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TA M A R A S T Y E R editor@deitramag.com
M AT T L O V E L A N D
S O P H I E AY D T
KRISTEN LENTZ
KENDRA LANE
K R I S TA C R O N I N
ROCKY YOUNG
ALEXIS OAKLEY
LESLIE TUCKER
Deitra Magazine is published by Deitra, LLC. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Subscriptions One year for $29.95 in the U.S. and possessions; $39.95 for Canada and $65.00 for all other destinations. Payment in U.S. funds must accompany Canadian and international orders. Subscription orders are directed to deitramag.bigcartel.com. For inquiries or letters to the editor, email editor@deitramag.com. Advertising and Sponsorship For advertising and sponsorship opportunities, or to receive a media kit, write to us at advertise@deitramag.com. PRINTED IN THE USA.
DM
r c a r t i de I had the pleasure of working on the cover shoot and part of the Sister Sirens shoot. I love how naturally talented these beauties are. They make my job easy styling their hair, and are incredibly sweet. Everyone that has been involved are down to earth, easy going and have such passion and excitement for what they do. Plus it’s always a blast giggling almost nonstop with Tam & Matt! Can’t Leave Home Without: A little bit of makeup, and especially in the summer my oil blotter sheets. Those are a must! Last Movie I Watched: Getting to see Captain America 3 in theater the night before my wedding was the best! Power Lunch: Stephen Amell would be awesome to power lunch with. He’s a very easy person to chat with, and it’d be intriguing listening to his winery business plans, the projects he’s been a part of and hearing about his adorable family!
kristen
matt
Facebook: KristenAtSalonPlus Instagram: @k_stylist72515
I’ve done almost all the photos for this issue! I think my favorite part for this issue was doing the Sister Sirens fashion shoot down in Branson! I mean, spend time with friends, soak in the sun and work with a couple of gorgeous models? Oh, hell yeah! It was fun! Can’t Leave Home Without: Either music or my planner! I always have to listen to music! But I pretty much always need it since I’m nearly always on the go! Last Album I Listened To: The Devil and The End by Randall Shreve & The DeVilles and Phases by Luna Jamboree. Favorite Rock Star: Freddie Mercury.
Facebook: Matt Loveland Photography Instagram: @the_old_soul Twitter: @DeitraMagPhotos
I did music reviews for this issue of Deitra. What I loved about it was the chance to listen to some local music that I had not had the opportunity to hear yet. It allowed me to dissect music and really dive into what each musician/singer was doing. Current Fashion Trend: I have a slight jeans fetish and I am a sucker for a good pair of skinny jeans. Can’t Leave Home Without: My headphones. Album: Currently obsessed with Dopamine by BØRNS. Binge Watch: F•R•I•E•N•D•S! Always FRIENDS. Best show ever made. Superpower: Definitely flying.
kendra
Facebook: Kendra Lane Instagram: @loveandhere Twitter: @loveandhere
sophie
I got the opportunity to sit down with my newest pals Bradley and Brett from Brother Brother for a Deitra interview. Also, I shot my very first cover photo during the most amazing Madonna inspired photo shoot! Current Fashion Trend: Wearing cute socks and high heels together. Album: Currents by Tame Impala. Sign: I’m such a Scorpio it’s almost scary. Jung Myers-Briggs: I’m an ENFP, which stands for Extravert, iNtuitive, Feeling, & Perceiving, just like one of my idols, Hunter S. Thompson!
Instagram: @sophiathefreak Twitter: @Sofasaurus Snapchat: sophiecailin
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I was the makeup artist for both of Deitra’s Sister Sirens shoots. I had so much fun working with the magazine’s photographer, models and amazing editor! Who knew work could be so fun? Current Beauty Trend: Matte lipsticks! Album: Lemonade by Beyoncè. Book: Yes Please by Amy Poehler. Instagram: @makeupbyalexisoakley or @alexisoakley Twitter: @alexisssoakley
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rocky
Hello readers! My name is Rocky Young and I will be a new contributor to Deitra Magazine, which I am extremely excited about. I will be covering local, regional and national music artists, issues, events and shows. Sign: Capricorn! Favorite Holiday: Halloween. Past Life: I like to think that in a past life I was a comedian, which I love to remind my friends of. Superpower: Invisibility. Super Hero: Spider-Man. Time Travel: If I could time travel to one place it would be to pre-historic times to see the dinosaurs. Facebook: Rocky Young Instagram: @itsrockyyoung Twitter: @ItsRockyYoung
My recent assignment for Deitra was to photograph a band from Kansas City called Attic Light. Concert photography has been my passion for the past few years so when I was asked to contribute to the issue, I did not hesitate to say yes! I enjoy sharing my photos as well as helping readers discover some new music. Last Local Show I Went To: Me Like Bees and Never Shout Never from Joplin, MO! Last Album I Listened To: A metal band called Shattered Sun. Last Movie I Saw: The Neon Demon. If you’re a photographer or model or just someone who likes art, this is the movie to watch. Sign: I am 100% Scorpio! Jung Meyers Briggs: INTJ.
leslie
Facebook: Leslie Tucker - Photography Instagram: @lezlijean
I was the makeup artist for Sophie’s shoot. Sophie is absolutely gorgeous and she is such a sweet person. I loved turning her into a 90s Madonna. Old school makeup is so much fun to do and to wear. Current Beauty Trend: I’m loving those rainbow highlighting pans that are out right now. You use a narrow brush, load it up, swipe your cheekbones, and you’re left with a glowy rainbow across your face. It’s so much fun! Freaky Friday: I would love to live like Kevyn Aucoin for a day. He’s my favorite makeup artist ever. He has unfortunately passed on, but the work he did was incredible. Childhood Aspirations: I wanted to be a mermaid. I loved that movie “Splash” in the 80s.
krista
Facebook: Krista’s Beauty and Bliss Instagram: @kristasbeautyandbliss
wanna contribute to deitra? send your ideas along with a short bio and why you’d like to contribute to editor@deitramag.com.
