Beyond The Stage Magazine - March 2015 by Beyond the Stage Magazine

March 2015

Lights RAS AJR Jennel garcia

From beyond the stage:

STAFF: Editorial:

Dear Readers, Remember the letter in Issue One where we told you about how this magazine wouldn’t just be about your favorite musicians? Issue Three is a perfect example. Winter is a strange time in the music industry, with many artists getting off the Jingle Ball series and gearing up for their own spring and summer tours. Beyond The Stage Magazine decided to use this to our advantage. We have a fantastic producer, RAS, in this issue (chances are your favorite artist has worked with him) as well as a lot of bands you may have not heard of yet – don’t worry, though, they rock. We appreciate you taking a chance on us – those that have been there since we were just a blog, and to those just finding us now – thank you. Your readership makes us want to continue, your endless suggestion tweets make us strive to work harder and your devotion to our contests encourages us to get new content for each and every issue. Thank you to Epic, Warner Brothers, Atlantic, d. baron, Subterranean, Big Hassle, and Earshot for giving us your fantastic clients to write about – we think they’re pretty great. Please enjoy Issue Three, and get ready for Four. We think you will like that one too. Happy reading, Gabi Talisman Director of Content

Executive Editor Allison Lanza Layout Design & Issue Editor Addie Whelan Director of Content Gabi Talisman Photo Editor Becca Mathias Contributors: Alyssa Buzzello Charlotte Freitag Delaney DeAngelis Eden Jezierski Emma Donahue Hannah Jones Kathryn Bethard Lauren Klonowski

Photographers: Addie Whelan Alicia Rangel Allison Lanza Alyssa Buzzello Charlotte Freitag Gabi Talisman Hannah Jones

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CONTENTS: Beyond The STage ISSue 3

05 ------- PvrIS 08 ------- The TragIc ThrIllS 11 ------- Jennel garcIa 14 ------- aJr 16 ------- lIghTS 22 ------- raS 25 ------- alBum revIewS 29 ------- loST aT land 34 ------- STaff PlaylIST

pitbull hidalgo, TX // feb. 2015 Photo By: alicia Rangel

P V R I S WO R D S A N D P H OTO S B Y H A N NA H J O N E S

Despite their edgy image, smiles were present on the faces of each member of PVRIS when Beyond The Stage spoke to them during the Pittsburgh stop of The World Tour. A family-like atmosphere was immediately evident between the band and those on tour with them. Congratulations were quickly offered, as the band recently released their first full-length album, White Noise, becoming the first female-fronted band under Rise Records to do so. The day it was announced, Twitter was alive with members of various other bands posting their compliments and recommending the album to their followers. This revelation was received with wide eyes and an exclamation of “Really?!” by lead-singer Lynn Gunnulfsen. “I never thought they would all post about it”, added guitarist Alex Babinski. In an age where many people shamelessly ask others for promotion, PVRIS is very appreciative of those who chose to do so themselves. Their single, “My House” has recently gained airplay on the UK’s BBC Radio 1 station. When asked if that is something that they would like to get involved with in America, Gunn responded very positively saying, “We’re aiming for it! I mean we’re not like, specifically making music to be played on the radio, but it’s definitely getting pushed to be on the radio.” While that would be undoubtedly good exposure, there are always those fans who view radio play as “selling-out” or those who do not want to see their favorite band in a mainstream light. Lynn spoke out about this, as she explained that “There’s nothing wrong with [radio play] and when kids are like, ‘a band sold out cause they’re on the radio, I don’t like that band anymore’ ...it’s kinda ignorant. We don’t think it’s selling out or anything, you’re just pushing your music to a different audience.”

This young band sure has experience when it comes to building a devoted, yet steadily increasing fanbase. The past couple of years have seen spots on the Vans Warped Tour, opening for Mayday Parade, and a current gig with Pierce The Veil and Sleeping With Sirens. This tour sees them playing arenas, including a venue in their hometown where they have attended shows as fans since they were young. While they insist that they try to put on the same performance for a few hundred people, as they do for a few thousand people, “You kinda have to win kids over and like really try to get them involved a lot more.” A few recent off days have even been spent playing their own headlining shows, which when brought up, instantly made everyone in the room’s eyes light up. They have a long list of accomplishments for only being 20 and 21 years old-many people their age are still trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives. Bassist Brian MacDonald attended college for a semester, but left because he “just wanted to do music”. A similiar decision was made by the others in the band as well, and it definitely worked out in their favor. However, although they have been fortunate enough to find success, Gunn insists “[we’re] just normal kids, we go home and our parents still make us empty the dishwasher. We worked full-time jobs when we were home and stuff like that, we’re no better than anyone or any different than anyone really.”

@THISISPVRIS

They have managed to create an incredible and unmistakable image without falling into a scene, which is exactly what they wanted. When asked to describe their music to someone who has never heard it, they all struggled for the right words. Although phrases like “dark electro-pop or dark-synth pop” were thrown around, they would prefer people to just listen to their music and decide whether or not they like it for themselves. It is always interesting when a band does not fall into a specific genre, something they say they were going for since the start. “We don’t really want people to be able to pinpoint a genre or a specific sound.” PVRIS even released an acoustic EP in 2014, which then led to them getting a spot on an entirely acoustic tour, something they say they would like to re-visit in the future. Recently, “Empty Room Session” videos have been released for songs off of their debut album.

Plans for the future include finishing up this US tour, which features a cameo performance with Pierce The Veil during their song, “Hold On Till May,” something that Vic Fuentes personally reached out to Gunn to perform. After some time off, they will head overseas to play their first ever shows in the UK and Europe. This summer will be spent on the entire Vans Warped Tour for the third year in a row and while there are no current plans for a headlining tour, “there will be one and it will be epic as hell.” There was a satisfied silence when asked about future goals. “I feel like everything we accomplished this last year was beyond what we thought we were going to, so we don’t know what to want to accomplish anymore; just keep enjoying what we’re doing, keep traveling the world, playing music, and working our butts off.” Our last question asked was if they are living their dreams, and the answer was a resounding “Absolutely!”

