Fashion Meets Music Festival Magazine vol. 2 by CityScene Media Group

Vol.2

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Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

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Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

The Team

What’s Happening

The FMMF Magazine Team

Ria Greiff

Kathy Gill Zak Perry Scott Greiff

Jaclyn Miller Luke Toney Keith Tracy Tiera Suggs Jim Robson Rachel Barbash

FMMF Team

Melissa Dickson Bret Adams Chase Clymer Nici Arsenault Leslie Ungerott Joey Kasouf

Co-Publisher Editor in Chief Art Director Journalist Co-Publisher Design, Layout Guru Web Editor Photographer Chief Journalist Journalist Photographer Photographer Photographer Photographer

Co-Founder Co-Founder Art Director Talent Liaison Accounts Executive Accounts Assistant Executive

Contributors in Vol. 2 Matthew Roharik Nick Fancher Scott Cunningham Will Shively Rainer Ziehm

Cover Pop Unorthodox Indie Country and Blues

Incredible to be a part of a festival other than being an avid festival-goer. The camaraderie, the way an item you lost at the beginning of a festival makes its way back to you by the end, the ground scores, the bubble of humanity that is created during that time was always something that fascinated me. I was bitten by the festival bug in 1999 when I attended the Memorial Day Ekoositc Hookah three day festival and camping at Fronteir Ranch. I was never the same. Since then, I have attended countless others, the biggest of them being Coachella, Lollapalooza, Pitchfork, Nelsonville, Austin City Limits, Decibel and Movement. When I heard that a festival was going to be in my backyard, it was a dream come true. And so, I bring the dream, the festival, to you in FMMF Magazine. Enjoy the show.

What’s Inside POP

Fashion Centerfold ZZ Ward Nick D and the Believers Kidrunner

INDIE

Fashion Centerfold Taking Back Sunday Mike Main and the Branches OAR Playing to Vapors

UNORTHODOX Fashion Centerfold The Nearly Deads The Outervibe Captiva Captain Kidd

COUNTRY AND BLUES Fashion Centerfold Allen Stone Castle Creek

RHYTHMIC

Fashion Centerfold Awolnation Reptile Fiction

FMMF Info FMMF Schedule

32 33

On the Cover When contemplating what the cover was to be, the three elements of Fashion Meet Music Festival were clearly to be respresented. Here, Fashion is being represented by Celeste Malvar Stewart = STEWART, couture garment made specifically for this shoot with the music of Benji Robinson, also pictured here, from his Local Sound project, lasered into the dress, worn by model Bethany. In the center is the quintessential representation of our fair city of Columbus, Mayor Mike Coleman. We watched from the Leveque Tower observation deck as he crossed the street from City Hall, to the building to join us on the tower. It was very windy and cloudy and the sun stayed hidden except for the magical hour when all the elements converged on the rug lent to us by Bob Meyers the owner of iconic LeVeque Tower. Nationally renowned photographer, Matthew Roharik and I spent many days scouting the building. We went to all the observation decks, took countless shots, lunched, discussed and fretted about angles and the weather. It turned out to be magical, just as I am sure your experience will be at Fashion Meets Music Festival.

Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

Fashion Meets Music Festival â&#x20AC;&#x201D; September 5th & 6th, 2015

Appeals to the Masses

Popular music is the music that we identify as being the music that appeals to the masses. Contrary to popular opinion, Pop music actually evolves much like earworms do. Recently a study by Matthias Mauch, indicated that Pop music underwent three radical stylistic changes around 1964, 1983 and 1991 from rock with soul roots to new wave to hip hop. No one knows when the next revolution is coming. It might even be underway; in the meantime, Pop music is rich in diversity and makes constant evolutionary changes. It is the appeal of certain harmonies and chords that shape the next writer and producerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choices. We have a rich selection of Pop musicians to present for your pleasure who embody these natural trends.

Fashion Meets Music Festival â&#x20AC;&#x201D; September 5th & 6th, 2015

Words: Ria Greiff

Image: Press Here Publicity

It isn’t everyday that you hear someone respond to the question over phone, “Are you there?”, with a very enthusiastic “I am.” That is in a nutshell what ZZ Ward is all about. She has a strong presence and is incredibly connected to the moment. Her voice was friendly and alluring all at once and I felt as if I was just chatting with a friend.

authenticity of the blues and hip hop absolutely inspired me and the rhythms and the way it made me feel empowered. In my music, I really try to incorporate those values and those ideas with keeping it really rhythmic and keeping the stories authentic and me and my artistry.

I took a look at your tour schedule for your, “Love And War” tour and got anxious just looking at it. How do you do it?

I like to listen to a variety of things. Basically, music that inspires me. Like I have been listening to a lot of African fiesta music lately, old blues, really old blues and some jazz.

A lot of alcohol (laughs), just joking. Actually a little to none is how I can handle it. I actually do three on and one off because of vocals because after three shows or anything else my voice will get crunchy sounding. I also surround myself with really good people. I get to choose my band, I am pretty lucky about that. I make sure that I enjoy the people that I am around and that goes a long way. And I pick positive people to be around me as much as I can and that motivates me. But what really motivates me is the fans (she says this with much affection). They always surprise me with the coolest stuff and what the music means to them. I’ve seen people get tattoos before of my lyrics on their body which is amazing and the energy that they bring to the show (pauses), that makes it easy. It seems you have experience with being in bands since you were much younger, starting with your dad’s band at the age of twelve.

Yeah, I have been playing since I was a kid. I learned early on how to play with other musicians and balance and how to deal with things on stage. You never know what is going to happen on stage and you know it is all on you at the end of that day that everything goes smoothly and everybody is having a good time. Doing it since I was a little kid is what really helped shape me. You grew up with your dad’s blues records. There is also mention of your brother’s hip hop records. What affect did these have on your sound?

I would say that I was really inspired by a lot of blues and hip hop when I was growing up. The

ZZ WARD

What music do you listen to in your off time?

You also write much of you music and have lent a hand in some other productions like with Robben Ford, Kendrick Lamar, Fitz. How do you get inspiration or what is your writing process?

I try to come up with some kind of concept or a melody usually I kinda go off of whatever I come up with that has an emotion behind it. So if I have a concept that I am connected to, then I will definitely use that as inspiration or if I have a great melody then I will definitely use it. So you toured with a legend Eric Clapton. Was that intimidating at all?

He brought me on tour with him I got to open up for him. A really amazing experience. He is actually a humble and such a nice person. He is a legend and it was amazing to be able to watch him on stage and get to play with him. He watched me play harmonica and that was pretty intimidating. For a young woman your titles are pretty heavy. Criminal, Til the Casket Drops, Put the Gun Down, This Means War. Can you tell me about these titles and the whole Love and War theme?

As a songwriter and someone who grew up listening to the Blues, I am not trying to sugar coat it at all and I’m really telling it like it is and what it feels like to me so I am not afraid of that intensity. I am actually inspired by that intensity. I like to share things like that and I like to make more out of less, whatever situation I am going through. As a songwriter, I am a sensitive person and I over think a lot of stuff and it really serves me well as a songwriter because I can really capture a moment in time. Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

How would you describe your music? Blues meets hip hop meets pop.

Reading some fan comments I see that many kind of happened upon your music either through American Idol or Pretty Little Liars and the sentiment echoed is that once they heard your voice and your music, they were hooked and downloaded your album. I would have to agree. Your voice is amazing and super rich and solid, but you also play guitar and piano what else? Thank you. I play the harmonica, but I wouldn’t say that I play those other instruments, especially now that I am around such great musicians. I dabble in a lot of instruments but really I am a creator at heart. I use a guitar, piano, harmonica whatever it is, drums. I use things to get inspiration from for what is my gift, which is songwriting and creating. So even if I hit a basic chord on a guitar, it helps me to express myself and that is how I use instruments. So in all your photos, even those where you are just hanging out playing Ms. Pac-Man, you wear your hat. How did it happen?