11
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2016 HAS BEEN AN amazing year for me. Earlier this Spring, I moved with my other half to Branson, Missouri and subsequently launched a new magazine called Branson Foodie. Moving to Branson has been one of the most awesome decisions we’ve made, and we have since been enjoying the scenic beauty of the rolling hills around Tablerock Lake and Lake Taneycomo. We’ve partaken in the vast variety of shopping, as well as the brighter attractions of the Branson Strip. Above all, we’ve enjoyed the food and exploring our new hometown for every last culinary treasure. And it has all been a complete blast! It has been six months since I last printed an issue of Deitra. Even though it’s a quarterly publication, I took some extra time
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to launch the new magazine, as well as really polish the new issue of Deitra. With the change of location comes a change of scenery and pace, and all of it has simply supercharged me. There are so many wonderful things that I want to share with you all, and this issue is just the beginning. It has the most fashion and music I’ve ever put into one issue, and together with my crew of amazing contributors, we have put our hearts and souls into it. I want to take a moment to encourage you all to really do what you love. That’s the entire point behind Deitra: to inspire and encourage people to bring their creative ideas to fruition. I love expressing myself through the pages of Deitra with designing and directing photo shoots, as well as interviewing and writing about musicians and artists who inspire me. But the thing that really melts my butter is to see someone doing what they love and moving toward their goals without hesitation. It’s a scary world out there, but if you put your intentions in the right place, you can make any dream become a reality. It takes hard work, steadfastness and an incredible amount of energy to do what I do. But I spent fifteen years working in every aspect of the journalism and publishing world, learning everything that I could from every source imaginable. I spent all of those fifteen years wondering how I could ever possibly own my own magazine. Well, now I’ve created two. I want to encourage you all that if you have an idea in your mind, and you have a burning passion in your heart, figure out your own way to make it happen. Be resourceful, never listen to nay-sayers, never try to move upward by tearing others down, think outside the box to create new paths and always be kind to others. Keep an open heart and an open mind. When one door closes, a better one always opens. Do everything with love, my friends, and you will have the good things that your heart desires. I love you all, and thank you for being a part of my journey. I hope to inspire you in yours!
Love,
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fash deitra special edition feature
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chasing pictures
AFTER STARTING THEIR BAND in 2011, alternative Indie rock band Chasing Pictures paved the way to finding their true sound. The band is made up of songwriter / lead vocalist / guitarist Layne Twist, guitarist Travis Coursey, drummer Ryan Aston and bassist Kendra Lane, who was also featured in Issue 11 of Deitra Magazine. With collective rock influences such as Foo Fighters, Thrice, Jimmy Eat World, Smashing Pumpkins and Silver Sun Pickups, this band out of Fayetteville, Arkansas stands out among the jam and metal bands in their area. Currently working on a new 10 song LP with Adam Putman of Insomniac Studios, Chasing Pictures traveled to Branson, Missouri to hang out with Deitra Magazine in Historic Downtown and chat about their past, present and future.
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Deitra Mag: How long has Chasing Pictures been together? Layne Twist: We’ve been together for five DM: That shows a lot of maturity in a band when you can wait until everything years. Since then the rest is history, trying to find our sound and write music and start playing is polished and pick and choose your songs. And it’s hard to pick and choose your songs because you want to like all of them. shows. Kendra Lane: Travis sent me a message on Facebook, and he asked if I was playing with anybody. I was like, “No!” And he was like, “I’ve got a great opportunity.” So I went out and jammed with them one night, and the next day they were like, “Do you wanna play with us?” And I’m like, “Yes I do! I wanna join!”
Travis: A lot of that came from failed previous projects thinking we were ready to play live just because we wanted to and all our friends wanted us to. Kendra: We’ve been recording during that time working on a new album that’s gonna come out this summer, and we’re excited because we’ve really started to play again. Just this January we really hit it hard and we’ve been playing nonstop.
DM: Do you love playing live more than recording? Layne: I was excited about having a girl in the Travis: Both. band. I’m a huge fan of Smashing Pumpkins and D’arcy (Wretzky) is like really sexy, and just Layne: I like recording, personally. having that kind of personality in the band is definitely different, especially for our area. And I’ve always liked incorporating more of a female Kendra: They’re both really fun! voice into the vocal melodies and stuff like that. Layne: You get different feelings from both. You get like this gratification from playing live in front of people and just having that response and knowing that other people Travis Coursey: But something else we did a little differently is we practiced for almost a year like our music. But going into the studio, it’s like the sky’s the limit. There are just no rules in the studio, it’s all about creating and kind of enhancing things. If you get before we played a show. It was three times a ideas, put it down, whatever makes the music better. week every week. We didn’t miss a week, and we wanted to really gel and form that chemistry with one another. We also wanted to come onto DM: What are your musical backgrounds? the scene just already swinging and ready. You Layne: I started playing music in a Christian band. I think all of us did. A lot of us can know, like who in the heck is this band? say that we come from a family where music was kind of a staple. My dad was the Layne: It was tough. The itch was always there, one who got me into music, and I was just always around it, so it’s what I ran to when like the last band I was in we had maybe eight I got older. songs in like three years. And all we ever played Ryan Aston: Both of my parents were music graduates at college, so my dad was a was those eight songs. And the next band I band director and my mom was an assistant band director as well. was gonna be in I wanted to do things a little bit differently and kind of prepare things better, so when we actually start playing there’s more Kendra: My dad played drums in a couple of bands and at church when I was growing up, and when I got older he then transitioned to playing bass. So now my of a welcoming in that whole scene. Because brother is Mr. Drummer and I’m the bass player. And my dad’s mom, my grandmother in that time it was like we were competing who is no longer with us, she played everything. Guitar, piano, I mean no matter against jam bands, cover bands, metal bands what, she could play it. And I was like, that’s so cool. She’s a chick! and that’s really all there was. So I personally wanted to be in a band that was more melodic rock - alternative - because we don’t really have DM: I have many times asked this question to female members of all male that in the area we live in. But taking those eight bands, and I’ve since learned that it’s such a cliché question. So do you hate it when people ask what it’s like to be the chick in the band? or nine months to really review what songs were best for playing live versus the ones we didn’t think were strong enough. I just wanted to Kendra: It always makes me laugh. We’ve all become such close friends that they’re work through all the kinks and just try to polish like my brothers, so it’s like family. And the cool thing is that I’ve got such a great relationship with my real brother, that with these guys, it just comes really natural. everything to where when we got on stage it was more of like enjoying ourselves and having Layne: I think she keeps us in line. (Everyone laughs) I think we make it easy on her. fun rather than a job.