“The whole point of playing music is to share it, and the more people you’re sharing it with, the better.” 7

The Tragic Thrills Words By Allison Lanza Photos By Addie Whelan and Allison Lanza “We’re The Tragic Thrills from San Diego, California,” introduced lead singer, Zach Porter. The threepiece indie-rock group played a very intimate and captivating show at Chicago’s Beat Kitchen on their tour with Lee Dewyze. This tour is a new experience for Porter and his bandmates Chris Morrison and Ans Gibson. This run is their first as a three-piece band with live touring members and it is their second full United States tour. The band is still touring on their 2013 release, their self-titled debut album, while incorporating new songs into their set list. This tour’s setlist includes five new songs, of which the band agrees that “Maine” is a favorite to play live. “It’s a cool song, there’s a build throughout the whole song, so by the end, we’re really into it,” said Zach. The Tragic Thrills recently saw the departure of bass player Cameron Quiseng. “[His departure] definitely changed the show… there was definitely an energy that we had onstage. It’s definitely different, but I think it was a good challenge for me,” Porter explained. “I had to throw together two members in a month. Because it’s a new lineup, there’s some spontaneity and freshness that is good. It’s not hugely different, but it definitely is different.” But the lineup is not the only thing that has changed for The Tragic Thrills. The band has been focusing a lot on

songwriting and has changed the way they go about writing. “After doing the first record, we started playing those songs live and I think we kind of have adjusted the way we write songs now to sort of work, first and foremost in a live setting, as opposed to the first album which was more of a production thing. So [the second album] is going to be a lot more straightforward. The idea is just to write songs and play them,” elaborated Porter when asked about the band’s upcoming second album, which is currently being written. When a band has a sound as authentic as The Tragic Thrills’, the live show is something that is extremely important. The Tragic Thrills are able to command a filled room while allowing the audience to feel relaxed, resulting in a very comfortable atmosphere where the authenticity truly shines through. “Someone said something nice last night. They said that they liked how we seemed like friends just playing music together onstage, messing around, and that [the show] was very comfortable and natural. I hope that people feel comfortable and that’s fun, and people just enjoy it,” Porter mentioned. Judging by the audience’s reaction that night and the mellow atmosphere of the room, he got his wish. As a band whose members have been involved in

@TragicThrills

@TheTragicThrills

music for many years now, their advice for those just starting out with music is simple: “Make sure you love it. Just make sure you love playing music,” offered Gibson. And it seems like these guys really do love music—after being asked what they hope to be doing in five years, Morrison replied “Still touring, with people still excited about the new music,” “[in venues] as big as people will be excited about,” added Gibson. “If we come back here in five years and people are excited, it would be awesome.” The Tragic Thrills are getting a head start on their goal— with a new album on the way and a tour planned for the summer, they will be bringing their authentic sound and intimate shows around the United States once again.

THE GRAMMYS: AN EDITORIAL By Eden Jezierski

nyone and everyone of importance in the music industry prepares for this day. People all over tune in to see the fashion and the memory making. The Grammy Awards do not only celebrate the beauty that is music, but also the ever-changing trends of pop culture. It is an event that gets talked about for days after it happens. With the technology and social media that are available today, it’s even easier to get closer to the event. With Snapchat providing live feeds and fans all over the world chatting on Twitter about so and so’s dress, let’s face it – the Grammys are a big deal. So as most Sundays go, mine was fundamentally lazy, so I spent most of the day watching the pre-red carpet on E! with Giuliana Rancic and Kelly Osborne among others. While mostly boring, it made me much more knowledgeable as to who would be in attendance that night and who was nominated. A large debate among my family, it was called from the get-go that Sam Smith was going to bring every award nominated home. His album, a melancholy cry, had been on repeat for me when it was first released. His voice, for lack of better words, is simply beautiful. The first time I had heard him, he left chills down my spine. Top 40 is quite interesting these days— it’s a cluster of talentless hacks who just happened to hit the spotlight just right, or those who are truly filled with talent, deserving everything this fickle industry has to offer to them; Sam Smith, being one of those. They spoke highly of him on E! along with Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, two gorgeous ladies I was very excited to see on the red carpet. While many of the stars that night showed up tastefully and others not so much, I would have to say my favorites of the night ended up being Katy Perry, dawned in a gorgeous bedazzled nude dress by Zuhair Murad and Taylor Swift, in her blue Elie Saab designed dress (the color blocking was to die for). Which stars arrived not quite up to par? Most definitely Rihanna, whose pink dress looked as if it could mimic Nicki Minaj’s hair circa 2011, Madonna because her matador get up made no sense (until you saw her performance later that night) and finally, Ariana Grande because I could not understand the point of the silver lamé hanging off the white gown, which did absolutely nothing for her figure. Don’t get me started on the ponytail though; girl needs to embrace her weave a

little more if that’s what she’s bound to during her push for healthy hair growth. The show was interesting to say the least, though, since the red carpet in all its usual awkward glory seemed to be a bit more entertaining. As I thought, Sam Smith had stolen nearly every award he was nominated for. The only part about that which caught me by surprise was how he beat out Beyoncé. She’s iconic in her own way in this business, alongside husband and hip hop mogul Jay Z, but her fame leaves me quite confused at times. Taylor Swift, yet another contender who is usually one to take home many awards, was left Grammy-less this year. What did catch my eye this year, was how jam packed the show was with performances. Ed Sheeran was fabulous as always, but I find myself quite biased as he performed with ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) whom is a big family favorite in my household. I feel as if Madonna’s performance could have been applauded more if we were still in 1985, but the woman has a killer body and still knows how to please a crowd, so no complaints. Working with Diplo to stay relevant is a great move for her due to the never ending popularity that EDM is gaining. Ariana Grande’s performance, if it doesn’t include her in cat ears or awkwardly shaking her hips, it’s not typical. “Just A Little Bit of My Heart” is not my favorite song— I found it quite boring and slow— but she has pipes which saved her in this case. Pharrell’s performance of “Happy” (isn’t that a nice 2014 throwback?) was strange… very strange, but it quickly changed into the upbeat tune that everyone has learned to love. While many others performed, the few that need no explanation as their performances were near perfect included Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett, Hozier & Annie Lennox (what a voice!) and while I am forever biased with Kanye, his performance with Rihanna and Paul McCartney of “FourFiveSeconds” was pretty fabulous as well. From Miley Cyrus calling Madonna “her bitch” to Kanye almost bum rushing the stage to interrupt Beck, The Grammys were great this year. With every conclusion of a musical award show, it creates a source of excitement for the year to follow. It opens up a new chapter for music from our favorite artists and for those of us who thrive off the music industry, that is a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Jennel Garcia Photos and Words By: Charlotte Freitag

