” Make yourself comfortable, grab a snack and maybe some water, because we have a lot to talk about. Yes, there is a stigma behind mental illness. I’m talking about people saying “but she was so beautiful, she had so much to live for,” when they find out that the teenage girl living down the hall in their apartment building committed suicide. I’m talking about the internet comments on Robin Williams’ suicide saying “he had everything. Beautiful family, he was rich, he was funny. This makes no sense.” I’m talking about the people who texted me and told me that one of my best friends was “looking for attention” when she ran away. And these are three examples that I can think of that happened in my own life within the past six months. Why do we treat people this way? Why do we classify our peers in groups of who should have mental illness and who shouldn’t? Why do we tell people that they are just looking for attention when they talk about their mental illness, or even worse, act on it, when we spend our days complaining about the new Snapchat update? As a person who has been struggling with anxiety for as long as her little brain can remember, I figure that I am at least a little bit qualified to be an advocate of this particular mental illness. I saw a post on Tumblr once (and that’s a whole different monster) that anxiety is the fear when your chair starts tipping backwards, but you never fall. I can 100% confirm that this is accurate, at least in my circumstances. That being said, we can never guess what people are feeling. All of the metaphors and examples in the world can’t make you understand why I never want to drive anywhere because I’m anxious about parking my car. It’s never going to make my friends understand why I can’t eat anything because my obsessive thoughts have made me nauseas. We can, however, learn the facts on what it’s like to live with mental illness, whatever type it may be. We can break mental health stigma into two categories: Social stigma (prejudicial attitudes and discriminating behaviors that are directed towards people with mental illnesses) and self-stigma (internalizing of the mental health sufferer’s own perceptions). It is a common
belief that people with mental health problems are dangerous (people with schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug dependence, for example). I’ve seen this kind of discrimination first hand in almost every city that I’ve ever been to. Another common belief is that some mental health problems (such as eating disorders and substance abuse) are self-inflicted. When speaking about my anxiety to others, I’ve heard just about every response in the book, including “well, why don’t you stop thinking about it,” as if I were in control of the racing thoughts in my head that were making me sick and the even more common “don’t worry,” and “you have nothing to be nervous about.” Chances are, at least in my experience, the person who has anxiety is aware of the fact that what they’re anxious about is “silly,” but that won’t stop them from being anxious. But perhaps the most shocking statistic is that 46% of employers involved with banking, law, or health would purposefully not employ someone who admitted from depression, just because they are worried about their reliability as employees. The fact of the matter is, mental health stigma needs to end for so many reasons, and it can end with you. Not only are these perceptions hurtful, but they are harmful as well. Stigma deters proper treatment through the sufferer being afraid that they’re going to be judged if they speak up, through family members and friends not acknowledging the problem and trying to get help for their loved one, and through the government not addressing issues that need to be addressed. One in three people in the United States suffer from some form of mental illness, and they shouldn’t have to suffer alone. If you want to learn more about mental health stigma, visit http://stampoutstigma.com/
ONE IN THREE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES SUFFER FROM SOME FORM OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEY SHOULDN’T HAVE TO SUFFER ALONE.
WORDS BY: KAITLYN MIDGETT BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 20
Artist: Pierce The Veil Photo By: ACACIA EVANS
Artist: SLeeping With Sirens Photo By: ACACIA EVANS BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 21
exclusive interview with
rilan MB: I see that you live in California. Have you lived there your entire life or did you move there to pursue your career? R: I actually moved to L.A. last January. I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Right before I moved, I was in my first year of college in Nashville when some music and dance opportunities began to pick up for me on the west coast. After flying back and forth for a couple of months, my parents agreed to let me move out there and work full time in entertainment. College will always be there if things don’t work out, but you only get one shot at these kinds of opportunities. MB: When did you start writing music and what inspired you to start? R: I started writing when I was thirteen. I did musical theatre growing up and always loved performing, but as I got older I began searching for a form of expression outside of playing a role. I didn’t want to be a character, just myself. Songwriting allowed me to create and perform and really come into myself.
by miqeulla baker
MB: I listened to your music and it reminded me of the 80’s! How would you describe your sound to people who have never heard your personal work? R: I love the 80s, so thank you so much. I’d say it’s dark electro-pop. I’m heavily inspired by 80s synth pop and 70s glam rock, where electronic music meets performance and spectacle. Madonna, David Bowie, Queen, Prince and Soft Cell were my go-to artists when I was little. I was a weird kid.