Travis: We’re very protective of her. Kendra: It’s like I have a whole posse of bodyguards. Layne: I think it’s awesome having that different element in the band. I’ve always been in bands with dudes, you know. Kendra: I appreciate it! I just mesh well playing in a band. We all get along and we know our number one passion and goal is for this band to succeed and to create great music that people really enjoy and latch onto. We all have that same goal, and that’s what we want to do. DM: What is your song writing process like? Layne: I’ve written songs as long as I can remember. It’s just kind of my thing. I’ll write even if we’re not discussing a new song, and I’m just like, “Hey, I did this over the weekend, check it out.” And they’re like, “Let’s play it.” That’s basically the easiest way to explain it. But I will say this, from the process of where I’ve started writing a song to where we’re playing it on stage, it does not sound the same. It becomes Chasing Pictures. I throw all the things I’m hearing on a demo track and then I give it to everybody and they run with it. Things are always going to change or kind of blossom into something different. It’s not just all me. It can’t be without them. I just put a skeletal structure out there.
Ryan: In the same sense, I would say you’re the foundation. And I say that in a good way. I think it’s important for a band to have a foundational member that really kind of dictates what the sound and direction of the band is going to be as a whole. You have little adjustments here and there made by the rest of the band, but you (Layne) are the glue, or the cement that holds everything together. And I think that’s good because you unify the vision. The sound is consistent. DM: Tell us about your previous albums, and how the new one is different. Travis: Our first EP has four songs on it, and we recorded it in 2011. We’re babies in that recording as far as Chasing Pictures as a whole. I feel like our sound has really matured over the years and the songs have really matured. The second recording that we released was probably about a year and a half after that and it was just one single. So it wasn’t really a record or an EP, we just wanted to throw something fresh out there. This current album is definitely more mature. Layne: We’re trying to be more true to the actual songs. In the beginning, for me it felt more processed. It was more like the band was rushing into things without really solidifying what parts to move forward with, what sounded good and what we wanted to put out. I think in the beginning everything was just happening so quick. After those nine months, we had a show, we had a CD, we had shirts, we had posters. I mean it’s kind of unusual for a band to play their first show ever, sell out a venue and have all this merchandise. But you can only ride on that carpet for so long.
Travis: Until we had found our identity, we were just kind of throwing ideas on that merch table and on the stage for songs, and now we have really developed a lot of that. We kicked songs that we thought were good but just weren’t us. Layne: I feel like we didn’t become who we are right now until, I hate saying this, but until we lost our other guitar player. It took a lot of pressure off of having to worry about someone else. When I started the band I was just singing, that’s all I did. I played some keyboard but mainly I focused on singing, and when we lost our guitar player I took on that role to play guitar and sing, and I feel like it’s helped. Being the one who wrote the song I know what needs to be there, and I think that’s what really helps with how we’ve moved from that sound to this sound, because it really is different. It’s kind of shifted to more raw, and it has a bigger sound to it. I felt like it was a rushed product before. There are things that are good about it, but it could have been better. Ryan: A lot of the original songs followed that traditional ABCB pattern, and a lot of the newer songs are breaking that mold. I feel like that’s kind of a safe pattern to fall into. Layne: With any band that you’re in, you’re going to discover something about yourself. Things are going to change about how you play. The way I sang four or five years ago is not the same way as I sing now. I feel like at this point we’re starting to fine tune. This is what we really meant to sound like. From the beginning, the potential was there, the talent was there. We had this guy throw us $10,000 to go and do whatever we wanted with it. We had to sign a contract, there was all this pressure behind it, but that’s not what I was in it for. I had just gotten out of a band that funded
everything out of our own pocket, and then next thing I know I’m signing my life away to something, and it just felt different. If felt rushed or processed, or like we were doing it for someone else. We weren’t doing it for ourselves, and I feel like now the music is true to what the band is, because we got rid of all that baggage. It’s just us now. So, it feels great. All the pressure is off. Kendra: Lessons learned, that’s what that is. Layne: I think we’re in a happy state right now, and we feel good about where we are as a band, and we just want to stay busy. This album sounds like us. When you hear the album and then you see us live, it sounds just like us. We’re just trying to be real. DM: What’s coming for the future of Chasing Pictures? Layne: We want to expand our reach right now. I think what’s important to us is building a following in the region. Our main goal is to play as many shows as possible, to get as many people to listen to us, to make as many connections as possible. That’s my focus. I just want to build and network. It’s kind of hard to say that we’re all chasing that rock star dream. I feel like that’s a little unrealistic right now. All I care about is just people digging our music, really, and when we play a show our friends are there. And that’s basically what it is, just friends and people you’ve met. I will say that what I enjoy most about playing is the random people you end up meeting that you never thought you would meet. You’ll have those connections for the rest of your life. We’ve got everything else in place where we can focus on that now. It should have been our focus the whole time.
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jade
ELECTRONIC POP BAND JADE is made up of siblings Jordan Gabriel, Josh Gabriel and Jasmine Gabriel. With their cool interpretive music video for their debut single, “Heart Stealer,” an album on the way donning the same title and plans for yet another music video, this trio is pioneering the alternative Indie pop scene in their hometown of Branson, Missouri. Their presence on the scene only solidifies our intuitions that the landscape of Branson music is about to take a huge shift. The band’s music video for “Heart Stealer” turned our heads immediately with Jasmine’s sultry voice, her blonde mane blowing as she sings to us from a leather couch, interspersed with incredibly cool scenes of black lights reflecting glow in the dark paint splashed all over her face. The song itself is polished, catchy and could easily earn a place among the world’s Top 40 pop artists. This is the beginning of the new music scene in Branson, and it’s going to be huge. Deitra Magazine had the honor to chat with Jade about growing up in the entertainment town and their plans for “Heart Stealer.” DM: Tell us more about the album you’ve been working on. Is this your first project? Jordan Gabriel: It’s their first project. I’ve actually been DJing for a while now under the name Dietigo. I’ve been doing electronic since I was 16. For this project, I wrote “Heart Stealer,” which was the first song for the project. I needed a girl singer, so I decided to ask my sister, and it turned out so good. And then my brother (Josh) helped me produce it too. Our dad was like, “Why don’t you guys start a group together?” So we all decided to do it, and it would be cool because we’re all very close family. Josh Gabriel: He (Jordan) does the electronic part, she sings, I drum. He mixes certain electronic samples with my live kit. Jasmine Gabriel: And then I write all the lyrics and sing, so we all work together. Jordan: I’ll write the song at first and get the idea for it, and she’ll start singing and writing lyrics for it and then after that Josh will come and put in the drums. Then he and I will go into the studio for mastering and put it all together.