It all happened overnight. “It was just surreal,” Jennel says of her rapid ascent into the mainstream. “It was hard to fathom what was happening. In just minutes, my friend requests and follower counts were skyrocketing. I remember my phone freezing, and I was like ‘What is even going on?’” Fame was certainly a bit of an adjustment for the recent high school graduate, who had just turned eighteen when her career began to take shape. “I didn’t really know how to handle it,” she admits with a laugh. “I’m a very outgoing person, but only to the people I’m comfortable with. I’m kind of quiet, and I was always so used to my close circle of friends and only being known to those people.” Jennel’s captivating rendition of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals’ “Paris (Ooh La La)” caught the attention of thousands when she performed it as her audition for X-Factor USA’s second season. The Massachusetts native impressed the audience with her arresting vocals and massive stage presence, eliciting a roaring applause at the end of her performance. Her stellar audition earned her a spot as one of the show’s sixteen finalists and marked the beginning of a whirlwind three-month musical journey for the young songstress. With the entire world as her audience, Jennel cultivated her rock-influenced sound and image, learning a lot about herself along the way. Although Jennel had competed in several singing and

dancing events in her youth and throughout high school, she had never participated in one of such a large scale. X-Factor was far more exhausting and competitive than any contest she had ever taken part in before. “I always describe my X-Factor experience as a dream and a nightmare at the same time,” Jennel explains. “It felt like a four-year college experience in a matter of three months. I had to learn how to grow up and be away from my parents, and I was also working hard, learning a ton of new things and taking care of myself. While that aspect of it was really hard, being able to meet other musicians and grow a fanbase of kids all over the world was a dream. It was something I never thought would happen to me so soon after graduating high school, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.” Jennel finished her impressive run on X-Factor in eleventh place, ranking higher than the thousands of hopefuls who had also auditioned for a coveted spot in the live rounds. She left the show with not only a rabid fanbase, but also a clear idea of who she wanted to become as an artist. The highly stylized and calculated nature of reality TV taught Jennel to place a high value on authenticity in her music. “The most important thing I learned while on X-Factor was that I need to always be honest with myself and true to who I am. I really don’t believe that you can be successful as a musician if you aren’t honest with yourself and

making music that truly moves your soul as an individual.” While on the show, Jennel remained as true to herself as she possibly could, explaining that she always “acted natural” in front of the cameras, even when the X-Factor team was trying to paint her in a different light. Her self-confidence radiated through when she performed, even when she was singing songs that she “wasn’t in love with.” Her admirably strong sense of self allowed her to maintain the fanbase she had created over the course of the show, even long after the competition ended. “I feel like my fans don’t only like me as an artist, but they also like me as a person because I am who I am 24/7,” she explains with a smile. “My fans know everything about me; I’m an open book!” While Jennel has been busy crafting her upcoming EP, due later in 2015, she has kept her fans in the loop via social media. She frequently posts covers and collaborations to her YouTube account in an effort to tide her fans over until she has the opportunity to release more of her original material. Since the 2014 release of her debut single, “Hate to Love You,” listeners have been eager to hear more from Jennel. “People are going to be able to get to know me a little better through this record,” Jennel says of her sixtrack EP. “They’re going to see a different side of me.” She describes the project as “relatable and catchy, but with an edge that makes it gritty and honest.” Jennel’s style is heavily influenced by the classic rock and roll she grew up surrounded by. She spent her days listening to artists like Van Halen and Mötley Crüe with her father in his garage while he repaired cars. “As a kid, I wanted to be like Pat Benatar,” she reminisces. “I’m extremely moved by rock and roll.” Her rock and roll background is apparent on her upcoming record, showing itself in the form of soul-baring lyrics and subtle stylistic details. Jennel has created an engaging blend of rock’s unapologetic honesty and pop’s optimistic appeal. “Me and my team describe my sound as pop with an edge,” she explains. At only twenty years old, Jennel has already laid out the groundwork for a long and successful career. She has crafted a unique sound that is appealing not only to her listeners, but also to herself. With the release of her first project on the horizon, Jennel is ready to hit the ground running. “Everything is kind of in the works,” she says. “Nothing is set in stone, but I would love to make a full-length album and be able to travel outside of the United States.” Jennel strives to continue evolving as an artist and to never stop improving as a songwriter. “Even in twenty years, there’s always still room to grow,” she says, smiling. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop writing. I’ll probably still be writing in twenty years.”

@JennelGarcia

AJR Words and Photos by Allison Lanza

The release of their debut album “Living Room” is bound to be a big moment for New York band of brothers, AJR. Adam, Jack and Ryan Met make up the three-piece indie-pop band who got their start street performing in New York City. “We brought the ukulele out and made enough money to buy a microphone and ProTools,” explained middle brother Ryan. “We ended up bringing it back to the living room, where we now record and write all of our stuff.” AJR is best known for their debut single “I’m Ready,” which features a sample from every kid’s favorite TV show, SpongeBob SquarePants. The song was played in heavy rotation on Sirius XM’s Hits1 all summer long and its success definitely came as a surprise for the brothers. “It was pretty shocking,” eldest brother Adam said. “I mean, something we spent pretty much no money on, this silly little song that we made in our living room, ended up being heard by millions of people.” But the success of “I’m Ready” meant more to AJR than one may first assume. “It was also a testament to the idea that you don’t really need the million dollar equipment, you don’t need the producers who have been doing it for fifty years in the industry,” Adam added. “You just need good, creative ideas to catch people’s attention.” Throughout our interview, it became clear just why AJR decided to name their debut album “Living Room.” The living room of their New York home is where the magic happens; it’s where everything began and it’s where the guys make their music. But while AJR has a very DIY approach to their music career, they did get a bit of a boost from a big name in the industry – Sia. “Ryan and Adam were in a college class together one day and Adam was tweeting to, as many celebrities as he could think of, a video for our single ‘I’m Ready,’” Jack revealed. “The last one he tweeted was Sia and she wrote back. She retweeted it and invited us to lunch, so we had lunch with her and it was amazing. She’s the one that introduced us to people in the industry, to give us our eventual start.” Since their original meeting with Sia, the AJR brothers have released two EPs, “I’m Ready” and “Infinity,” leading up to the release of their debut album,