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“
...as I got older I began searching for a form of expression outside of playing a role. I didn’t want to be a character, just myself. Songwriting allowed me to create and perform and really come into myself.
MB: Your music video for your single “Chemical” has almost 2 million views on YouTube, did you expect so many people to watch it? R: Not at all. It’s very strange to me that so many people hgleeave watched it. It surprises me that others actually enjoy the material I create. The positive reception kind of reassures me that I’m doing the right thing with my life when I get down or feel hella lonely in LaLaLand, California. It’s a humbling yet extremely fulfilling feeling to know that others connect to what I have to say and show. MB: Can we expect to hear new music from you in 2015? R: Yes you can. I just released a new single, ‘Hotel,’ on Tuesday (February 17, 2015), and the video is coming out shortly. The visual is 80s punk/rock inspired and pretty fun in a grungy, gritty kind of way. I’m performing around L.A. and Las Vegas these next few months and currently writing with some new producers. So far I’m really digging the direction. Excited to see where it goes. MB: Besides your music, I know you are a cast member in the latest season of Glee. How has your experience on Glee been so far? Were there any cast members that you were excited to meet? R: Glee is insane. Television is a whole new world that I had never experienced until I got on set. It’s hectic and hard and fast paced, but it has been nothing but positive. The crew is incredible and all of the cast members, old and new, are extremely supportive of each other’s projects outside of the show. I’ve made some great friends as well.
”
MB: What were some of your favorite moments in filming Glee? R: It’s all been great to be honest. Certainly performing the big numbers on stage with the original cast was awesome. Dancing on those sets after seeing them on TV for years was pretty surreal. Also, I’ve never seen so much confetti in my life. MB: Would being on TV be something you want to do again? Any shows in particular you would like to be featured on? R: You know, I’m not sure. I don’t really consider myself an actor. I sing and I dance. That kind of where my confidence (and I’m sure my dance agent’s confidence) in my abilities ends. But I thoroughly enjoyed it, and if anyone wants me on their television show, I wouldn’t decline, especially if it involved song and dance, or blood, guts and horror. MB: Lastly, is there any advice or words of encouragement you would like to give to readers that are interested in creating their own music? R: Do it. If you have something to say, you should say it. Don’t doubt yourself. My grandfather used to say, ‘Nothing beats a failure like a try,’ and it’s true. Living by those words has proven to be a great decision.
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Artist: Phinehas Photo By: Nolan Knight
Artist: Phinehas Photo By: Nolan Knight
BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 24
Artist: Jonny Craig Photo By: Miranda Eliot
Artist: Jonny Craig Photo By: Miranda Eliot BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 25
ALBUM REVIEWS
january rEleases
FEATURED
jjjjj
REVIEW BY: NIKI MAJOR
Artist
Meghan Trainor
Album Title Title
Realease Date
January 9, 2015
Tracklisting
1. The Best Part 2. All About That Bass 3. Dear Future Husband 4. Close Your Eyes 5. 3am 6. Like I’m Gonna Lose You
Twenty One-year-old Meghan Trainor is bringing more than booty back with her debut album “Title”. “Title” came out January 9, 2015 and is currently #1 on the BILLBOARD 200, ranking above names like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. The album has a unique doo-wop vibe and of corse Meghan’s signature sass. The album has 11 tracks and the Deluxe edition has 15. Singles from the album include the ultimate self love song of the summer “All About That Bass” and most recently “Lips Are Moving”. The album also has a song featuring John Legend . This is an album for all ages that most can relate to with honest lyrics and songs about the morning after a drunkin night, young love, and lying partners! Below are a few of my favorite lines from a few of the tracks, enjoy!