I wear a fedora because I grew up watching blues musicians that embody this kind of confidence that I was allured by and so wanted to hold myself. So for me, when I started singing, I would wear the fedora and it made me feel like I had started to become who I had grown up admiring. Now it has become a part of me and now if I go onstage, I don’t feel complete. Dirty Shine is the name of your blog. So you say on your blog, LOVE3X isn’t about a perfect love. It’s about a REAL one that makes you scream and cry sometimes. I think that is a great message for people to have realistic expectations from a relationship. What inspired this philosophy?

For me it is a true story. It is not always perfect, if you are with someone you drive each other nuts sometimes. That’s how it goes. My parents have been married for 35 years they drive each other nuts but at the end of the day the reason that they make it is because of love. Love is the thing that keeps us all together.

NICK D’ & THE BELIEVERS

Becoming a Believer Words: Jaclyn Miller

Don’t let their metallic gold jackets and “screamface” expressions fool you- soulful alternative pop trio, Nick D’ & the Believers, are just a bunch of quirky, lovable guys with music in their veins and an exceptional amount of energy. I had the pleasure of hanging out with band members Nick, Joseph, and Kerry, before their set at Park St. Saloon back in May. In between several witty jokes and passionate discussions about bacon and Netflix, it was no obstacle getting the three chatting about their love for making music. Although the boys have roots all over the Midwest, the Nick D’ & The Believers was born here in Columbus. The group originated as a solo video project that Nick D’Andrea, lead vocalist, was creating with the help of his friend, drummer and producer, Joseph Barker. Nick explains that it wasn’t until he was at a Dr. Dog concert a few years back that he felt truly compelled to pursue his longtime dream of music. The following day, he dropped out of the night school he was attending and called Joseph up to ask if he wanted to start a band. The story goes that Nick and Joseph began rehearsing in the garage of a house where their future guitarist, Kerry Henderson, was living. Reminiscing on their early days, the guys laugh as Kerry recalls sitting in on

Images: Jim Robson Nick and Joseph’s first few practices: “I just kept comin’ back.” The boys booked their first show as Nick D’ & The Believers in January of 2013. The Believers’ sound is unique and fun in that it masterfully delivers the crisp, bouncy energy of groups like Matt & Kim combined with gritty, soulful grooves characteristic of bands like Spoon and The Black Keys. The boys explain that in the early stages of constructing their sound, a great deal of inspiration was drawn from Fleetwood Mac’s legendary “Rumors” album. They wanted their songs to similarly reflect those classic, catchy grooves while simultaneously communicating a meaningful message. Metallic jackets and extremely high energy have become staples of The Believers’ live performances. The boys are known for leaving it all out on stage as they consistently deliver a lively and spirited show that not only compliments their catchy jams, but also creates an entertaining and memorable experience for their audience.

be whatever it wants to be which is the cool thing about being a part of it.

We’re not just in a music scene that already exists; we’re given the opportunity to shape it.” After joking about their plans to participate in the Mars mission- the boys all agreed their biggest goal for the future is to put out an entire album. Although they have already released three killer EPs and had three songs debuted on national TV shows, they continue creating new material that they hope to showcase in a full-length album in the next few years. In the meantime, the boys will continue to tour and expand their Believer fan base. Equipped with humble attitudes, authentic talent, and pure hearts, I, for one, look forward to not only seeing Nick D’ & The Believers turn heads at Fashion Meets Music Festival, but also inevitably and rapidly climb the ladder of stardom.

Nick, Joseph and Kerry spoke warmly about the Columbus local music scene, referring to it as a homey sort of network that serves as an incubator for growth, support, and opportunity. “It’s still kind of finding its voice” explains Joseph, “It can still Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

Tacos and Cookies Delivery

KID RUNNER

Words: Ria Greiff

Meeting up with the band Kid Runner was tricky. They had a show at the A&R Bar and Fran told me she would meet me at the doors at 7 when they opened. I arrived and there was a line down to the street. I began to worry that the band, made up of Drew, Fran, Scott, Kurt and Bobby might get mobbed. Actually, they kinda did. Kid Runner seems to have mass appeal to their fans. Even in their own press, they specifically don’t use their surnames. This is what makes them so approachable and popular. After they made it through the throngs of admirers, we headed down the street to chat and hang from some bars. You recently did the Instagram takeover for FMMF. What did you do that day?

It was really fun; we got to talk about tonight’s show and how we prepare for shows and took pictures of us eating donuts. Eating junk food is part of the pre-show routine. We also posted an acoustic clip. We were posting about when we were on WCBE this morning too. It was fun. We tend to post a lot on social media. We believe that reaching out through social media is a way to get to our fans. We all trust Fran to run that and take care of that for us. Your fans are really unabashed about their adoration for you, some comments from fans that I read were that Kid Runner was,“The Real Deal”, they state how they are counting down the days until they see you, another posting how they “waited since December to see these guys.” How does it feel to have such commitment from the audience members?

It is incredible! It never gets lost on us. Tonight we walked through a crowd of people to meet with you that were there to see our band. We work really hard to make that happen. We come from central Ohio humble beginnings and to be in that position is really incredible. It makes it worth it. Everyday for the past two weeks we have been up

rehearsing until 3. We are a little sleep deprived and we are throwing a lot of new stuff into our show but it makes it all worth it for the five minutes that we spend with the people that appreciate us. You have some new merch out. What inspired these designs and who does them?

Kurt is the guy who works out a lot of the creative stuff. He also uses Amanda Lake who is working on the designs of the new tshirts. Fun fact is that these are our favorite Kid Runner shirts. I wish I could wear one but it is against the rules for performers to wear their own merch (says Drew). The best thing about having sunglasses as your merch, is when you are driving to NYC at 7 in the morning and you forgot your sunglasses we have no less that 300 sunglasses to go around. You did the Breakaway Festival, and Bunbury before and Comfest and now FMMF. How does it feel to be around such a diversity of talent going into FMMF?

It feels awesome to be around so many great artists and we are really doing it just to see Ludacris. He is one of our favorites and Young the Giant are some of our heroes. It is very different to do small and larger venues. In the festival setting there are so much support there from techs and stage hands but you lose some of the intimacy that you get at the smaller venues. Of course it is great to have people that wouldn’t normally hear us be exposed to our music. Your first single was picked up and put in an X-Games commercial. Was that the moment you decided that you had gotten big?

Yes when that happened that was literally the moment. We actually said that. We had a weeknight show at Skully’s we were not ready to headline. We got two parking tickets and we actually lost money on the show. Then Kurt got an email and he said, “All our problems are solved.” The email Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

Image: Rachael Barbash said that their song was on ESPN and ABC during the Winter X games. We ran and jumped on each other in slo-mo it felt like. The lesson is that as an artist you really have to be okay with the ups and downs. What can your fans expect to hear at FMMF? Are there any surprises coming up in your performance?

We have a couple of surprises for our fans. Some new things that we are working on. We always try to make each show unique in some way whether it is new instruments or new people to play with us and we also will be doing some fun covers and playing some new songs that we have not played yet. Do you use humor a lot to get you through all of your grueling tours?

I have encountered many bands who do. Yes we have a great rapport and we know how important it is not to take yourself too seriously (and the band says some inside joke about a sub and they start to laugh amongst themselves). Kid Runner works hard and they bring a really tight performance while having fun doing it. It isn’t just about their affable presence that makes people swoon. “The greatest compliment that we received as musicians was that someone came all the way from Indiana although they did not even have a ride but managed to get to the show and brought us cookies and tacos,” bandmember Drew adds as a final note. That is part of their amazing approachable allure. As proof of that, when we concluded our interview in the parking lot next to the Clipper’s stadium, people had spotted them and started gathering for an opportunity to get autographs from Kid Runner. Of course, they gleefully obliged.

FMMF TEAM

Bret Adams Founder Melissa Dickson Co-Founder Dave Weitzel Operations Director Nici Arsenault Digital Communications

& Administrative Asst.