DM: The music video for “Heart Stealer” is really cool. Tell us about the experience. Jordan: It was intense. It was a lot of time. Jasmine: It was like an eleven hour day. Jordan: Yeah, we kept going, and it was nonstop figuring things out. Jasmine had to sing the song two times faster than what it was. It was intense. Jasmine: And then there was the black light. I got really sick after, actually, because of the fans blowing, and it took forever to get the paint out of my hair. I just recently got the last of it out, months later. It was horrible. DM: We really loved the video, as well as the song, so we’re looking forward to listening to the full EP. What’s coming up when it’s finished? Jordan: We’ll be sending it out to some people, trying to get it out to some record labels. Hopefully we’ll get signed. I know some people, so I will try to get it out to them. We’ll do a lot of promotion, and maybe get some shows coming up, and just go on from there. DM: Tell us some more about your musical backgrounds. Jasmine: I’ve been singing since I was two, because our dad is actually a big entertainer in Branson (Doug Gabriel), so we’ve all pretty much done that our whole lives and always been a part of it. Our dad is a really big influence in our lives as far as musically. I’ve been on stage since I was like seven days old, and then I’ve been singing since I was two. DM: What’s it like growing up in an entertainment town like Branson? Josh: It’s been awesome. We’ve seen it progress. Jordan: It’s definitely a good tool to help develop your style, being around music and being in front of crowds. Jasmine: Music is such a powerful thing, and such an amazing thing to grow up in. There’s a lot of entertainer kids around here. I think that music really connects people, and that’s why we’re so close in a way, because we all feel that and are able to relate.
DM: What about you, Josh, what’s your drumming background?
DM: How did you guys get the influence for your own unique sound being around these musical influences? Jordan: I started getting into electronic music whenever my cousins showed me in Arizona. I was like, whoa what is this? This is cool and different. I had never heard of it because it was low at that time. It wasn’t how it’s happening now. So I got into that. I used to write music similar to that, and I lost my program and just gave up. I just thought I was going to be a drummer, because I’m a drummer too. A couple years later I went to go see Deadmou5 live, and that was insane. When I saw how many people were going crazy and how many people were there, I was like this is what I want to do. I can do this, I used to do this. So I got my program back, started writing, started getting the sounds and I’ve been doing it ever since. That’s when Josh and Jasmine came into the picture. They’ve seen me do my shows before, and I needed a girl to sing really well, because that’s in a lot of electronic music. And then my parents decided to say, “Why don’t you guys do a group,” so I thought that’s not a bad idea. Why don’t we do a side project and try to do electronic pop, where we can get on the radio, maybe win some Grammys, hopefully get to that area at some point... That would be something. That’s my dream. Jasmine: We didn’t even really mean for this to happen until after we did “Heart Stealer.” He really wanted me to do just the one song. Josh: Well, he wrote “Heart Stealer” for somebody else. Jasmine: Yeah, I was like the last option and that’s true brothers right there. (Laughs) I was literally his last resort, and he was like, “Do you want to try doing something for this?” I was like… “Okay.” Jordan: And it turned out really well, and I was like, “Wow! Alright, that’s what I’m talking about!”
Josh: I’ve been drumming since I was two. I grew up with my dad here in town. I’ve lived here my whole life, almost 30 years now. I would always go to his shows when I was little. I would sit there and drum with straws on the edge of the seat, and I would try to mimic the drummer on stage. Then when I was six, that was the first time my dad let me get on stage and perform in front of the crowd. While I was in school I would drum in the show when I could, and then once I graduated high school, I became the full time drummer in the show, and I still am the full time drummer in the show. Jordan: Josh and I just came back not too long ago. We were in Nashville. I was producing stuff and he was drumming for different artists at the House of Blues Studio. We were there for two weeks. Josh: The console that we recorded on was the same console that recorded “Purple Rain.” And the room that we recorded in recorded “Great Balls of Fire.” So it was cool. It was a really fun project. We got to record over thirty artists, it was crazy. And actually while we were there, Jordan was working on some of the stuff for our band. Jordan: It was awesome. We got to use the mix board and stuff like that. It was different than what I’m used to. When you put the stuff through the sound boards there, your mixing is just incredible, and their speakers are better to mix on. It was a really amazing experience, and we’re really excited about the new stuff we’re working on. We can’t wait to get it released. Find Jade’s music video for “Heart Stealer” on YouTube, download the song on iTunes and check them out at facebook.com/officialjade. You can also find electronic tracks by Dietigo at soundcloud.com/dietigo.
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brother brothe INDIE FOLK DUO, BROTHER Brother takes the stage opening for big Branson acts. Spotted at a music festival in Florida by the one and only Jim Stafford, Bradley and Brett Anderson are riding the music wave to see where it takes them. With Bradley on guitar, Brett on banjo and both singing, it’s safe to say that their traditional take on Americana and folk music is here to stay.
Brett: Shower thoughts are the best. Deitra Mag: How old are you guys? Bradley Anderson: I’m 18 and Brett is 17. DM: You lived in Sarasota, Florida. What brought you to Branson, Missouri? Brett Anderson: We were playing a music festival in Florida - the Will McLean Folk Festival - in 2014 where we met Jim Stafford. He was there kind of incognito and we randomly met him there. Then we got to know him for about a year when he invited us up last year to play here in Branson as part of his show. About halfway through a year of playing here we were approached to start opening for The Magic and Comedy of Taylor Reed. Jim’s in Florida right now, but when he get’s back we’ll be performing in his show again as well. DM: Do you enjoy living in Branson?
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Bradley: Florida’s way different than here, but this has got its own culture and we’re really loving it. DM: What led you to form your band, Brother Brother? Bradley: Well, it was kind of different. Brett just randomly said he wanted a banjo, because that’s a normal thing for a nine year old to say. I had picked up a little bit of guitar. I think I was around 11 or 12 when I started. We never really thought about putting them together for a few years until Brett wanted some backup on something, and then that led to us playing backup for a group of four acapella sisters, and we were their backup band for a few years. Brett: After that, they actually moved to Colorado, so we didn’t have anything to do, so we decided to sing. We decided to learn how to sing. People still wanted us for gigs because they knew we were their backup band, but we didn’t sing anything, so we were kind of forced to learn how to sing. DM: Your Music has an alternative, Indie, folk, Americana vibe. Describe what that means to you. Brett: I would say… I was actually thinking about this in the shower this morning. Bradley: Just like, philosophically?