@AJRBrothers

“Living Room” on March 3rd, 2015. Ryan described the difference between the EPs and the album as “kind of a growth.” He further explained, “From the first song we wrote for this album to the last song, it’s been like, three or four years. We’ve grown as a band while making this album, so I think the album documents that well.” As for their musical influences, Jack explained that the band is influenced by music of a mixture of genres and time periods. “We started off really taking influence from the music of the 50s and 60s, so like, the Beach Boys and Simon and Garfunkel. We grew up on that stuff. Two years ago, we started listening to very modern pop music and we got into bands like fun. and Imagine Dragons, so a mixture of those make up our influences.” Though AJR could not tell us many details about their summer plans, Adam made sure to mention, “We want to see as many fans as possible.” He explained, “We talk to them all the time on Twitter and Facebook, but to actually have a face to face relationship with them… after our set, every show, we go stand by merch and we talk to fans. We really want people to see that we’re not this distant thing, we’re actually real people. We’re excited to do that over the next few months.” With the release of “Living Room,” their second single “Infinity” headed to radio and a summer full of touring and fan interaction, it seems like the AJR brothers aren’t planning on slowing down anytime soon.

LIGHTS

Words and Photos By Gabi Talisman

hen you hear the name “Lights” many things may come to mind: a lightbulb, a song from a few years ago called “Toes,” or maybe your bedside lamp. We’re talking about the middle one. Lights has been a staple of the electropop music scene for close to ten years now – an incredible period of time for a genre notorious for one hit wonders. She recently released Little Machines, her first entirely new album since her 2011 release, Siberia. Enjoying great success as a touring artist in Canada, Europe and the United States, Lights has truly done it all. Great features with artists inside and outside of her genre, turning an incredibly electric album fully acoustic, and raising a young family are all just a day in the life for this queen of her genre. We sat down with Lights to talk about everything under the sun: her music, her family, and her dislike for extremely tall heels. BTS: Where did you get the name Lights? L: It was a nickname for a long time. It came out of my last name, Poxleitner, [Lights is] easier to say than Poxleitner, so it just became something people called me. It was just a nickname for a while and I legally changed my name in like 2007 and now it’s my first name. BTS: How did you get to your extremely distinct sound?

L: That’s a goal of mine for sure; I want to create something that, I wanted to write good pop songs dressed in something a little left of center so that it doesn’t fall in between the cracks of something that sounds so dumbed down and lame. I did a lot of years of experimentation and it comes down to putting together what sounds good, not because it’s cool or other people have done it— it takes a little bit of vision and a little bit of effort in terms of finding the sounds that do justice to that part. I mean I sit there and I have this vision in my head of what I want it to sound like and it’s just a matter of having to find that sound. You have to create it and that’s the beauty of synths and electronics, you can create a soundscape that doesn’t and has never existed. All you need to know is that you need to trust your ear and know what you want to hear, and when I go through reverbs I just go through them until I find what I like and there’s no science to it. You don’t even need to take lessons on it. BTS: You changed one of your albums, Siberia from electric to acoustic, what was that like? Was it challenging? L: Some [songs] were easier than others for sure, there were a few that were really hard to change. “Flux & Flow” and “Timing is Everything” were probably the two hardest. Some of them were really natural, like “Cactus In The Valley”

was really natural, “Suspension” ended up being really natural, which is one of the more electronic songs on the album. “Flux & Flow” in the end became one of the most challenging because it’s so heavy and so dynamic– how do you capture that which makes it the best, which takes the best part of the song and turns it into something completely different. But it ended up being its own animal, it turned out really amazing. It just takes sitting down and like working on it and doing it over and over and over again. It was fun, It was just a cool process, I mean I produced the thing

and kind of worked on it over the course of a year whenever I had gaps. Then I brought in Kevin Fox on cello to play on a couple of tracks and that brought it to another level. It’s just kind of like, I wake up in the morning and go to the studio and work on something I was in love with and figure it out as I went and that was the beauty of it— something intimate. BTS: How has living in different places influenced your music? L: I think that just maybe my greater perspective on life has affected what I put into my music, I think. You

that you still have a lot to learn and those are the steps that I take every time I sit down and make music— you try and teach yourself something new every time and you hope that you get something different out of it. I think that results in Little Machines being a more mature album than The Listening like 6 years or whatever it is later, you can hear it in the songs and you can hear it in the way that I arrange things. You don’t really go down with an intention but you hope that your second product is better than the first one. BTS: Do you have dream collaboration?

see a lot more, I have had a lot more opportunities to see more than what a lot of kids my age did, my motivation and a sense of urgency in music. Music is a power and you have to use it for good because there is too much darkness in the world. Also one of the things, for example growing up in the Philippines, I witnessed a lot of poverty when I was young which is something really hard to believe until you see it with your own eyes around you. So to this day I am working with a lot of organizations that try to change situations for a lot of people that are going without the basics. One of them is World Vision and

actually in the last year, over the course of the tour, we sponsored almost 100 kids from a small village in the Philippines, so it’s cool to like give back to the things that fed into my life when I was growing up. BTS: How has your craft changed over the years? You’ve been in music a long time. L: That’s a good question; I think I just let myself learn. And that’s actually harder than it sounds, when you’ve been doing something for so long, you think you know everything about something and you don’t. It’s important to understand

L: I would like to collaborate with Kanye West. Kanye has done like a wide variety of things and I love that there is, like “Yeezus”, there is no format there. It was just free verse, and I love that. BTS: Who has been most influential in your life outside of music? L: Probably my mom and dad. My dad taught me everything I know about music and that wasn’t a lot of theory, it was a lot of learning how to play by ear and by heart and by passion. And my mom taught me confidence and bravery. I went into life thinking I was top shit and got knocked down a few pegs when I first set into the world and my late teens and started writing music. I think that everyone should go into the world feeling like top shit.