(feat. John Legend) 7. Bang Dem Sticks 8. Walkashame 9. Title 10. What if I 11. Lips Are Movin
Song You Should Listen To 1. Bang Dem Sticks
“Dear Future Husband” Demanding respect from her future husband, setting some guidelines. Woman empowerment! ‘If you treat me right, i’ll be the perfect wife’ ‘You got that 9-5, but baby so do I. So don’t be thinking I’ll be home baking apple pies, I never learned to cook…’ ‘You got to know how to treat me like a lady, even when I’m acting crazy, tell me everything alright.’ “Walkashame” This fun, upbeat song is about the morning after, we all usually regret (If we can remember)! ‘Please don’t judge, it was mad late, I had a lot to drink’ ‘Don’t act like you haven’t been there, 7am with the bed head. Everyone knows its the Walkashame.’ ‘My daddy knows I’m a good girl, we all make mistakes in the drunk world, everyone here’s done the walkashame.’‘…And if you’re gonna do the walk, do it like a boss’ BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 26
ARTIST: Bowling for Soup // ALBUM: Songs People Actually Liked Vol. 1 // RELEASE DATE: 01/26/15 Should we be concerned that, after 20 years and millions of records sold, Bowling For Soup front man, Jaret Reddick, still hasn’t hit puberty? Debatable, but nonetheless Reddick’s nasal whine and his band of fellow Texans have done it once again. Literally. In all honesty, whenever I hear of a band releasing a “Greatest Hits” of sorts, I can’t help but cringe, unless they truly have a reasonable catalog of hits. Sure, back in 2004 Bowling For Soup sold a couple million singles, got some decently heavy radio play, and got a few laughs on MTV for their music videos, but may I remind you that all of that success surrounded the release of one really well done, and eventually overplayed, cover song; “1985.” Prior to listening to their latest release, my thoughts consisted of asking myself over and over what the energetic quartet could possibly put onto a greatest hits compilation other than maybe “1985” and “Almost.” Turns out they had something else in mind. “Songs People Actually Liked Vol. 1” is a brilliant reinvention of the “Greatest Hits” concept. They didn’t just re-release their most commercially successful songs, they re-recorded fan favorites from their first decade together, without changing a thing. While there is not much new here to talk about, besides the reminiscent closing track to the album, “20 Years (That’s a Lot of Beers),” it is absolutely incredible to me how good these guys sound 20 years later, like they’re all still in their twenties. I mean, really, production value set aside, take a listen to 2002’s “Emily” right after listening to this new recording, and tell me if you can tell them apart. You’ll never guess that one of them is sang by a bunch of balding, greying middle aged dudes. The first play of classics like “Girls All The Bad Guys Want” and “Punk Rock 101,” will leave anyone who grew up in the late 90’s surge of pop punk, longing for a time when Green Day wasn’t in musicals, Blink 182 still had Tom (too soon?), and The Offspring when they weren’t only existent at random festivals once a year. Bowling For Soup has created a brand of feel good, punk rock over the last twenty years, and while I’m not one of their biggest fans and I’m not entirely sure they have much of a future left in the scene, they’ve definitely left their mark on the genre, and I’m looking forward to Volume 2. The most loyal fans of these pop punk veterans will dance with the nostalgia that comes along with hearing 17 classics for the first time again; “1985” bandwagoners will hear the sarcastic, angsty roots that eventually would bring them albums like “A Hangover You Don’t Deserve;” and everyone else who hasn’t listened to BFS before, well Reddick says it best when he says, “You’re a bitch, but I love you anyway.”