Bradley: (philosophical voice) What is Indie Folk? Sing unto me, Muse. Brett: Yeah, I was looking back at certain times. There has always been an American, Americana kind of music throughout every generation. I would say that this generation, that’s what it is. This kind of style… Bradley: The root sound of America? Brett: Yeah, it’s really coming back in force. I would say that’s how I like to think of it. Bradley: I totally agree, I think that’s right on. DM: Where do you see the band in the future, and how do you see yourself evolving? Brett: I guess the next step is the next step. We would like to create the next album as a studio production. The first album that we put out… Brett: We did it in our closet. Bradley: Yeah, it was self released, an independent production, so the next one that we do I would like to see come out of a studio. Perhaps Nashville, perhaps somewhere else. Hopefully we can tour extensively on it. That would be my short term goal. DM: What other interests besides music do you have? Bradley: I really love graphic design. Brett: He does all of the graphics for us. Bradley: That’s my thing other than music. I really love all forms of art, particularly visual art, and graphic design was something that I thought I might want to do. I tried it, and I loved it. I’ve been at it for a few years.
64 Brett: I’m kind of a book nerd a little bit. I like to sleep, that’s a big hobby of mine. DM: What kind of books do you like? Brett: I really like fantasy. Very, very Lord of the Rings fan. Bradley: Very fan. Brett: It was weird, because most kids my age, like two or three, wouldn’t be interested in The Lord of the Rings, but [the movies] came out a few months after I was born and I think I’ve seen all of them in theaters as a young one. So I was like, “This is my thing!” And after that, basically everything Lord of the Rings was me. DM: Are you working on any new songs or a new album at this time? Brett: We’re never not. Backstage during the show we’re usually writing. Either doing algebra or writing. Just backstage a few minutes ago we were writing a new one, and I think we’ve got close to 20 new ones and we just want to keep writing until we head to the studio for our next album. DM: What musicians did you listening to when you were growing up? Brett: Everything really. We were pretty much purposely exposed to every kind of music by our parents. Anything from rap to classical. Bradley: Everything. I really loved film scores growing up. I would listen with a film score on repeat for days on end. But we really did listen to anything. From classic rock and whatever’s on the charts to Zydeco or something weird. DM: What musicians do you listen to currently? Brett: For the past three or four months I’ve been getting into a lot of… Well I started with going through all of the classic rock, I moved up after that to a lot of Indie rock and now I’m going back to punk rock. This morning was Tokyo Police Club, The Strokes, stuff like that.
Bradley: I am a huge fan of a band out of Austin, Texas called the Oh, Hellos. I think they’re probably my favorite band ever. They’re really cool, they’re kind of an Indie folk act, and it’s a brother and sister so it’s really relatable to us. They write their albums as concept albums based on the works of C.S. Lewis. DM: If you guys had the opportunity to play at any venue in the world, where would it be? Brett & Bradley: Red Rocks, Colorado. Brett: It’s the coolest place ever. It’s this huge amphitheater made by nature. Bradley: The coolest bands ever have played there. DM: Who really inspires you? Brett: Mumford and Sons. What really made me want to perform as a band was Mumford and Sons. Bradley: I really like an artist called Julie Fowlis out of Scotland. She sings traditional Scottish Gaelic songs. Her story is super inspiring to me: her mother had a stroke I believe, and it was in the balance as to whether she would live or not. Julie had just finished high school or was early in college when she decided to take a year off from everything and just pursue music for one year because she said she saw the frailty of life when her mother had a stroke, and she just wanted to be able to live life for one year. If it bombed after that, forget it, but at least she did it. That one year turned into five, then 15, and here she is doing music. The message of her music is one of tradition, only one percent of Scotland speaks Gaelic. It’s really cool what she’s doing to keep things alive and her inspiration for doing music. DM: If you had the opportunity to explore genres, would you?
guitar, but it’s not my thing. I don’t really like it. I really like the banjo and it’s sound. I’m not saying that I would ditch the banjo, but I’d like to put the banjo into something else. I think that’d be fun. DM: What is the best memory you’ve had from the Brother Brother journey? Brett: That’s hard. Doing this has created some of the best memories I’ve ever had. Bradley: We kicked off the tour in Hollister on December 29th. We played at Vintage Paris [Coffee & Wine Cafe in Hollister, Missouri]. We exceeded the fire code for inside, so they made us move outside for the concert. We weren’t really prepared to play outside and it was super freezing. It was incredible, everyone chipped in to make this happen. Someone started randomly chopping wood, someone else made a fire, one person ordered pizza, somebody brought lawn chairs and made it all happen. It was like a huge party. It wasn’t all just about Brother Brother, It was about everyone. Brett: We truly didn’t think anyone would show up, and it was just incredible. Bradley: The pizza guy delivered the pizza and after he got off work he came to watch and brought all the leftover pizzas to hand out. DM: What inspires your lyrics? Brett: Everything. Anything from something that happened that day, or something that’s happening in life in specific moments. If I hear a good song it will inspire me to make something as good as that. DM: Who are your biggest supporters?
Bradley: I think we probably definitely would. We try a lot of different things songwriting, it’s like experimentation.
Bradley: I would say our parents. They’ve really been there for us and encourage us at every point. They’re super cool.
Brett: I think Bradley would probably do a lot of Celtic stuff.
DM: On stage you compliment each other so nicely and work together so well, do you get along outside of work?
Bradley: I would love to add some Celtic influence. Brett: Personally for me, I would probably go punk rock. We joke around about how we’re going to quit Brother Brother and start a punk rock band called the Doggos. But I love the banjo. I can play
Brett: We’re sharing a bedroom at the place we’re staying at right now, so we kinda have to get along. Bradley: He’s a cool guy, I wouldn’t trade him. Brett: I wouldn’t… trade me either.