BTS: What is the biggest difference between writing for yourself and writing for other people? L: Well with writing for other people, you’re writing for another experience. When you’re writing for yourself you’re writing from your heart, you’re drawing from what you go through. The one main difference, one of I can think of, was for the show Instant Star. They showed us the season and how it was going to go down and the story line. They said, “Now write from this girl’s perspective,” so it was kind of cool— it’s like acting, but in your own way. You put your head into the head of that character and you try to write from your heart, but ultimately what comes out is a product that doesn’t necessarily represent you. For example, “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry was written by largely men, well, they’re men and, you know. One of the songs I wrote for Instant Star was called “Perfect,” and one of the lyrics was “I’m just a girl I’m not changing the world.” As a person I don’t really, I wouldn’t write something like that, it’s coming from her perspective. BTS: How has your family changed the way you think about music? L: It’s one of those things where, you know, I sat down to try and write a song about being a mother and it was really cheesy. It’s more of a general perspective type thing, where I just see her growing up so quickly

and it’s amazing. You just want to absorb every moment and I feel so lucky to still be able to do what I do and have a family at the same time. I just have learned that it is all about living in the moment and right now and enjoying what’s right in front of you, because we always worry about what is ahead and we forget that we have something awesome right in front of us. So that became what this record is about, a song that pulls you out of the bullshit for a few moments. You know? And, that would be more how I was affected by the motherhood than writing a song about my uterus or something. Lights taught us a few lessons that day: enjoy what’s right in front of you, know what you want to hear in

whatever you’re making, and that everyone should go into the world feeling like top shit. While these lessons range widely, they all show truly good intent from someone who has carved her way through the rocky electropop landscape, while still caring immensely about her fans and the world around her. As we watched girls and boys of many ages cheer as she walked onstage, her first trip since the Siberia Acoustic tour, we were truly impressed. A fantastic performance, with the same enthusiasm crowds have seen for nearly the last ten years, was watched with shining eyes of those watching their role model a type of performance we hope to see from Lights for many years to come.

@Lights

RAPID FIRE With lights: BTS: If you could go to dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?: L: Audrey Hepburn. She’s a babe. BTS: Pickles or Cucumbers: L: Pickles. BTS: What fad do you not get? L: Probably like the really, really, really high platform shoes, I saw someone walking around with those the other day and I just think they look so uncomfortable and dangerous. BTS: Song that you love: L: Speed of Light by Alphawezen, German band. A lot of good German music.

BTS: What are your favorite things to do on tour? L: Find Starbucks wander on. And once I get Starbucks, I wander around. I don’t know, the beauty of Starbucks is, I’m not paid by them, but it’s like continuity wherever you go, so it’s like you literally wake up in the morning and you find out where Starbucks is and then you go launch your exploration pattern across the city. BTS: Finally, what is the most played song on your iPod? L: Probably my stuff because I usually listen to it to get a track listing or video ideas or outside of my music, probably Wild Horses by Rolling Stones.

Saints of Valory Chicago, il // feb. 2015 Photo By: addie whelan

RAS Photos and Words By Alyssa Buzzello

Names such as All Time Low, 5 Seconds of Summer, and Avicii all ring a bell, but does the name Nick “RAS” Furlong sound familiar? Get comfortable with his name. Nick Furlong, better known as RAS, is the not-so-silent sensation and driving force behind some hit songs across multiple genres in the past year and a half. From Steve Aoki to Sleeping With Sirens, as well as aforementioned Avicii and 5 Seconds of Summer, RAS has more than proven his ability as star writer and producer in today’s market.

While the diverse writing and producing credits RAS has racked up may be surprising, the list of his musical influences is infinitely more surprising. “I grew up listening to Hip Hop. That transcended into alt rock and grunge. I think Prodigy was the first band that got me into dance music, because they were on the fine line of rock and dance,” he explains. The genre gap is no problem at all, in fact it is actually one of his strengths. “Dance music now has much more of a rock feel but also main-

stream,” he says, and that is something he actually takes to heart in collaborations with Avicii and tracks with Steve Aoki featuring Rivers Cuomo of Weezer. “Switching genres for me, though, is really not as difficult for most people. It all sort of just meshes together. It’s all about how they’re sung, how they’re produced, and whether or not you’re writing good songs.” RAS is stylistically bridging the genre gap by bringing his own unique flare to both songwriting and producing. “Nothing is guaranteed or certain. The best thing is to just write good songs. That’s it. Just love what you do and do it wholeheartedly and be very passionate about it. When you do that you can’t do any wrong,” he says about the current state of the industry. Writing good songs is exactly what RAS has done, and drawing from his own life has worked very well for him. Writing Avicii’s “The Nights” came very simply to RAS. “In ‘The Nights,’ the biggest influence for me was to make it geared for people to sing along to. It all just kind of came from my upbringing and what I listened to as I was a kid.” It may not be known, but “The Nights” was written about RAS’s father, whom he is still very close to. Reflecting on a ten day, 2,800 mile cross-country road trip with his father, he says “I came back with a lot of inspiration. I took my GoPro with me and during the whole trip, every time I saw cool things, I got it on video… then I come home and watch all the footage and reflect.” During his time on the road, he commented that it was nice to be able to unapologetically listen to the entirety of what is presently on Top 40 radio stations. “I hadn’t gotten a chance to sit down and listen to the Top 40 radio because when you’re writing and doing sessions and focused on what you have going on, you don’t have a chance very often to sit and listen to everything that’s out and become a sponge.” His view is that there is a lot of good music out there, and he thinks that it is great to absorb some of the Top 40 influences to understand how he can incorporate that into his own songs. RAS makes it clear that he absolutely loves what he does, explaining that “It’s a challenge and it’s fun. If you have fun while you’re doing it, just try not to think too hard about it.” When asked if there was a song he wished he had written, there was no hesitation at all. “How about Thriller for example? I probably wouldn’t be doing this interview, I would be sitting in my mansion somewhere,” he jokes. “No, actually there’s a lot. One of my favorite songs that I wish I would have written would be ‘Change the World’ by Eric Clapton. That’s one of my favorite songs. Or ‘Maggie May’ by Rod Stewart, since it’s such a brilliant song.” In a while, RAS’s tracks will be among what everyone wishes they had written. Every aspect of what he does is genuine, and that is what