Leslie Ungerott Sponsorship Relations Director Horacio Nieto Fashion Director Chase Clymer Creative Director Aaron Sweatt Asst Music Buyer Betsy Selover Volunteer Coordinator Christina Christian Fusion Foundation Director Greg Leader National Sponsorships Director Heather Hattaway Fashion & Model Director Rian Howells Operations Assistant Alexia Winfield Fashion Intern Colin Wendt Graphic Design Intern Liz Hackett Communications & Social Media Intern

Emily Bowman Communications

Joey Kasouf Communications

Lexie Lyons Marketing Intern Matt Kolena Communications

Nicole Smith Communications

& Music Intern

& Sponsorship Intern

& Operations Intern & Promotions Intern

Fashion Meets Music Festival â&#x20AC;&#x201D; September 5th & 6th, 2015

Brave Enough to Offer a Piece of Themselves

Being Independent is what the Genre of Indie is all about. Indie artists are those who have chucked major labels, prescriptions to sound, and in general are brave enough to offer a piece of themselves to their sound production. Indie artists play for their fans, which is why streaming is the main modus operandum of delivery of their music. Already a major player and massive influencer in the music space, Indie artists allow transformations and will continue to be bigger, stronger and more influential than ever before. This musical brand is on a journey into a digital future. Join those artists here and at the festival where you can see them in the flesh and rock out in their physical proximity.

Fashion Meets Music Festival â&#x20AC;&#x201D; September 5th & 6th, 2015

TAKING BACK SUNDAY

Happiness Is… Words: Ria Greiff

Image: Ryan Russell

Taking Back Sunday are the ultimate band, offering up classics that you may have grown up listening to, as well as some tracks from the likes of Happiness Is. Energetic frontman Adam Lazzara, moves around the stage with unabashed sass and hams it up for the audience in every sway as he sings. If you didn’t know who this band is, seeing them performing live will leave permanent impression. Taking Back Sunday’s John Nolan was gracious enough to talk to me on a Friday afternoon. He had a very easy going attitude which lent to a very insightful interview. Taking Back Sunday is known for its electrifying performances. Your most recent performance at Slam Dunk Festival comes to mind. How do you go about choosing your presentation?

As far as what we do on stage, that really is an in the moment thing and a lot of the excitement comes from the lead singer Adam and what he feels in the moment. That can vary from show to show depending on the setup of the stage. The only thing that is really planned is the lighting and the setup but most of this is organic depending on the lead that is provided by Adam. What does it mean to your band to be associated with your hometown of Long Island?

The roots of the band are pretty firmly planted in the music scene that came about during the time that the band was starting. That was a huge thing for us. There was a sound that was developing around that time on Long Island, before we were a band. There were a lot of like-minded bands that were coming up around the time that we were. We would get together and have a show and one of us would bring 30 or 40 folks but together we would have hundreds of people and that was pivotal for us. That is the main thing that connects us to Long Island. Some of them were Brand New,

a band that is still going, The Reunion Show, The Waiting Process, On the Might of Princes. This was around 1999 and we were all coming up together at that time. 99 is when we really started playing shows. The band officially formed then but the lineup that we have now didn’t come together until 2001. We had a different singer and a different drummer, and five different base players. Your band talks about balance being key to success and happiness. How do you find balance on the road?

I am not sure that we do a very good job of finding balance on the road (we laughed at that). We try and we aim for that but we generally miss that aim, especially three or four weeks into the tour. We always have these great goals in the beginning, drink less, eat better, work out, but at the one month mark all that goes out the window. Basically in a storm any port will do. I think we can do better about that but family is what really helps to keep us anchored. Staying connected to our families is what gives us balance and if it weren’t for that connection our lives would feel out of control. You left the band Taking Back Sunday and then returned? Did you want to say anything about that?

It was interesting, that whole process. I started my own band and TBS was doing their thing. When I ended up coming back it was a crazy thing. I never expected to do this or for this to work out and suddenly it happened organically. Not like we were ready or even thinking about it. When I finally got back it was great to reconnect. There was a certain amount that we had experienced that no one else outside of the band could understand. There was a real connection that we had formed in the early days that we had lost and it was really a great thing to be able to connect again. Serendipity. It felt a lot like a family reunion. Like you haven’t see Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

family for years and years and then you get back together again. I love the fact that you played your album in its entirety in the Tell All Your Friends Tour. What inspired that choice?

It was something we were pretty aware that people wanted. So that was what really got us talking about it. So many people asking as to whether that was something that we would do. It went really well with timing and the schedule with the album that we had just released. We had done a lot of touring off an album and it went perfectly with the timing of TAYFT. If the new album had come out too close to the anniversary we would have wanted to focus on that. You have a new album out, Happiness Is, is it your plan to play that exclusively at FMMF much like you TAYF10 tour?

No no of course not. We have so many albums at this point and so many songs to choose from we try to give the audience a good blend of songs. So that is what people can expect to see at FMMF. Tell us about your another genius musician choice to release the all acoustic Bside to your Happiness Is release? That is something that we just like to do is to present another side of the song. A lot of our songs get worked on in that kind of setting with an acoustic guitar especially with Adam working out lyrics if I am working on a song with him and figuring stuff out in the writing process. Alot of times that is happening on an acoustic guitar and just vocals. We get pretty familiar with songs in that format and what everyone hears is totally different so we wanted to share that other side of the song with people. So it is like presenting the song in its pure form. Continued on page 21

MIKE MAINS & THE BRANCHES Branching Out Words: Luke Toney

Image: Scott Greiff

Mike Mains is no stranger to Columbus. He estimates, by now, he and his band the Branches have been to Columbus 6 or 7 times over the last several years, most recently playing to a sold out crowd at Rumba Cafe and a packed house at Skully’s. They should be familiar with Columbus though, as the Branches hail from that other state to the north. When we first sat down, we exchanged a few insults, maybe a threat or two, but we quickly put our differences to rest. Apologies were made, and we moved on to how, after a spell in Texas, the Branches found themselves living back in Michigan yet again, this time just outside Detroit. Mike explained that, on tour, upon learning of their homebase, people would apologize to them. He says, “there’s no apology needed, you know? For me, necessity is the mother of invention…and its driven so many musicians, artists and young entrepreneurs to go there and start these amazing bands and businesses.” Asked what they think of Detroit’s reputation, and the changes it’s undergoing, Mike says, “I see Detroit as being on the five yard line, and it’s exciting.” It just needs that one good final push. When asked about lineup changes, Mike laments that “the streets is cold, the streets is cold.” Shannon, Mike and Nate have made up the core of the band for the better part of its existence, but some others have come and gone, including a cofounder. In that time, with the exception of one fourmonth stint, the band has been fiercely inde

pendent. Raising money from supportive friends and fans, funding and releasing all their own material. Recording and touring haven’t been without their challenges, but between the common unsigned band pitfalls, something special blossomed between Mike and Shannon, and a few years back, the two were wed. The two discussed the difficulty of being side by side, but unable to necessarily express their love whenever they want out of respect for fellow bandmates. “We’ll be sitting in the van and say ‘I miss you’”, says Mike. “Meanwhile,” he goes on, “Nate won’t have seen his girl for three months, and surely this is better than that!” Of course, we had to turn the conversation to fashion at some point. We discussed Beyonce and her team of stylists. We had a fun talk about Beyonce and the bed of cash we imagine shesleeps on as the equivalent of Smaug and his mountain of gold in the Hobbit. But seriously, all musicians have to think about fashion, whatever level of notoriety they have attained. We asked, specifically, have you ever had to say “hey dude, you can’t wear that.” A resounding “YES” came from all corners of the table. A drummer once wore an offensive plaid shirt and beanie combo. The natural followup? “What month was it? I mena, if it were winter...” Turns out it was spring, so certainly questionable, but Shannon insisted “it doesn’t matter.”

Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

Mike says fashion is more about consistency for him. He’s real into his hat right now (it’s flat billed and says Take A Hike) and has been since walking around the street, feeling empowered and saying “I’m gonna wear this every day!” Asked about bands who adhere to a certain style or wardrobe, like the Hives, and whether that eventually traps you in, the band declares that when they started, they did all dress in matching outfits. But that sort of wardrobe can’t be maintained for long on a shoestring budget. Now they’re much more casual, and the style suits them. Their easygoing, mellow demeanor seems to better embody the band’s feel as a whole. Even on stage, everything felt effortless. Watching Mike Mains perform, it was evident why Rumba had sold out six months ago and why hundreds of people lined up around the block at Skully’s on a hot June night. He is a frontman. Sticking the mic out over the crowd, his fans singing along to every word, he was left with no choice but to do what front men do jump in the crowd. He sang along until he was hoisted up and returned to the stage atop the crowd. Shannon played the keys with a furry that revealed how a man sharing her stage might come to propose. While my first exposure to Mike Mains and the Branches had only occurred a week prior, their set, which held a young crowd mesmerized on a Friday night, told me what fans from here to Texas already knew this was a group to keep an eye on.

OAR

OAR Returns Home Words: Jaclyn Miller

For longtime members of jazz-rock jam band, OAR, the city of Columbus is by no means foreign. OAR, short for “Of a Revolution,” was originally formed in 1996 in Rockville, Maryland, by lead vocalist, Marc Roberge, drummer Chris Culos, guitarist Richard On, and bassist Benj Gershman. However, the musicians have pledged their allegiance to the Buckeye state since each attending The Ohio State University where they met and added final member, Youngstown-raised saxophone player, Jerry DePizzo. Jerry set aside some time to answer a few questions about his revolutionary experience over the past two decades. As a mid-nineties college band, OAR’s earliest obstacle was undoubtedly their youth. Starting off between the ages of 18-20, Jerry explains that, in the beginning, the band mainly played weekend shows on campus since many venues didn’t want to deal with the headache of underage college kids. “To work around that,” Jerry explains, “we either rented the venue ourselves or found unconventional spaces to hold our concerts.” OAR is also one of the only bands known to rely on word-of-mouth marketing tactics alone to gain their tremendous following.

Images: Rachael Barbash

After leaving Columbus in 2001, OAR’s popularity grew faster than the band was, in some ways, prepared for. “We grew so quickly, so early, that it took time for our abilities to catch up to our success,” Jerry recalls, “but what we lacked in experience, we made up for in tenacity.” Once the members graduated, they gained the ability to stay on the road for extended periods of time which, in turn, allowed them to extend their fanbase, attracting new crowds in cities across the country. The band has released a total of eight studio albums in addition to five records of live performances nationwide. Jerry attributes the band’s longstanding success to remaining nimble and unafraid to adapt. Inspired by classic bands like Pearl Jam, U2, and Dave Matthews Band, OAR prides themselves on maintaining a fan-first focus, honest writing, and memorable concert experiences. When it comes to songwriting, the band’s creative process varies from song to song. “Generally, Marc starts with a title- a title sets the theme and direction of a songand once we have that, we know where to go.” As far as concerts go, OAR maintains a solid reputation for delivering vivacious and care-free live performances. “When someone comes to one of our concerts, we want them to leave feeling betFashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

ter than they did when they first came through the door,” Jerry explains. “It’s as simple as that- we are here to make people feel good. Concerts are a release valve on the pressure of day to day life. Come out to a show, get a smile on your face, leave happy and ready for what comes tomorrow.” Returning to this year’s Fashion Meets Music Festival, OAR is guaranteed to have another glorious homecoming. “Columbus has shaped and molded my life in so many ways,” says Jerry. “I met my wife here, I joined my band here, it’s where I chose to raise my family. When the band performs in town, I feel an obligation to give back as much as the city has given me.”

PLAYING TO VAPORS

Playing to Much More than Vapors Words: Jaclyn Miller

On a remarkably blustery April afternoon as the clouds hung dark and low, I stepped out of my car and headed toward Columbus’ alternative public radio station (WCBE) to meet the enigmatic local band “Playing to Vapors” following their on-air performance. Spotting five gentlemen fighting the aggressive wind to pack up their equipment, I ran over to introduce myself, and we agreed to retreat inside for our interview. In the station’s secluded media room packed with ceiling-high shelves of classic albums, we found the perfect spot to chat.

Kilbourne High School. Four years later, in 2009, Zack Cramp added bass to the mix after meeting lead vocalist, Luke Harris at The Ohio State University. Once united, the five spent years of late nights toying around with ideas and perfecting their sound. “It was a lot of experimentation,” explains Harris, “In the years we’ve known each other we’ve just been writing and making new stuff- always creating. I think with our EP ‘Identities’ and our current EP we’ve finally found a sound and a direction, and we’re confident about who we are and what we’re doing.”

On the date of the release of their newest EP, “A Glitch in A Void,” The boys had no reservations sharing their evolution as a band over the past decade. Starting out as an adolescent endeavor roughly ten years ago, Playing to Vapors was formed by Josiah DePaso, Daron DiSabato, Luke Harris, and Mike Stokes as freshmen attending Worthington

That newfound confidence has driven the authenticity of this alternative rock band in the two years they’ve officially been “Playing to Vapors.” They are genuinely and wholly unique in aspects of production, lyrics, and overall sound. PTV Guitarist, Daron DiSabato, armed with an audio production degree from Ohio Universi

Images: Keith Tracy ty, has taken the band’s production process entirely into his own hands in a home studio where the boys rehearse regularly. “I think that’s what makes [our sound] unique,” guitarist Mike Stokes throws in, “being in a band on a budget, we do everything completely DIY... in a bedroom.” With that in mind, the sound that PTV has constructed over the past few years is no less than inspiring. They have skillfully achieved an ominous yet melodic tone that reflects both 70’s psychedelic and modern alternative rock elements. Harris effortlessly delivers the already emotion-drenched lyrics with wisdom much older than his years. The music draws both rock and indie lovers alike, and has an undeniably soulful resonance among listeners. The name “Playing to Vapors” was born of the idea that, like many artists first entering the music scene, the group initially felt as though they were performing to nearly empty crowds.

Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

However, as PTV’s fan base continues to grow exponentially, this notion holds more irony than truth. The group has covered an impressive amount of ground in the past two years extending their touring radius into the northeast. With last fall marking the band’s first tour venture, they jumped at the opportunity to play major cities like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore. As far as local performances, the Columbus-natives listed their most memorable as “Worst Kept Secret Fest” and last year’s “Fashion Meets Music Fest.” Fashion Meets Music Festival anxiously awaits PTV’s return this year. After generating a considerable local buzz and attracting a widespread following, the boys are guaranteed to bring their talent, energy, and just about anything but vapors.

There are many musicians who will not be pegged Mixing and matching genres is an avant guarde way to fashion their sound and the only way they care to know how. When you hear the sound of the Unorthodox you are dizzily arrayed with genres and their multiple unions. Coupling never sounded so good. The artists here are brave and zany and dare to machete their way to create a path out of the jungle of convention; more brazen that the path less traveled. 16

THE NEARLY DEADS

The Nearly Deads Bring Punk Back to Life Words: Jaclyn Miller

Florida-originated alternative punk rock band, “The Nearly Deads” isn’t nearly as lifeless as their name suggests. I had the opportunity to catch a show of theirs at the National Convention Centre in Indianapolis, and, half-expecting a clan of hardcore, intimidating rockers, was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a group of five humble, laid-back individuals with a collective passion for punk music. The diverse musicians may have come together unconventionally, but their chemistry both on and off-stage says otherwise. Leading lady and killer vocalist, Theresa Jeane (TJ), kicked off her music career as a student at the University of Southern Florida, where she performed in a band called “Blonde Not Bombs.” Steve Tobi, a native of Florida, was meanwhile playing bass in a band of his own called “DangerFlight,” and the two met through mutual friends and involvement in the music scene. Not long after becoming acquainted, they mutually decided to move their talents from Florida to Nashville. “Everybody kind of migrates to Nashville to meet other musicians, and I guess it just worked out,” TJ reminisced, “We all wanted to be in the music industry separately- different paths- and then we ended up meeting each other.” TJ and Steve ac-

tually linked up with bassist, Kevin Koelsch, and drummer, Josh Perrone, on Craigslist and later met guitarist, Javier Garza through mutual friends. Over the years, the band has weeded through a few different instrumentalists, but they claim that their current members make up the “final lineup.”