REVIEW BY: LUKE DURAN
ARTIST: Catfish and the Bottlemen // ALBUM: The Balcony // RELEASE DATE: 01/06/2015 The Balcony was released in the US on January 6, 2015, and it’s already my favorite release of this year. Although this is their first full length release state-side, Catfish and the Bottlemen are taking America by storm. They performed on David Letterman the day after their album was released, and they will be touring the US starting on February 8th. Although The Balcony is a great album as a whole, some standout tracks include: “Homesick” – This track is a very chill start out to the album. I like how the chorus makes it a little bit heavier (like the rest of the album). This particular song reminds me of young love and all of the feelings that accompany that, especially through the lyrics “I’m only looking out for you… I only ever put out for you.” With a strong hook and an even stronger guitar solo, this track is definitely one not to miss. Kathleen – Catfish and the Bottlemen have performed this song everywhere from the BBC Music Awards to David Letterman, so you know that it’s a good one. “Kathleen” was the band’s first single of 2014, which certainly makes sense to me, because it’s one of the band’s very best. “Kathleen” is the kind of song that I could listen to all year round and not get sick of it. The song’s intro is so catchy that if you heard it on the radio, you wouldn’t want to switch stations. “Fallout” – “Fallout” is another one of the band’s singles, and one my personal favorites on the album. Its Coldplay-esque bridge (at least in my opinion) is something that the band should be proud of. The guitar work on this track is some of the best on the album. And, honestly, this song just makes you want to dance, which is exemplified in the song’s music video. “Business” – “Business” is one of those songs that grabs your attention from the very beginning. It’s lyrics like “let’s get drunk in your bedroom” and “I wanna tolerate drunk you, honey,” that take me back to senior year of high school, playing Kings in the kitchen. Songs that can take you back to a certain place and time are some of the best and most powerful songs.
REVIEW BY: KAITLYN MIDGETT BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 27
Artist: tHE cOLOURIST Photo By: NOLAN fELDpAUSH
Artist: THE cOLOURIST Photo By: NOLAN fELDpAUSH
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Artist: ECOSMITH Photo By: NOLAN fELDpAUSH
Artist: ECOSMITH PhotoBIG By:CITY NOLAN fELDpAUSH THOUGHTS - 29
n a c e w y sa
fly interview by acacia evans
AE: Tell us a little bit about your musical background. B: I grew up listening to a lot of Christian music like Underoath, Reliant K, and a lot of “punky” stuff. That kinda led me into acoustic music eventually, so I got into Secondhand Serenade, Chase Coy, more underground artists who are doing stuff on their own. So yeah I mean after I found acoustic music that’s all I listened to and still really. It’s what I fell in love with. AE: You write music to tell people pretty much that they’re not alone and have a fantastic messages that reaches out to so many people. Was that from a personal experience that you write about this topic? B: Yeah, I think as a teenager and a kid I always felt really alone just because a lot of my home situations and different things in my life, so that was always something that I held inside of myself. Looking back at people who are that age I remember how tough it was. I always wanna help, because I know some people aren’t able to see past it. I want to try to help as much as I can. AE: I just graduated therapy today so I relate! B: Oh really? That’s amazing!
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AE: Your single “Song of the Sparrow” was just aired on MTV yesterday! What is your feedback on that?
AE: Who/what inspired your debut album “Between the Roses” ?
B: Yeah! It was cool sitting there and watching it on the T.V. It was like in between songs I knew from the radio along with Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift on there, too and I was thinking, “Man that’s amazing.” I know it doesn’t mean I made it and doesn’t mean things are completely different, but still just to see it was amazing.
B: I wanted to get out a lot of things about my life, but one of the bigger influences musically was My Chemical Romance. I listened to a lot of them because I wanted (the album) to enter that dark vein vibe, but still maintain a lot of hopefulness. Again a lot of the same acoustic artists that I always listen too, but it was a lot of feelings that I wanted to get out. I wanted to make a story. It’s kinda weird, but I really like classical music too and Lord of the Rings. A couple of the tracks are inspired by the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, so a bunch of things came together.
AE: Tell us a little about the music video process! We read on Alternative Press that you had a great time, so just give us a little feedback on how that was. B: For that music video I wrote the whole concept for it which was awesome. It was kinda like opening up that part of my brain and taking control of that. When we actually went to film it we filmed it on a beach and it was literally so freezing cold, almost dangerous, so in between shots my makeup artist would wrap me in a blanket and go to the van to warm up. It was really hard to film just because of the weather. Regardless, it was awesome and it was the first time I was really happy with a video. We also filmed everything in double speed so we can slow it down and make it slow motion, so I was singing the song super fast. It was a new experience.