has gotten him so far so quickly. With such dedication to rock solid writing and producing for top artists, RAS still finds a way to grow personally. Downplaying dramatically, he explained, “Success is minimal at this point. I’m still figuring out what I love to do and I’m growing. In the last 2 years I’ve grown more than I’ve ever grown in my career.” He is super focused, yet relaxed regarding the future ahead of him, telling Beyond The Stage that “These last 2 years have been less about being distracted and more about focusing on me. I think I’ve just been practicing just trying to be able to write good songs.” 2015 is looking like it will be even more of a success for the young musician. However, he doesn’t have any specific place he sees himself in the future. “I love the challenge of going in with, like, All Time Low and challenging myself to write awesome pop songs with a band who has been doing it themselves for the last couple years. They’ve done an amazing job but let’s try to flip it and do something different. Projects like that have gone seamlessly. It was like hanging out with my friends every time that we worked together. I think hands down, it’ll be the best album that they’ve done.” Hard at work, RAS is currently busy writing with 5 Seconds of Summer on their second studio album. All Time Low’s upcoming album, Future Hearts, for which RAS wrote and produced “Runaways” and “Don’t You Go” drops on April 7th. RAS will also release work with Steve Aoki featuring Rivers Cuomo of Weezer, Mr Hudson, Krewella, Hook N Sling, and more in the next couple of months.

Album Reviews Afraid of Ghosts Butch Walker Dangerbird Records

Wanted On Voyage George Ezra Columbia Records & Sony Records If you’ve ever doubted the statement that all great voices come from Europe, here’s another one that clears the suspicion. English born George Ezra has been compared to Sam Smith and James Morrison and he’s only twenty-one years old. When you think of impactful music, think of Ezra. He embodies the concept of soulful songwriting and has even performed at the iconic Glastonbury Festival. Although Ezra previously released two EPs, single “Budapest” made it on to mainstream American radio and his career launched. After recently opening for soulful singer Sam Smith on the American leg of his tour, Ezra released his album Wanted On Voyage in the US in January. The singer-songwriter showcases his incredible vocal talent in opening track “Blame It On Me” and continues to impress listeners with re-mastered “Cassy O’.” Ending tracks “It’s Just My Skin” and “Blind Man in Amsterdam” have just as much impact as the first tracks and have potentially even more carefully crafted lyrics than the opening tracks. Throughout the album, Ezra continues to show his raw talent with vocal runs and emotional lyrics. Perfect for a day of driving in the car, Ezra’s album can be played on repeat without the threat of having to skip a song. - Addie Whelan

After a four-year break since his last release, 2011’s The Spade, Butch Walker is back with Afraid of Ghosts. Walker has given his sound a bit of a makeover by stripping it down and centering on the singer-songwriter side of things. Most songs on this album are much darker than anything he has created before. The album opens with the title track, “Afraid of Ghosts,” a slow, calm story-telling song. It is a good track, but it would perhaps fit better placed later in the track listing. Walker’s raw voice is a constant throughout the entirety of Afraid of Ghosts and adds to the overall relaxing, coffeehouse vibe. “Chrissie Hynde” is an interesting track in that adds an older feel and breaks up the other tracks on the album. “21+” is a haunting song that showcases Walker’s creative style and the main theme of the album really well. Chances are if listeners love this song, they will love the entire album. “Father’s Day” is the easily the heaviest song on the record and gives a look to what Walker’s older albums are like, all while still fitting well into this album. The final track is “The Dark” which has a great hook and is a great way to wrap things up. All in all, Afraid of Ghosts is a great record to put on a study playlist or to just relax to. - Lauren Klonowski Download: “Still Drunk”, “How Are Things, Love?”, “Autumn Leaves”

Download: “Blame it On Me”, “Budapest”, “Cassy O’” Rating: 4/5 Rating: 5/5

Reflection Fifth Harmony Epic Records

When you put together five talented ladies with unparalleled voices mentored by one of the most innovative Pop music creators, Simon Cowell, you get Fifth Harmony. With a year of waiting and prepping the ears of the younger demographic, the girl group’s debut studio album Reflection hit the scene full force. The idea of girl power is nothing new, but Fifth Harmony hits home with the song “Bo$$,” letting every listener know that girls can truly rule the world. Ally, Normani, Dinah, Camila and Lauren continue to let the power of women shine through the album. The album’s namesake “Reflection” gives the world a piece of self-love advice. Working off the art of advice, the song “Worth It” accompanied by Kid Ink, he plays merely background noise through their womanly cries, proving that no lady should

ever waste their time on a man, followed by sass driven “Suga Mama.” The album continues on by paying homage to Mariah Carey in “Like Mariah” featuring Tyga, showing that it’s only human to feel love too. Taking over the top 40 airwaves, the most memorable song on the album would be the infectious “Sledgehammer,” a song full of spunk, an anthem for anyone who knows how breathtaking a crush really could be. Finishing it off with a song proving their musical sisterhood, “Brave Honest Beautiful” features Meghan Trainor, another artist pushing on the strong woman image. An album created with catchy instrumentals and powerful lyrics was well worth the wait. - Eden Jezierski Download: “Bo$$”, “Sledgehammer”, “Reflection” Rating: 4/5