TND’s name, while also inspiring a zombie-themed following, references the band’s origination in Florida – described in an old saying as “home of the newlyweds and the nearly-deads.” Each of the members reflects their own unique musical upbringing and taste, but a common denominator among them is the discovery of punk rock and metal in their adolescence. The five grew up with music tastes ranging from boy bands to 90’s grunge to The Beatles, but they can all agree that bands like Blink 182 and Brand New were, undoubtedly, their “gateway into punk rock.” They each knew, early on, that this was the type of music they wanted to pursue, which is what essentially links the band together at their core, driving their charismatic, gritty-grunge sound. Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

Image: Tierra Suggs The Nearly Deads’ popularity sparked in 2012 after their “Never Look Back” video hit a million views. This zombie apocalypse-inspired video got the ball rolling as they were, thereafter, asked to perform at both Journeys’ Backyard BBQ in Nashville and Van’s Warped Tour, with the added bonus of Journeys airing their video in stores nationwide. After brief stints with Indie Go-Go and Standby Records, the group decided they preferred to go the Independent route. When their Kickstarter Campaign, a pre-order for their 2014 album, “Invisible Tonight,” reached over $10,000 within the first week, the band was shocked to discover their fan base was much larger than they had realized. After chatting with the down-to-earth artists that compose TND and later observing their infectious energy and passion on stage, I was instantly able to make sense of their growing success. This talented group can enthusiastically provide phenomenal vocals and killer instrumentals all while effortlessly creating a fun and rambunctious atmosphere. Although the rockers will continue to claim they are “nearly-dead,” their music and performance style has flawlessly demonstrated that the punk-rock movement is still very much alive.

THE OUTER VIBE

Full Circle Vibes Words: Ria Greiff

Images: Tiera Suggs

This band is really a great bunch of personalities. I won’t even get into their Transylvanian accent thing. They seem like they are all fun and games and yes they are really good at that but when I sat down to talk to them about their music, a seriousness overcame them that had as much gravity as they had levity during the photo shoot at the Ohio State University Golf Course. Outer Vibe came out with their fifth album “Full Circle” and they worked for the first time with venerable producer Brad Dollar of Grateful Dead fame. The band felt that it allowed them to be more creative having an outside guy. He was steering the ship in the engineer’s chair and all the band had to focus on was their sound. Brad Dollar helped them capture the energy and create the right mix of spices for their sound. It allowed them to focus on their synergy Full Circle of course is the band’s way of saying that this was their journey and their search for what they wanted to find out what was “us”, realizing they naturally came back to their roots. The band plans to play some of their tunes from Hoka Hey for their fans but they also plan on doing a lot of their new stuff and some more work they have been with Brad Dollar, they are

trying to get him to come with them to FMMF as well. The band states that they are on, “Full on Musical Vacation Recording Mode. Full on vagabonds, tour around, meet people, making music and collecting stories along the way.” The Outer Vibe also utilizes the “pay as you go” business model with their new album. “We just want the music to make it into people’s houses, because we know that when they hear it they’ll fall in love with it and they won’t say no. The old model doesn’t work. No one gets their music the archaic way anymore, including this band.” This band also has an enormous sense of style. The secret with that is that they created a mood board. They did the same with their music. The belief is that the limitation can at times set them free. They had some really hip threads on and they kept those same outfits on after golfing with me all they way to their stage. Before we were done, Outer Vibe wanted their fans to know to expect, “A slice of paradise and a musical vacation when they hear us. We will take you to an alternate reality when you see us.” Sounds like heaven.

Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

CAPTIVA

Capturing Raw Sound Words: Ria Greiff

Captiva is one of our favorite fun-time Summertime bands. A little bit of the Smiths, a little bit of Sugar Ray and a little bit of 311. They hail from Kansas City. A town that is churning out talent recently. Hanging out with the guys is a recipe for permasmile. They are a young band that has come out swinging, playing some big festivals such as SXSW and now FMMF. Their goal they say is to reach as many people as possible. Agreed, once you hear them you are captivated. Their musical aspirations come from their claimed life experiences. Their writing comes from the heart, blended with honesty and courage, they say. Essentially, tapping into emotions and pushing those boundaries so you can connect with your audience. Mainly, their rise to stardom has been through simply getting their music into the right ears. Here are FMMF Magazine, we were hooked upon first listen. One of their favorite moments was playing at SXSW this past March. The band states that they felt that they pushed themselves as performers and have gained even more confidence. It seems hard to believe that they don’t already possess ri-

Image: Pat Sullivan diculous amounts of it. Now having this fest giant under their belts, they are ready to take over Cbus at Fashion Meets Music Festival. Some of their newer work is a single called, “Smooth Interrogation” and our personal favorite the haunting, “Illusions”, a song about the disconnection of fading affections. A relationship that is only going through the motions and has lost its authenticity and is now merely an illusion. Goose bumps!

These guys are doing it right, and they are tenacious as to their drive for that brass ring of success. The band Captiva has also opened up a music studio to accommodate their needs and to provide a space for all the emerging artists to create their art. Their studio is in downtown Kansas City and they named it Temple Sounds. They take full advantage of the open rooms for their live recordings. The space lends to more raw, genuine sound in their music. Their producer Tim and engineer Jeremy have helped them create new possibilities in their sound. One of the songs that has emerged from this is, “Smooth Interrogation”, a peppy upbeat Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

tune that the band has been performing but only recently recorded. Captiva is adding more festivals to their touring schedule along with a tour of their own, the “Always On Vacation Tour” with Brian Lockwood. Their party mantra is #StayBuzzed. Don’t mind if I do.

Captain Kidd Words: Ria Greiff

Images by Jim Robson

Sitting with Captain Kidd on the rooftop, I get to hang out with talent that is more mature than you would think at first glance. These guys, hailing from Bay Village, Cleveland, lived in Siebert Hall and are still campus based. Not having even finished college, they are just launching their musical careers while trying to wrap up their academic careers. They have a quaint pre-show ritual of listening to James Blunt’s, “Life is Beautiful” and in believing this they hope to still be doin’ it as long as possible. These guys were too modest to say they would see a Grammy in their future someday. Cbus has been good to Captain Kidd as they feel as if Cbus is a great music town. People love going to shows and they pour a lot of love and time into the local scene. FMMF and FMMF Magazine are testaments to that. And of course they get lots of Clevo love as hometown boys. Where I sit on the rooftop, it seems as if these guys are in it to win it. One of the reviews that I had read of their music was a mention to the band Captain Kidd was, “Your Freaky Song and I are in a serious relationship.” Although it may seem strange to you and me that that kind of adoration happens, it is not weird for the group to have that adoration; they love it.

But they added that it, “May be weird for the singer since it is his voice that they are listening to.” Their have a trademark which is their artwork. It is black pink, purple and red; the mainstays of their artwork and they purposefully want a psychedelic look that Josiah is putting together for them. The have a new EP coming out and they actually played it for the first time at Park Street Patio when FMMF Magazine saw their show and it was a blast. You will be in for a special treat at FMMF because they always bring a new element to songs when they play live. Their influences are Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala and Foster the People. Arctic Monkeys being the most because they are fast and have great lyrics, bar codes; TI and MGMT is about the psychedelic aspect of the sound and the fun loving stuff of Foster the People. In the new EP they experimented with the productions and they listened to a lot of psychedelic stuff to influence. This band started in high school but they have evolved to college students who are professional musicians and they are here and ready give you are really great trip. Yeah man!