AE: You started a little tour yesterday In Pennsylvania, what is your favorite part about performing live and also your favorite song to perform? B: My favorite part about performing live is that every night it’s different and every night I meet different people. Some nights I feel more anxious on stage and some nights I love it so it’s always a different range of emotions I go through, and it helps me learn a lot about myself and other people. My favorite song to perform right now is “Song of the Sparrow.” On this tour it’s been really fun because everyone knows it which is awesome, so that’s my favorite for sure. AE: What are your plans for the future?
“
Looking back at people who are that age I remember how tough it was. I always wanna help, because I know some people aren’t able to see past it. I want to try to help as much as I can.
”
B: I have some touring announcements that I’ll be making soon which I can’t unfortunately do right now, but I will be releasing some music videos in the next couple months and probably a deluxe addition for my album. I’ll be making more content when I get home from this tour, just the same old stuff like always posting on Facebook and Twitter. Definitely a lot more touring this year. AE: Lastly what would you like to say to your fans? B: You guys mean the world to me. I would not be able to do what I love if you guys didn’t care so thank you for listening to this interview and have an amazing night!
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ith w w ie v r e t in exclusive
t l o v e r n i h yout
BCT: Just give us a little introduction on who you guys are. True: We are Youth in Revolt. We are from New Jersey and California; three parts New Jersey, two parts California. Yes, we are a post-hardcore band. You know, kind of post-hardcore rock, breaking onto the scene right now, trying to get the name out there. BCT: That was pretty good. True: We’re a stumbly bunch of young gentlemen. BCT: How did the New Jersians meet up with the California people? YIR: We were in two different bands, both managed by Outerloop. One was going up, one was going down (they all laugh). So, we met in the middle. Kenny: Now, we’re all formed into one band. YIR: All rings united, and we formed Youth in Revolt.
BCT: Well, there you go. So, for me it’s cool because I live in Brick, so you guys are local to me. George: Yeah, that’s Alex’s area. Alex: I live in Brick! BCT: Yeah, cool. So how did it feel, you know, being signed to the whole Outerloop/Fearless deal? True: It’s definitely an awesome opportunity, especially because both labels kind of have their own experience in dealing with different artists and environments. But I guess I would say that Outerloop kind of manages us and Fearless is more of a father to us. They provide us with the means to do things and Outerloop kind of guides us in the right direction. It’s like a mix of both. Now they share the same responsibility. BCT: So, you guys released your EP, “Love is a Liar’s Game” over the summer. Who or what were the biggest inspirations for the EP? Scott: Not Sleeping with Sirens (they all laugh). BCT: Definitely not!
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Kenny: Peirce the Veil definitely, (they all laugh again) I’m kidding! True: I grew up on a lot of older bands like The Spill Canvas and Armor for Sleep and we took a little bit of the, I guess, progressiveness of that with some heaviness to bands that we all listen to, you know, heavier bands. But a lot of us are different ages, that’s the thing, so we all kind of have our different time periods of music that kind of influence the album. Garrett: I think the meat and potatoes of it is like, the lyrics are about mean, mean girls. Girls are all evil. BCT: I’d have to agree. True: Yeah, it’s more of an angstier kind of rock album mixed with poppier kind of lyrics. So, I mean, we take elements from everything really, you know, especially our boys of Crown The Empire, they’ve definitely been a big influence on our stuff. The guys, before I joined the band, were more of an Asking Alexandria kind of sound, so some of that heaviness has stayed in tact, and now we’re introducing more poppier elements into the music. Alex: All thanks to True. True: Not all thanks to me. It’s a collaborative effort. BCT: So, you guys just released your music video for your cover “Royals” and it was awesome. I watched it today! YIR: Thank you so much! BCT: So, how was recording that? It looked great. I’m sure you had a blast doing it. Scott: That was so much fun! Alex: Yeah, it definitely was. Kenny: That was the first time we’d been to LA, for me and Alex. I don’t know if it was your first time. True: Um, no it wasn’t. George: We had such a good fucking time though. Kenny: Hollywood though was… Scott: It was a quest to prove ourselves. True: I didn’t really get to enjoy it. Alex: Yeah, at Fearless, on the “Punk Goes” series, the owner will choose like his favorite two or three and let them do music videos. I knew that being the brand new band out there, we weren’t really going to have the opportunity. So I told them straight up: “Dude, I want this opportunity, let us do it, please. We’ll do it on the smallest budget you could possibly afford to give us. We’ll make an awesome video, I promise you. And then we just kind of stuck to our guns and went with it.”