DM: Were the banjo and guitar your first instruments? Brett: I was three when I started the piano, but I dropped that because it was a little too formal for me, so I picked up the banjo at 9. Bradley: I started the drums at about age 8. Brett plays this weird conglomeration of instruments: banjo, guitar, bass, a little drums, mandolin, glockenspiel, all sorts of stuff. Brett: Bradley also plays more than just the guitar, he plays the drums, but he also plays the drums very well. He doesn’t brag about it very much, but he does play very well. He’s good on the bass and mandolin. I think he’s much more humble than I am, and he’s really kind of the backbone of the operation. If Bradley wasn’t here there would be no music, but if I wasn’t here the music wouldn’t be any good. You’re the driver, but I’m definitely the navigator. Bradley: This is true, you’re the shaper. DM: Do you guys have any tips or advice for anyone who is wanting to start their own band? Bradley: I love playing with other bands. Probably the most fun about music is playing it with people. You can do more playing music with someone than just talking to someone.
Brett: If there is anyone who thinks they maybe would want to play an instrument, do it. It’s the most fun way to express yourself without having to prove anything to anyone. It’s a way to relax and also work at the same time. Bradley: Something that Jim Stafford told us when we first got here was three words. He said it will carry you as far as you want to go, and it was: Do the time. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, whatever it is if it’s promotion or practice, do the time. Do whatever it takes and just have fun. If it’s not fun, it’s not worth it. Brett: Bradley is a very good older brother. He always has been. In many ways, he’s more mature, in some ways, he is not. He’s probably the kindest person I know, the most sympathetic and gentle, but also probably the most hot headed and fearless person I know. He’s got this huge imagination that can carry him and anyone else anywhere. Whether he’s writing music, drawing, writing an essay, he can put his imagination into it. That’s something I’m not as good at, but I’m really appreciative for it. Bradley: Brett is the coolest younger brother I’ve ever had. Brett: You don’t have any more. Bradley: He’s super tenacious at whatever he does. Whatever he puts his mind to he finishes it. If I have an idea, he will take it and shape it into whatever it needs to be whether it’s music or any form of creativity, really. Brett is a really cool guy when it comes to humor. He’s a funny guy. His appreciation for humor and ability to see the light in every situation is something that I admire and aspire to. You’re my man crush Monday, Brett.
70
INDIE ROCK IS ONE of our favorite genres and Andy Havens has it nailed down with lots of gnarly guitar riffs, tasty solos and great hooks. Vocalist Kristi Meredith takes us back to music from movie soundtracks out of the 90s, such as Dazed and Confused and Empire Records. The song “Fighter Pilot” is high energy, and reminiscent of The White Stripes. It’s easy to imagine this song would get the crowd going at a live show. The dual vocals on “You Don’t Love Me” - a soft Indie track - show diversity and range in their musicality, and “Why It Comes and Goes” is an upbeat dance tune complete with organ and clever doowop style background vocals. This EP is a must download for any Indie rock lover. Find them at andyhavens.bandcamp. com, Spotify and iTunes.
Green River Kings out of Kansas City, Missouri might just make you want to fist pump the air and jump around in your living room. We love their anthem rock sound right when we hear the opening track of their debut album, Heavy Hangs The Head That Wears The Crown. “Til Morning” is going on our favorites list with its driving bass line and energetic guitar riffs. The vocals and music breaks at the end of the chorus are guaranteed to make you move. We were stoked to hear an organ make an appearance in “Whisky Alibi.” We cannot wait to make it out to a show and fist pump with everyone! Find this EP at www.greenriverkings.com, Google Play, iTunes, Amazon Music and CD Baby.
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the scamps Eighties-influenced Indie punk-rock band, The Scamps bring a new sound to a genre we are all familiar with. Their release of Porcelain earlier this year, and more recently a four-song demo entitled Peach, could easily be compared to Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Female lead vocalist Holley Wright does an exemplary job of keeping the listener engaged with her passionate execution. Charlie Covaks on guitar makes this duo the essential garage punk band. The song “Hell Hound” sucks us in with an awesome musical hook right at the beginning. “As It Comes,” “Breakfast,” and “Red Letter” are just a few of our favorites with fun melodies, driving music and an organ! Find The Scamps at thescamps.bandcamp.com and iTunes.
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too many zooz
WHEN WE FIRST SAW this band on YouTube, we couldn’t stop binge watching videos of this awesomely talented trio performing brass house style tunes inside the Union Square subway station of New York City. We became ecstatic fans immediately, and soon learned that trumpet player Matt Doe, baritone saxophonist Leo P. and drummer David “King of Sludge” Parks have been rocking the subways since 2014 and have since become the hottest thing on the NYC music scene. Locals of the city, these guys have soared to musical stardom, performing in front of thousands of fans at festivals around the country. They’re currently touring the festival scene in France. They are masters of turning any song into a collaborative expression with their retrospective instruments, most impressively DubStep. Yes, you read that right. It’s electronica played by three energetic dudes on trumpet, standing drums and the barry, with Leo P. busting out dance moves that pump the energy level even higher. But their musical range reaches even farther into smooth soul, oldschool jazz and jazz fusion. These guys have been dubbed a musical phenomenon, thanks in part to their viral YouTube videos, and we have to agree, as we have also splurged on downloading all of their original music as well. You absolutely must check out their videos on YouTube, download their original music on iTunes, and find more info well as their touring schedule on toomanyzooz.com.
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matt skates If you love synth, good beats and fun vibes, then you must check out Matt Skates. The song “Early in the Morning” is like a soundtrack to a sunrise while you take off on your morning jog - if you do that sort of thing. “Wet Brain” shows off Matt’s electronica skills and adds a killer bass line a couple of minutes into it. It’s always good to have music like this for needed chill times on your porch after a long day at work. But seeing Skates perform live is the real treat, incorporating bass guitar with electronica and a five-gallon bucket. We don’t know how he does it, but it’s one of the coolest things we’ve seen. Check out his latest EP Chin Chilla at soundcloud. com/matt-skates.