Taking Back Sunday...continued. How does being with an independent record label after a decade affect you and your band and the sound?

I am not sure how it affects the sound. We always want to make the music we want to make regardless of the music label. With this particular album and with Hopeless we definitely felt more supported. I missed out with the Warner Brothers years when I went away. It was pretty clear though leaning toward our time with them when I was there, that they had other priorities. Going to Hopeless and seeing how much faith they had in the band and how supportive they were of what we were doing and how much time and energy they were willing to put into our record, it was a breath of fresh air and we felt more supported than we had in a while. Speaking of tours, I read about how you do many shows for servicemen to show your thanks. Is this something personal or just a philosophy about giving back or is it about patriotism?

It is something that was on opportunity that came up and we felt it would be a good experience and we thought it would be something that we felt would be a good thing to do and we just kept going with it. Certainly very rewarding.

When was that moment that you went from a band that toured in a van to being Rock Stars?

What is it like to play in a festival with such diversity in the musicians as is the case with FMMF?

It is hard to say. It is a weird thing. I still have this mentality that we really haven’t made it yet. We still feel like we are trying to get somewhere, so you never quite feel like a Rock Star really that you have gotten big or whatever, because I always feel like we are striving for more. The thing I do remember though really early on in our touring, was before we even moved to a bus, we were still in a van and things had really started to go really well for our band. We were just selling out shows on tour out of nowhere kind of like this wave swept over everybody. We were doing so much better than we thought we would and we went from thinking that we would go on tour and come back and do what we would have do to normally which is like go right back to working your job until the next tour and ask for a couple of weeks off. That is what we did normally, but this time when we got back we actually split up money and it was the first time we actually had money and we split it up and we thought, “Oh this is more profitable than if I had been home working.” That was a huge moment for me. We had definitely crossed over into some new territory here, that was very exciting.

I think it is really cool. A lot of times we end up doing festivals that are a little more of the punk rock side of things. We like that as well. But I think we all enjoy doing something like this because you get to see all types of bands and artists that are doing something different than you. St. Vincent is one of those artists that we are so excited that we are playing anywhere near her.

Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

We agreed that this will be an amazing gathering and as we were ending our interview, I couldn’t help but wonder if we could expect Adam Lazzara to bust out his microphone skills of looping it over the crowd at FMMF. “I think that is pretty likely because he will be feeling the crowd. We are very excited to be there and to play for everyone.” Indeed, we are all thinking that very same thing.

Pure Ethereal Original Music

Millions of people all over the world escape into the world of music as their own little Fortress of Solitude or use it as a vehicle through which to express a side of themselves. This is mostly true of the music that hails from Country and Blues. While blues today retains much of the integrity of its origins, country is a more modern invention that is a fusion of many earlier genres, including blues itself. Harmonically sophisticated but in its essence it is the pure, ethereal, original music originating from camaraderie only those who have struggled can understand. And only in those moments, do moments become so gripping that the music also takes hold in our hearts and on our playlists and as choices of who to see at this musical extravaganza.

Fashion Meets Music Festival â&#x20AC;&#x201D; September 5th & 6th, 2015

Written in Allen Stone

ALLEN STONE

Words: Jaclyn Miller

It’s not every day that a small town preacher’s son evolves into a critically-acclaimed, chart-topping R&B Soul singer/songwriter, but 28-year-old Allen Stone certainly beat the odds. I had the pleasure of speaking with the lovably whimsical musician while on tour in Atlanta and was able to gain some insight on his fascinating musical journey. Growing up in Chewelah, Washington — a town of less than 2,600 people, Stone was introduced to music at the ripe age of three when he started singing in his father’s church. Being primarily exposed to Christian worship songs, his world profoundly transformed when he discovered soul music as a teen. Instantly falling in love with the styling’s of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and other legendary 60’s and 70’s R&B artists, he began collecting classic soul albums and incorporating them into his musical repertoire. It wasn’t until he spent a semester at Moody Bible Institute — a Christian college in Spokane, Washington, that Stone experienced the trans-formative realization that Christianity no longer reflected his personal beliefs and therefore, was not the musical genre he wanted to pursue. He knew that his heart was in R&B music, and that was where he needed to channel his craft. Raised in a religious household,

Image: Jeff Forney this transition was initially not the easiest for his parents to accept, but Stone explains that his relationship with his parents has since evolved as they have become more accepting of his choice. “I told my dad at one point — my music IS my ministry — to put it into his terms,” Stone says referring to his performances as “a kind of church that isn’t caught up in rules and regulations, sexism, and homophobia, but one that’s about enjoying oneself, loving freely, and expression through musicbut it’s still the same concept.” It wasn’t long after Stone moved to Seattle to pursue music that his career took off. The young and talented “hippie with soul” has put out three remarkable full-length albums, the most recent being “Radius,” released this past June. Over the course of his career, he has performed on almost every late-night talk show in addition to collaborating with Andy Grammar, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, and several other world-renown musicians. Although his resume is exceedingly impressive, he lists his greatest accomplishment as opening for his idol, Stevie Wonder, in France last year. “I love that guy,” he gushes, “He’s the dude of all dudes — the personification of love and light and happiness.” Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

Stone’s live performances have become true testament to his “ministry” as he consistently strives to create an atmosphere of enjoyment, freedom, and acceptance. Masterfully performing lighthearted songs dense in socially aware ideals, Stone constantly encourages listeners to think differently. “I want [the audience] to feel comfort outside of their comfort zone.” He explains. When he isn’t wooing a crowd with his soulful riffs you can guarantee Stone is making good use of his free time. The Washington native enjoys fishing at his house on the lake, cooking, and “just about anything involving a human connection.” Just recently, Stone teamed up with Uber and spent the day cruising around Seattle getting to know his fans. “It was a blast,” he admits suddenly laughing to himself, “If music doesn’t work out, I know I have a career elsewhere.” I, for one, suggest Allen Stone stick with music, for his tremendous talents would be sinful to waste. With pure soul in his voice and a message in his heart, I highly anticipate this Stone rolling into Columbus come September.

ASTLE

Blues Rockin’ with Castle Creek Words: Jaclyn Miller

Blues- Rock music will unquestionably never be the same after powerhouse singer, Kim Monroe and guitar guru, Chris Eves are through with it. These two incredible talents compose the jammin’ dynamic duo that is Castle Creek. It was my absolute pleasure to chat with these remarkably witty and down-to-earth musicians on an April afternoon prior to their Columbus gig at Rumba Cafe. Both natives of Syracuse, NY, the two experienced a rather serendipitous meeting a few years ago at the wedding of a mutual friend. Chris was playing piano with the wedding band, while Kim, best friend of the bride, was invited onstage to sing at the reception. Chris was instantly blown away by Kim’s incredible vocal range and stage presence, immediately seeing potential in the young starlet. A simple Facebook message set the duo’s wheels in motion.

Kim truly felt the pressure to step up. Knowing only three of their songs on guitar, Kim certainly rose to the occasion. After successfully playing a few gigs as a pair, their potential became undeniable. “Castle Creek” is the fascinating product of two completely contrasting musical backgrounds. With Chris growing up with jam bands such as Phish and The Allman Brothers, and Kim with R&B/ soul legends like Etta James and Christina Aguilera, the two individuals can each offer something stylistically that the other cannot. “We have a common background, but then we have some diverging influences that we can bring to the table- each of us,” Chris explained.