BCT: It looked great, it looked great. True: You know, it’s just about having fun and kind of doing whatever the hell you want to do. BCT: Hell yeah. True: Yeah, maybe because we were in Hollywood and things are expensive over there, you know, it was kind of like opposite in the video. Lorde’s song is about not caring about money and stuff, and we obviously don’t care about that. We’re just having fun really and being careless. BCT: I think the irony is cool. It works, you know? Kenny: You know, some people just don’t get that. True: It’s more just about being rebellious in a nice, party town. BCT: In a home away from home! George: Well, in the first music video, we didn’t really get to showcase our personality, and we want to show that we’re fun and that we’re not just a band that plays in a factory, or whatever the hell that was. BCT: So, people have been covering your songs. Is that cool, is that weird? What are your views on that? Kenny: It’s mind blowing to have people want to play and do our music. True: That’s a really big compliment, especially from a different country like the Philippines. BCT: Really? That’s so cool.
“
...we just kind of stuck to our guns and went with it.
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True: It’s absolutely good exposure, you know, it shows that the fans genuinely appreciate the music. There’s a million songs out there that you could cover, and you chose ours. BCT: And it’s yours! In the Philippines! That’s so cool!
George: To see ourselves transition from what we were when we started doing music. Cause everyone, when they first start doing music, they learn their favorite songs and now, years later, we’re seeing young kids learning our songs. It’s hard to grasp that we are that band that they are looking up to. It’s really weird. It kind of makes me throw up a little. BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 33
ith w w ie v r e t in con’t
t l o v e r n i h yout
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True Arahill :: Vocals Kenny Torres :: Vocals | Bass George Shrouder :: Guitar Alex Ramos :: Guitar Scott Baker :: Drums
BCT: Hey, it’s okay, it’s a good throw up.
Kenny: We’ll come out with a bang, you know?
BCT: So, what are your plans from the future as a band?
True: Yeah, absolutely. We want to come out swinging at the epicenter of the music.
True: Full length right now. We’re writing for a new album and we’re gonna try out some different things on this album with our direction and some of the people we choose to work with. And then I guess we’re probably just going to tour a lot to support the album. So, you know, it’s just going to be busier, probably twice as busy as we were this year with more energy and more songs and just more everything. We’re pretty excited for the future. I can’t exactly say what we’re doing… Kenny: It depends on when this interview is coming out. BCT: March. Alex: Yeah, I mean, we’re playing, uh, we’re playing Warped Tour. BCT: Hell yeah! Kenny: So yeah, we’re playing Ernie Ball stage. BCT: Are you stoked? That’s incredible. Kenny: Yeah, and that’s why we’re doing an album too. So we can have more material to share with people. BCT: Absolutely, and that’s so good exposure.
BCT: This is your time. This is absolutely your time. True: Seize the opportunity. Alex: There’s a fancy word I’m looking for. BCT: Carpe Diem? True: It’s like the, what’s the one place you go to? Like, the Muslims take their mecca to… Rome? (they all laugh) No, what’s the word I’m looking for? Alex: Clinic? BCT: Lastly, what would you like you say to your fans? True: To our fans, I would say thank you for continuing to support us and even though we may experiment with some different styles sometimes, everybody is pretty open minded about the changes. Thank you for just allowing us to continue to, you know, keep putting out more music and playing more shows and giving us the means to do so. All the support that everyone has given us, it shows. Our fans are just super nice and caring, and I really wouldn’t have it any other way. We have a lot of new music coming out for you and a lot of bigger shows. I’m sure it’s going to be an exciting 2015.
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bigcitythoughts.com BIG CITY THOUGHTS - 36