In case you were wondering, “jamboree” is defined as a noisy, drunken social gathering or merrymaking. This made us thrilled to push play on Luna Jamboree’s latest album Phases. We are here to tell you, it did not disappoint. This 10 track album boasts genius grooves and bass lines tied neatly with smart lyrics and impressive vocals headed up by vocalist/guitarist Bryan Copeland. Add a touch of a horn section, and all we can say is that this album brought this reviewer to bouncing around in her car and the ever so hopeful opportunity to see them live in the very near future. Let’s not let the fact that there is a female in the band go by the wayside, which ups their cool points by a whole lot in our book! Kim Painter plays a mean bass and adds a great element to Luna Jamboree’s vocals. The band is backed with solid drums by Tom Pearson and smooth keys by Tyler Mathews. This smooth funk band did a great job reeling us in with the first song, and then left us wanting more on their last song. Hit repeat, please. The first track titled “Fool’s Gold” has a Red Hot Chili Peppers vibe, and the slow blues song “Breathe” has such a great breakdown and guitar solo. We can’t say enough about how much we love this album, so make sure you download it to listen for yourself! Find Phases at lunajamboree.bandcamp.com and iTunes, or catch them live at shows all over the region and in their hometown of Springfield, Missouri.
histories
IT’S BEEN OVER TWO years since I first moved to Springfield, Missouri and became emerged into the deep music scene within the city. Over those two plus years I have managed to see a wide range of local (and national) acts play from hip-hop, electronic, country, rock and so on. With all I’ve experienced it becomes quite rare for me to connect to a band and become a genuine follower, but that’s just what happened with the Springfield based band, Histories. I was initially introduced to the band in May of 2015 through a friend who invited me to one of their shows at The Outland in Springfield. Immediately, I could tell this was no ordinary “local band.” The alternative rock, Taking Back Sunday-esque group captured my attention and held it firmly throughout their near hour long performance. Equipped with a guitar, bass guitar, drums and a lead vocalist they put on a high energy, crowd involved set that has become one their trademarks and allowed them to gain such a tremendous following. The band initially formed in the fall of 2012 after the breakup of a previous band they had with another former member. The initial forming of Histories included Keaton Katzfey (Drums), Shon Tetlow (Bass), Grant Stafford (Guitar), and Aaron Klimmek (Vocals). As for their influences, bass guitarist Shon Tetlow says it’s hard to pinpoint all of them stating, “We all have so many influences individually. I mean, I wake up listening to death metal, Taylor Swift for lunch and 60s soul for bedtime. Some bands I know we’ve all been listening to lately are Turnover, Intervals and Pianos Become The Teeth. Histories has always been a ‘write songs that we like’ project.” Their first official release was the EP titled, I’m Still Doing Well, which was received positively. To this day when you go to a Histories show you are guaranteed to see the crowd get extra hyped when they hear the opening lyrics of songs such as “Obliviate” and “Success Is Not Killing Yourself,” along with dozens of others reciting them line by line as the band plays. Since their initial EP they have gone on to release two other projects including the EP, Fri(ends) in March of 2014 and their first full LP, Victor Lu in October of 2015, along with the deluxe re-release of Victor Lu in May of 2016. Victor Lu was recorded in San Francisco and the band says they are immensely proud to see the project come to fruition after having made sacrifices to allow the trip to happen. The full-length LP serves as a sturdy reminder that Histories is here to stay and only getting more polished as they go. Some of my personal favorites that stand out include “Professional Debt,” “Lockout/Tagout,” “Cicada,” and “Fake Title.” Since forming as a band they have gone on to do numerous tours around the Midwest, west coast and their latest 8 stop tour run on the east coast that included stops in Chicago, New York and Baltimore. Tours are notorious for a few crazy stories and it sounded like Histories is no exception to that. “For the sake of decency, I’ll leave it at hours of baby metal, promoters who were obviously on drugs, bed wetting, brutal pillow wake ups and one of us being electrocuted. On the last day of the tour though, we scored free tickets for a premier beer cruise,” said Tetlow, leaving us wondering who the bed-wetting perpetrator was. Joining them on the east coast tour was the recently added guitarist and well-known Springfield musician, Casey Jack Clingan. When asked about the addition of Casey Jack, drummer Keaton Katzfey had this to
say: “Casey joining has been nothing but positive for us. He has brought so much to the table, both instrumentally and vocally. It has changed our sound for the better. I honestly think we are most proud of our new music we’ve written since Casey joined. We are all pretty pumped on the new direction we are going. Our writing has definitely gotten stronger.” Casey had previously fronted the band, The Casey Jack Band, while gaining a substantial following. Histories fans should definitely be excited for the new music to come, which the band says should be coming within the next couple months along with a new music video. As for future plans, Histories are in the process of writing new material, recording their new yet to be titled project (the first as a five piece), and will be hitting the road again soon to tour. Currently they plan to stick around the Midwest and the 417 area as they continue to grow and gain a larger following. When asked about a potential move to a bigger market, bass guitarist Shon Tetlow added, “It’s always an idea that gets thrown around. Springfield is awesome for any touring band to reside in though. It’s super cheap to live here and our local music scene is one of the best I’ve seen in this entire country. So for now, we’re proud to call the 417 home. If we decide to go, we’ll let you know.” Histories may always claim the 417 as home, but it won’t be long until they are recognized nationwide. For more about Histories check them out on Facebook and on Twitter @HISTORIESofficial. You can also pick up their latest release Victor Lu on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and Bandcamp.
the captain’s son Grandma Strange is an alternative rock band based in Springfield, Missouri with a distinct sound that can only be described as an obvious homage to Fiona Apple. Brooke Austin’s smooth haunting vocals are backed by an array of acoustic guitar, organ, synth and various percussion to create a unique sound. Dreamy melodies and energetic breakdowns showcase Austin’s wide vocal range and agility, backed by Clinton Houseman on guitar, Ryan Wallace on bass and Alisha Schroeder (Black Bonnet Ballyhoo) on drums. Their album Nightingale, released at the end of 2015 showcases rich arrangements and time signature changes, demonstrating considerable talent. Austin’s voice is surprisingly rich, and her songwriting is moody and dark, but interesting enough to set her apart, with wise lyrics and arrangements. The song “Love Was” is a dead ringer for the 90s alt-rock sensational debut of Fiona Apple’s Tidal, complete with plenty of sorrow and passion expressed in Austin’s vocals, while “Moonglade” displays a propensity for a great melody and chorus hook. “Pendulum” takes more of an upbeat synth direction with melodic guitar that leads into a strange mash-up of Austin wailing over random melodic turns. “Diaspora I” is a piano ballad accented with flamenco guitar. This album is definitely progressive with listenable, sometimes eerily beautiful songs as well as introspective creations clearly designed for lovers of an avant-garde approach. It’s worth the download just to get a flashback to the first time you heard the “sullen girl” herself back in the 90s. Even with evident influences considered, Grandma Strange’s Nightingale is a smart and palpable addition to the Springfield music scene, and an album we will continue listening to. Find Nightingale at grandmastrange.bandcamp.com and on iTunes.