It was not long after that Kim began to sing background vocals for the blues-rock band Chris was playing in called “Wild Honey.” During this time, Chris took Kim under his wing and encouraged her to work toward her full musical potential. “He taught me everything musically that I know,” stated Kim matter-of-factly. She explained that Chris, unlike producers she had worked with in the past, acted as an encouraging teacher and coach all while allowing her to learn at her own pace. It wasn’t until Wild Honey’s guitarist left the band that

It is Kim and Chris’ ability to fuse rock n’ roll with rhythm and soul that has made them so appealing to crowds nationwide. Their modern bluesrock style is greatly influenced by the great husband-and-wife duo, “Tedeschi Trucks.” Kim gushed: “When I saw them live it was like angels started singing… [Susan Te

REEK deschi] is everything I aspire to be in a powerhouse singer and amazing guitar player… I realized this is where blues-rock is at.” The pair also finds inspiration through classic rock vinyl’s including The Beatles and Eric Clapton as well as anything with light humor to aid their creative process. Castle Creek’s authentically gritty style combined with original lyrics and audio engineering make them impossible to overlook. When it comes to songwriting, their creative process is a tad less than conventional. Kim describes their lyrics as a “stream of consciousness” about whatever is currently going on in their lives. Often times their songs are actually written over the phone. “I’ll play a riff for her over the phone, and she’ll text back a novel of lyric ideas.” Chris explained. While Chris and Kim, for the most part, perform all of their production themselves, they did take their latest album, “The Only Life,” to be mixed and mastered by Zac Brown Band bass player, Matt Mangano, at Southern Ground studios in Nashville. Besides getting the rare opportunity to work with a renowned producer and musician, Kim and Chris received an extra surprise.

Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

Image: Keith Tracy

While in the studio recording, they discovered that the Foo Fighters were secretly recording a project in the next room over, and if you listen close enough, you can hear the legendary rockers in the background of Castle Creek’s “Saddest Love Song.” When I asked the twosome about the significance of the band name they shared a smirk. “It just kept showing up,” Chris said. “I like to think of it as the nexus of our universe wherever we play.” The two had toyed around with several name ideas, but after consistently seeing a “Castle Creek” in almost every city they toured, the name, in a way, chose itself. “…And it was better than ‘Yellow Snow’” concluded Chris. Castle Creek has effortlessly captivated crowds from Maine to Texas with their rare soul meets rock n’ roll style and dynamic musical skill set. Because Blues-Rock is a rather unexplored musical territory, it just might be the one thing the Columbus music scene is lacking. This year’s Fashion Meets Music Festival goers should prepare to be rocked into the night as these two gems flawlessly perform the uniquely soulful jams they never knew they needed.

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Fashion Meets Music Festival â&#x20AC;&#x201D; September 5th & 6th, 2015

The Revolution of Rhythmic Sound

was driven by growing technological possibilities, machine aesthetics and funky electronic rhythms. Young originators of this sound melded electro-funk, synth-pop influences with futuristic synths and captivating dance beats to yield a harmonic, mechanistic and youthfully stimulating sound that sparked an electronic craze all over the world. Rhythmic rockers are one of the countless brilliant musical thinkers out there. They entice listeners, calling them to their feet and bounce around to the beat all night long. Get up and dance and let your bodies be snatched by these artists at the festival.

Fashion Meets Music Festival â&#x20AC;&#x201D; September 5th & 6th, 2015

AWOLNATION Going AWOL for a Day Words: Jaclyn Miller

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the intimate and lively Cleveland House of Blues, I silently peered around the buzzing, sold-out amphitheater digesting the scene. The surrounding crowd was fairly diverse, unlike many that I’d seen. I observed a row of rowdy high school boys lined up behind me, a giddily intoxicated hairdresser from Pittsburgh to my left, and a father and son duo on my right. Briefly chatting with the dad, I learned Awolnation was his son’s all-time favorite band, and this concert was a gift for his ninth birthday. As the antsy crowd chanted “A-WOL, A-WOL” in resounding unison, I glanced down at the child beside me sporting a newly-purchased concert t-shirt and eyes full of sincere anticipation. Although he appeared strikingly out of place compared to surrounding spectators, I knew he was more prepared than anyone in that room for a soon-to-be unforgettable experience. A few hours earlier, I found myself in a panic driving in circles around downtown Cleveland in desperate search of a parking spot. After sprinting three blocks to the House of Blues and navigating through winding backstage hallways, I abruptly found myself face-to-face in a dressing room with the 36-year-old lead singer of Awolnation, Aaron Bruno. Apologizing for my tardiness and lack of breath, we dove right into conversation. His eyes looked tired- sunken in from overexertion, but revealing an eminent spark of excitement for tonight’s show. “We’re hitting the 6-week mark where you’d usually go insane,” he explained referring to his current tour with Parade of Lights and Family of the Year, “but there’s a good family vibe, so I can’t complain- it’s great.” Since the March 2015 release of Awolnation’s highly anticipated second album, Run, the LA-

Image: Tiera Suggs born, critically-acclaimed musician has been fullspeed ahead. Aaron refers to this album as his “sophomore freak-out record,” elaborating on the combination of freedom and pressure he felt to live up to the hype of this first and certified-Gold album, Megalithic Symphony. He tells me that he has always been fascinated by popular musicians’ approaches to creating follow-up albums knowing that they are ultimately bound to either succeed triumphantly or flop. “With Run there was this different type of anticipation- or anticipation at all- and I knew I had an audience and a home for these songs that I had written, so it gave me a different type of confidence, artistically, to push it even further…and also a terrifying responsibility at the same time.” Run has certainly been held under the microscope of critics, triggering responses from polar ends of the spectrum. Aaron admits that, as a musician, he constantly has to be prepared for haters and negativity, but the media scrutiny and harsh reviews can, often times, be unfair and frustrating. “From what I read, [Run] was either the best thing I had ever written or done in life or just someone pissed off that I’m even trying to make music like this,” he muses. “Looking back now I feel really satisfied by the reactions, because they were extreme one way or the other and definitely brought out passion, and that’s what I’m looking to do.” As an 80’s kid born in Los Angeles, Aaron grew up in the very heart of the hard-rock, punk-grunge music scene. Previously a member of Home Town Hero, Under the Influence of Giants, and Insurgence, it’s no mystery Aaron’s passion lies in music with a dark edge. “Dark music makes me feel good,” He states matter-of-factly. “Often times when I’m sad, I’m not looking to find an uplifting, happy song, I’m more ‘misery loves company,’ so Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

I’ll put on Radiohead’s OK Computer album, and it makes me feel good.” This dark, yet optimistic mentality is constantly present in Aaron’s songwriting and music in general. “I just think the balance between good & evil and dark & light is what makes us tick.” Aaron reflects on the writing of “Sail,” Awolnation’s most popular track to date. He describes the song as a journal entry, written in just one hour, during one of the darkest points in his life. “It just kind of came out of me like this weird, weird miracle…I remember sitting down to write the lyrics on a piece of paper and my pen not being able to write as fast as the ideas were coming out of me.” Little did he know this hauntingly powerful, chorus-less ballad would soon be his claim to fame, spending the second-longest amount of time on the “Billboard Hot 100” chart and reaching just about every ear across the globe. Hearing Aaron’s story, I couldn’t help but feel moved that such a dark and hopeless period of his life would ultimately inspire his most remarkable achievement. Standing amongst Awolnation’s sold-out crowd that evening, I found myself gazing, wide-eyed, at the man I’d just spoken to. Feeding off the palpable energy in the room, Aaron performed with the utmost soul and vigor- dancing and wailing as if telling a timeless story. As the crowd cheered wildly, and the show came to an end, he humbly took a seat center-stage with knees pulled to his chest, and stared, awe-stricken, into a sea of admirers. I instinctively looked down at the dumbfounded nine-year-old at my side and suddenly felt a pinch of envy. A few years from now, when reflecting on the memory of his very first concert, he would be fortunate enough to look back at this incredible moment, and that was nothing short of a beautiful thing.

REPTILE FICTION

Experimental Electronic Journey Words: Ria Greiff

Benji Robinson is a one man dynamo. He does vocals, keyboard and percussion for his band Reptile Fiction. He is a self-described electronic musician from Columbus, Ohio. His music is inspired by 1980s music, pop-culture & video games. Benji will also tell you that the music that emerged on the scene in the 80’s actually came from the video games and not the other way around. I recently sat with him and his music partners, a midi controller and a drum machine for a very pleasant interview during the monsoons of the summer of ‘15’ in Cbus. We discussed his plans for FMMF and his music amongst a large pile of delicacies from a very popular local cafe with a pouncing fox. You are very prolific in your music production. What is your process?