Smoke and Mirrors Imagine Dragons Interscope Records Almost two and a half years after releasing their chart topping debut album Night Visions, Imagine Dragons has returned with their sophomore full-length record Smoke + Mirrors. After their first LP peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, sold over two million copies in America alone and went platinum in twelve other countries, fans all over the globe were highly anticipating the release of more music. Consisting of members Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, and Daniel Platzman, the group has come together to deliver a thirteen-track mix of upbeat rock music full of synth, stomp, and soul. The opening track “Shots” was released as a single prior to the album’s release and introduces you to what will be a very eclectic record with its acidy lead and lots of vibe-y synth guitar. “I Bet My Life,” another pre-album single, touches on a sound familiar to the group’s first record with catchy guitar riffs and a repetitive chorus, with even a bit of violin thrown in. In comes “Friction,” a gripping track full of jungle-sounding beats and a riveting build up. With these elements, the band also adds crazy scratchy synths and distorted leads in the chorus, ending the portion of the song with modulated percussion hits. “Dream” is a slower, more emotional track with captivating vocals and lyrics reading “I want to dream, leave me to dream” sung in a teary voice. The song features an orchestral background that pulls at the heart of the listener. “The Fall” closes out the album in an upbeat, happy manner that leaves the listener on a positive note, literally. The group has certainly evolved in their music and has provided listeners with a record notably singular to their personal sound, but even more experienced and knowing than their freshman record. You can catch the group on their Smoke + Mirrors Tour this summer. - Kathryn Bethard Download: “Friction,” “Polaroid,” and “I’m So Sorry.”

American Beauty/American Psycho Fall Out Boy Island Records

In their second album post-hiatus, Fall Out Boy once again fails to disappoint with American Beauty/American Psycho. While the highly anticipated album isn’t as great as it’s predecessor, Save Rock and Roll, it still has all of the qualities Fall Out Boy fans know and love. While there is no prominent change in style from Save Rock and Roll, it’s a solid album from Fall Out Boy. The album is a great mix of different types of songs, arranged in an order that doesn’t clump similar songs in a row. After the slower-paced song “The Kids Aren’t Alright,” the upbeat song “Uma Thurman” follows. Having the difference between songs is nice to listen to, rather than having five fast-paced songs in a row. What American Beauty/American Psycho lacks in comparison to Save Rock and Roll is any interesting collaborations. While Fall Out Boy may never have another collaboration as great as Elton John on “Save Rock and Roll,” it would be nice to have a song or two with another artist. What this album does have in place of all of those collaborations is various samples from other songs. Most recognizable and the arguably most interesting is the use of the theme song from the show The Munsters on the track “Uma Thurman.” “American Beauty/American Psycho” has a sample from the Möntly Crüe song “Too Fast for Love.” The album’s lead single “Centuries” takes from the song “Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega, performed this time by Lolo. The album is very similar to Save Rock and Roll, but it still isn’t a disappointment. While it would have been nice to hear a few collaborations, it’s still a great album with great melodies and lyrics. It’s definitely worth a listen, especially if you loved the previous album. - Delaney DeAngelis Download: “Irresistible”, “Uma Thurman”, “Fourth of July” Rating: 4/5

Rating: 4.5/5

The Noise War Lion In The Mane Independent

Brooklyn based alternative rock band Lion In The Main’s debut full-length album, The Noise War, is bright and brilliant. Each and every one of the thirteen tracks fit together perfectly in the order in which they are presented, creating an incredible flow throughout the entire album. The Noise War begins with an instrumental introduction track appropriately titled “Intro” that sets the mood for what is to follow. The same instrumental continues into the album’s title track. Lead singer Jon Masters sings every lyric with emotion and conviction, especially during stand out song “Waiting,” where he declares, “I’m waiting, I’ll be alright. I’ll be just fine.” Lion In The Mane is joined by former The Dangerous Summer frontman AJ Perdomo on “Static,”

a song that features a fiery guitar solo and gang vocals. Highlights of the album include the breakup story ballad “Let It Fly,” featuring piano and beautiful harmonies, “Pianos Vs Mandolins,” an emotionally driven track that slides right into the final song on the album and the very strong finale, “Parades In The Rain,” a song that features a beautiful use of strings that brings “Intro” full circle. Thanks to their incredible debut album The Noise War, Lion in the Mane is bound to be your new favorite band. - Allison Lanza Download: “Waiting,” “Let This Fly,” “Pianos Vs Mandolins” Rating: 5/5

The Balcony Catfish and The Bottlemen Island Records

B4.Da.$$ Joey Bada$$ Cinematic Music Group

Catfish and The Bottlemen, an energetic indie-rock band hailing from Wales, visited New York recently to perform on the David Letterman show to promote their debut album, The Balcony. The group consists of lead vocalist Van Mccann, lead guitarist Johnny Bond, bassist Benji Blakeway, and drummer Bob Hall. The Balcony is a steady thread of screaming guitar riffs and crashing drums accompanied by honest lyrics painting a picture of the dependency and vulnerability that comes with love. Mccan’s heavily accented tone speaks of the pain he has encountered in relationships far from amiable, singing of girls who have sent him on a rollercoaster of emotions. This album expresses that love is no fun if it is all smooth sailing. In the 10th track, “Sidewinder,” Mccan sings “Give me some madness I can get off on…I want you to exhaust me,” speaking of the passion that comes from conflict and the comfort in depending fully on another person even in one’s darkest times. “Cocoon” especially speaks of the determination and lust to be with someone, even when they are not at their best, “and if you want to act more drunk than usual to help you get away with more then rest on me.” Catfish’s poetic lyrics paired with sweet, singing guitar riffs make for a sound that makes their listener fall in love with them more each time they come on. The fifth track, “Pacifier,” features wailing guitar and Mccan’s scratchy, fearless delivery of the chorus makes it deliciously addictive. Catfish manages to capture their listener in every song by alternating between calm, light verses and passionate, addictively loud choruses. Although the amount of profanity in this album would horrify any parent listening, the more eloquently written lyrics are captivating, such as “your divine ribs would help break mine” from “Tyrants.” This line, along with the building guitar and raw vocals creates a heartache that feels quite genuine. Although many have bashed the band’s loud, overly emphasized vocals and drums, their relentless volume is the best part about them. Check out this passionate, talented group as they begin to hit the indie scene and expect to see them topping the charts in 2015. - Emma Donahue