The Captain’s Son has done it again with a 14 track self-titled album boasting their signature surf-rock vibe infused with Indie rock guitar riffs and 70s rock vocal style. This Springfield, Missouri based trio is made up of frontman and guitarist Victor Paige Byrd, bassist Craig Golubski and drummer Jarred Ratley, and is a staple on the local music scene. Before moving to California to soak up the sun, they recorded their most recent project and their musicality and style has grown into even more of a polished and mature effort than their previous four-song EP, Wild Waves. “I believe it’s grown up, not just musically but vocally as well,” says Ratley of the album. “As of current this is the best thing musically the three of us have ever done. Start to finish we did everything our own way on our own time.” Each song on this record is infused with an alternative influence, rounding out the songwriting and sound. “Anaconda Squeeze” is an upbeat tune that combines the relaxed vibe of reggae and the grunge guitar of punk rock. “Bad Wax” is the quintessential sound of surf music with twangy guitars supported by a driving bass line. Spending time on the West Coast has done nothing but strengthen their roots in the surf rock genre, and we can say that we’re happy about it! Check out their new tunes at soundcloud.com/the-captain’s-son, on Spotify and iTunes.
WITH THE RELEASE OF a new EP entitled The Exile, a subsequent music video for the song “Whiskey Love” and a new single “Hot In Kansas City,” KC based Indie rock band Attic Light have a lot to boast about. Headed up by frontman Nathan Bowman, Attic Light has an upbeat, funky and danceable sound with influences ranging from Prince to Depeche Mode. Bowman is backed by Michael Pittman on guitar, Patrick Rippeto on bass and Joseph Dillman on drums. Attic Light has a sound derived from 80s and 90s pop funk, which isn’t something we normally hear coming from Indie rock music. While the album has major elements of funk and jazz, title track “Exile” is reminiscent of late 90s alt-metal band Incubus or the
attic light
Red Hot Chili Peppers. “Fear Itself” starts out with a steady folk rock vibe leading into a catchy alt-rock hook. “Blood in the Water” is straight up rock and roll infused with 60s and surf rock. Their new single “Hot in Kansas City” takes a 180 with punchy synth arrangements combined with funky guitar riffs, groovy bass lines and a solid drum back beat sure to get anyone moving on the dance floor. Bowman’s enviable highpitched voice pays homage to greats like Prince, and lends the perfect element to round out their sound. “Whiskey Love” follows suit, starting out with a funky bass line, Bowman’s best Barry Gibb and an organ-heavy chorus. With their funky beats, catchy melodies and rocking pop guitar rooted in post-metal alternative, Attic Light has become a new favorite in our playlists. Deitra got the chance to catch up with their frontman, Nathan Bowman, to chat about The Exile EP, the “Whiskey Love” video and the band’s favorite spots to play on the Kansas City music scene.
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77 DM: What are your favorite places to play in Kansas City?
Deitra Mag: What are you most excited about with your new EP The Exile?
Nathan Bowman: This EP allowed us to push our boundaries in ways we hadn’t before. For instance, we traveled to Nashville to record it with producer Dohse and slept in the studio the whole week and did nothing but make music. We’re also touring a lot more and farther away than we have before. Most of all we’re excited about “Whiskey Love.” We’re really happy with not only getting this song out there, but with the music video as well and how businesses, such as J Rieger and Co Whiskey, liked it enough to sponsor it! DM: What are a few of the band’s musical influences? NB: Prince is my favorite artist of all time and definitely my number one influence. I think the song “Whiskey Love” reflects this. I’m also a huge fan of Depeche Mode. We also listen to Muse and Queens of the Stone Age.
NB: One of our favorite venues is actually in the process of changing locations: Coda. Their previous location is featured in the “Whiskey Love” video, so we’re pretty happy that they let us get in there before the doors closed for good! But Coda has always taken good care of us. We also enjoy playing Riot Room quite a bit where we usually support touring bands coming through KC. DM: What’s coming up next for Attic Light?
NB: We’re going to be working to get our new track “Hot in Kansas City” some attention over the next few months, then hoping to get a new single out in late fall before a Winter Southwest tour. We’ll just keep traveling as much as we can to reach as many audiences as we can! Check out Attic Light’s new video for “Whiskey Love” on YouTube, and listen to their music at soundcloud.com/atticlightmusic and download The Exile EP, as well as their new single “Hot in Kansas City” on iTunes. For more info about the band and show schedules, go to atticlightmusic.com.
HEIRSOUND ALTERNATIVE POP/ROCK DUO Heirsound doesn’t seem like a band that adheres to any particular rules within their genre. On the contrary, they’ve created their debut EP Merge with an overall artistic approach that exceeds expectations when it comes to Indie alternative pop/rock bands. They have created a brand all their own and then delivered an exceptional product, from the look of their marketing to the quality of their music. Heirsound is made up of Alexa San Román and Dane Petersen, who smartly designed Merge to represent the respective hues of the color wheel, each track representing a different color. The chosen palette is noticeably on the cooler side, which undeniably exudes somewhat of a Zen vibe. Their marketing and music videos reflect this color spectrum, lending an artistic serenity to the music itself. Though on the mellow side of alt-rock and overlaid with the visual aspect of soothing colors, this project is quite passionate, San Román’s voice resonating over thick layers of guitar and background vocals. Her voice holds a profound intensity and depth. Their videos have a clean look and style, with rather soothing imagery, clean whites and beautiful scenes. The look goes well with the melodic arrangements in their alt-pop songs.
The 6 track EP is making waves, but most notably, their music videos are gaining a ton of traction on YouTube, proving yet again that a video done right is the best marketing tool. But their music speaks for itself, even beyond the visuals. It’s often dark and dreamy, and speaks to subjects like love and loss. “Choke” (red) starts out with a solid drum beat and a laid back guitar-driven groove, and San Román spins a lovely yet raspy and haunting intro, then moves into a powerful chorus. “Fell Again” (green) has a hint of punk rock influence, which is smoothed over by heavy overdubbed vocals and the subject matter of falling in love. “Slow Motion” (orange) has more of an ethereal feel with a catchy hook. All in all, Merge is a consistent, meticulously crafted project by a band we will soon be watching soar among the aspiring elite of the nouveau Indie music scene. Check out Heirsound’s music videos on YouTube, listen to Merge on soundcloud.com/heirsound, and download it on iTunes. For more info about the band, check out heirsound.com.