Musically, I am a drummer first and foremost. So a lot of it comes in rhythm form first. I’ll usually either think of a baseline or percussion riff and I’ll build the song from there. I played in a band as a drummer and I still have a drum set at home but this is my first foray as a frontman. Where do you source your cover art?

I do a lot of it myself. I like to use tones and colors that I think look like that are from the 80’s, really bright. I did have one that my friends designed and payed her to let me use it. Bree Manahan from Deviant Art for some of them. How did you get started?

It was me and my friend playing drums and he was always the frontman but he moved to Denver. I still wanted to keep making music, so I decided to go ahead and start writing music, and it turned into this electronic 80’s fun synth stuff, which I had

always been fond of. When I was younger, I did that instrumentally. Now I also have added vocals too. I wanted to use vocals again of that age, so I listed and got inspiration from David Bowie, Human League, New Order and Pet Shop Boys. I love the 80’s inspiration. What draws you to this music?

A lot of it is probably from playing video games from the 80’s. The music actually came from the video games. That was my bridge into electronic music from the era. Games influenced the music rather than vice versa. I am a bit of a retro game enthusiast. I have an original NES and 40 some games from the system. Super Mario Brothers for example. The music soundtracks from those games inspire a lot of my music. Tell us about the last show you did and the first show you did.

My first show was at Rumba cafe. I had no intentions to play live, just put it out on the internet for people to listen to and enjoy, but this band called Laser Background from Philly emailed me and said they heard my music on BandCamp and they said, “Hey would you like to open for us?” I said to myself no, but of course I said yes. I wasn’t ready, but I had a month to put something together and well I figured out how to put a live show together. Just figured it out really quickly. I was so nervous that I could have started a half hour earlier (laughing). I was relieved it was over when but glad I did the show. The only way to get better at this is to keep doing it. So I kept doing shows, took some time to write some new music. I worked on a movie soundtrack with a friend, doing some side Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

Images: Tiera Suggs projects and stuff. Then I got back into doing live shows in the fall of 2013, and was doing a show every month, my last one being at Ruby Tuesday. Really fun venue, a gem here in Columbus. I was happy to have played in it. We played with a Canadian Band Kirby Tosh and a local band called Sweet Teeth. They are in the kind of same realm as me of being guitar driven but a little more psychedelic with the electronic elements in it. Of course I want to talk about the dress that is on the cover of FMMF magazine. Can you explain that?

Local Sound is full of sampled elements from around the city and I make the sound effects part of the rhythm of the songs themselves. Trying to make them a little bit different like an experimental electronic journey. So the dress is a capture of the actual visual wave form and Celeste (Malvar Stewart) was able to put the wave form into the laser on the dress. The wave form you see on your iPhone recorder here for example. It is the same thing. In others dresses they will be stitched on and other different mediums or methods to include the music on the clothing. Dyes perhaps. It seems that there isn’t anything Benji can’t do. Reptile Fiction is just what you hear. He added, “I do a lot of composing and recently created a video game soundtrack with Chris Topher and the Biscuit Brigade. He found me from my random video game songs I made on Instagram and he approached me about a project.” That seems to be how it goes with him. People just keep finding him through the internet. Call him, he doesn’t seem to need to call you. He’s too busy with his chaos pad.

The

FMMF

Fusion

Forum

‘MAKE IT’ IN MUSIC AND FASHION A full day of discussion and education around ‘making it’ in the music & fashion business.

$15 general $10 student Scholarships available to attend for FREE

Wednesday August 12th, 2015 11– 4pm Gateway Film Center 1550 N High St

The Fusion Foundation is the charitable arm of the Fashion Meets Music Festival. Our mission is to provide time, talent, networking, and financial support to emerging fashion and music artists who are working to transform their ideas into reality.

Pop-up Fashion Marketplace featuring local designers. No item over $100. Directly following the forum | 5–9pm FREE

For tickets and more information visit:

fusionfoundation.us

ashion Meets Music Festival is here to not only provide you with unforgettable entertainment from the best bands and fashion designers Columbus, the nation and the industry has to offer you, but also make sure you’re entertained between sets and runway shows. No one wants to stand around waiting for an act to soundcheck or a model to finish hair and makeup, so we brought activities for everyone to enjoy when there’s a break in the main attractions. Capture your favorite festival moments on camera or tweet out your reaction to some avant-garde fashion designs, and enjoy amazing food and beverage selections from local food trucks and national breweries. When all is said and done for the night you can even catch a ride home with our friends over at Uber. FMMF aims for a memorable festival experience, so we made sure to cover all the bases. Head over to fmmf.us for more details on all the weekend-long activities that we have to offer and upgrade to VIP for the most upscale and up-close experience Fashion Meets Music Festival provides.

GUIDELINES • • •

•

No drugs, weapons, fireworks, or explosives No glass containers, metal aerosol cans, outside food & drink Small backpacks and purses are permitted, however, large hiking style or framed backpacks are not permitted Professional DSLRs and cameras with a detachable lens will not be permitted at the outdoor festival locations After Party Showcase venues will have specific limitations for cameras, which can be found by contacting the specific venues Check out our full list of guidelines at fmmf.us/festival-info

Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

FESTIVAL HOURS Sat 9/5 & Sun 9/6 Noon – Midnight Arena District

FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE HOURS 10:00 AM – 9:30 PM *INCLUDES AFTER PARTY TICKET REDEMPTION

Outdoor Music 1:00 PM – 11:00 PM Stella Artois Stage iHeartRadio Stage Jagermeister Stage Fashion Tent 12:30 PM – 9:00 PM After Party Showcases 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM Park Street Complex 533 Park St *AFTER PARTY TICKETS CAN BE REDEEMED AT PARK STREET BEGINNING @ 9:00 PM

Saturday Schedule

FASHION MEETS MUSIC FESTIVAL Fashion TENT

12PM

STAGE

STAGE Ledges Kendra Thomas Katelyn McClain Betsy Judd

Let It Happen Northern Whale

2PM Devil’s Lettuce

Esther Myong Hall Castle Creek Cierra Lauren Bridal Lydia Hopmann

Swell Tides

machineheart

4PM

Narrow/Arrow

SOJA

The Outer Vibe Carry Me Forward

Kid Runner Ludacris

6PM

Allen Stone Marc Scibilia

Nick D’ & The Believers

8PM

Kahindo Mateene Rachel Platten

O.A.R.

The One & Only PPL MVR Linda Rowe Thomas

9PM ZZ Ward

10PM

Reptile Fiction Celeste Malvar-Stewart

Michael Drummond

Young The Giant

11PM

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT FMMF.US LINE-UP AND SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

Sunday Schedule

FASHION MEETS MUSIC FESTIVAL Fashion TENT

12PM

STAGE

STAGE CCAD Activewear Bend Active Heart Of It All

2PM

Chaz French Andy Grammer

Mike Mains & The Branches

Our Vintage Film

3PM 4PM

Captiva

Carbon Tigers Playing To Vapors

Bahamas Northern Faces

6PM

Fashion Meets Music Collective

The Nearly Deads

Student Design Competition Bryston Walters Cierra Lauren RTW Competition Results

Lights Milo Greene Captain Kidd Patrick T Cooper

7PM 8PM

Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness Vacationer

Taking Back Sunday

9PM 10PM

Joshua Christensen

AWOLNATION

St. Vincent

11PM

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT FMMF.US LINE-UP AND SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Fashion Meets Music Festival â&#x20AC;&#x201D; September 5th & 6th, 2015

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sunday-thursday 5-close friday & saturday 5-7pm

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* only on the breezeway & at the bar *

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Fashion Meets Music Festival — September 5th & 6th, 2015

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Fashion Meets Music Festival â&#x20AC;&#x201D; September 5th & 6th, 2015