The general consensus about Joey Bada$$ has always been that he is a remarkably talented up-and-comer with infinite promise. His devastatingly sharp lyricism and 90’s-influenced sound have caught, and effectively held, the attention of the hip hop community since the release of his first mixtape in 2012. At a time when hip hop is evolving at an incredibly fast pace, Joey’s nostalgic style offers listeners a much-needed sense of familiarity. Many listeners have even ventured to say that the twenty-year-old Brooklyn native has the potential to single-handedly revive classic East Coast hip hop, an opinion that often has more to do with his age than with an honest evaluation of his music. With the release of B4.Da.$$, Joey Bada$$ has finally met the high expectations set for him by the hip hop community. While B4.Da.$$ is Joey’s first major label release, the album hardly feels like a debut. Joey had already established himself as a fresh new voice with his two widely-acknowledged mixtapes, 1999 and Summer Knights. While these two informal releases are certainly impressive, they lack the consistency and focus that Joey delivers on his new album. B4.Da.$$ is a triumphant debut that effectively blends elements of both classic and contemporary rap.Instead of presenting one cohesive aesthetic or concept, Joey opts to display his versatility by exploring a wide array of sounds. This approach proves just how dynamic Joey is as an artist; he sounds equally confident spitting over hazy beats like “Black Beetles” and more frantic ones like “No. 99.” Joey’s adaptability is not only apparent in his musicality, but also in his lyricism. On B4.Da.$$, Joey speaks on a variety of different subjects and strikes an excellent balance between playfulness and thoughtfulness. Listeners can practically hear Joey gaining more confidence as B4.Da.$$ progresses. His compelling debut serves as a testament to his vibrant musicality and lyrical agility. - Charlotte Freitag

Download: “Pacifier,” “Kathleen,” “Sidewinder,” “Homesick”

Rating: 4.5/5

Download: “On & On (feat. Maverick Sabre & Dymeond Lewis),” “Escape 120 (feat. Raury)” & “Christ Conscious”

Rating: 5/5

kongos pittsburgh // feb. 2015 Photo By: Hannah Jones

Lost At Land Words and Photos by Addie Whelan Chicago is a foodie town, from Dylan’s Candy Bar to Glazed & Infused, you can satisfy any sweet tooth in the second city. So when Chicago natives Lost At Land described their sound almost immediately as “candy for your ears,” we were glad we’re safe from cavities. In a town of thousands of different musicians, Lost At Land depends on its following to showcase their pop punk sound. Composed of Patrick Canniff, Jose Vega, Keegan Potts, and Fortuna Hau, Lost At Land knows the true meaning of time management. Between balancing headlining shows at some of Chicago’s well-known venues including Subterranean and House of Blues while still enrolled as full time students at Loyola University Chicago, the band was purely formed out of the love of the city and music. Originally an acoustic, unnamed duo, Hau and Canniff became a band the old fashioned way— by posting flyers in some of the most populated school buildings. “I saw a flier outside a classroom, actually in the building we’re in right now, [Mundelein on Loyola’s campus]” said Potts, describing how he became the band’s bassist. “The flyer was literally outside of my theology room, I sent like a huge rant on Facebook, a big ole message, like ‘I used to be in a metal band, I love All Time Low, I heard you like All Time Low. I like anything you like. Let’s be in a band.’” Vega added. After just playing a few times, the band established what they now described as 'Paramore mixed with All Time Low with a hint of alternative and a few metal songs' (thanks to Vega’s past experience). Canniff originally started as

@lostatlandband a jazz drummer, and still claims that is the biggest influence on his music. He now plays the pop punk sound with more passion than ever before. When asked where the band’s name came from, Lost At Land is actually, well, lost. “We like to think that we all have our own meaning for it. But we decided not to actually come up with a meaning for it, so that other people can discern their own meaning from it,” Canniff explained. “We were sitting around trying to generate concepts for what to call ourselves. It actually was the best one— there were some pretty terrible ones.” “We were joking about Lost At Land, like Lost at Sea, and then it just kind of stuck. It was the one name that really stuck out,” Hau added, agreeing with Canniff. The band participates in Battle of the Bands and Open Mics with Loyola’s Department of Programming. The band believes that it is their strong following that continues to set them apart. Potts, the busiest band member, seems

@lostatlandoffical to have the biggest pull with their following, most likely because Potts is also an athlete at Loyola. “I think we have a really good following [with Loyola]. They’re pretty dedicated and they’re really willing to go see us out in the city and I don't know... it kind of sucks to push tickets onto people, but the number of people who approach me for tickets with every show grows. I have a solid group I go to all the time. And that kind of sucks, but I have people from class and random friends that I know that come up and say ‘Oh I heard you’re selling tickets to a show, can I buy them?’” He said. Next to Lake Michigan in a crowded city full of musicians, Lost At Land doesn’t have much difficulty being found. Often approached about buying tickets at their shows, the band plans on playing at the university’s first Battle of the Bands and hopefully playing a few more sold out shows in a city full of thousands of music’s biggest fans.

Pierce the veil pittsburgh // feb. 2015 Photo By: chelsea gresh

Ben howard chicago, IL // feb. 2015 Photo By: addie Whelan

Staff Playlist: Obsessions OUR STAFF COMPILED A LIST OF SONGS THAT WE CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO, HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS: 1. Undercover Martyn - two door cineMa clUb 2. waves (feat. PePa Knight) - JaPanese wallPaPer 3. teacher - nicK Jonas 4. disconnected - 5 seconds of sUMMer 5. stoP the world - deMi lovato 6. soMewhere in neverland - all tiMe low 7. Miss MysterioUs - set it off 8. can’t tell Me nothing - Kanye west 9. i write sins not tragedies - Panic! at the disco 10. the Middle - JiMMy eat world 11. car radio - twenty one Pilots 12. boUnce - the cab 13. calling - lewis watson 14. hUMan - Jon bellion 15. all i want - Kodaline Saints of Valory - Photo By Addie Whelan

Photo By hannah Jones