Issue 10 by Edge Magazine

ISSUE 10, JULY 2013

About six years ago the first issue of Edge Magazine was released and now you are about to flip through the pages of our 10th issue! Since that first issue in 2006, I’ve been able to expand Edge Magazine into a quarterly, full fledged online magazine (and still in the process of it) with tons of content and a very professional appearance. Even with some slight changes from issue to issue, I haven’t lost sight of the original mission: feature the undiscovered pop culture where there is something for everyone. Now we’re back with a new logo, a fresh mindset and of course, eclectic content to keep all your young, curious minds intrigued. If you’ve been looking for a charity to get involved with, from bullying to the environment, we’ve got that. If you’ve been eager for some new bands to listen to, we’ve got that too. Plus we’ve got tons of other pages with interviews, book reviews, art and great sites to check out!

justine gubar

Thanks for reading and pass the link along to all your friends! Melanie P.S. We have decided to make things a bit easier for you. Since Edge Magazine is online it would only be appropriate if we had click through links, right? Starting with this issue, wherever you see a social media icon or the words “click here” or “website”, you can click on it and it will direct you right to that link.

TURNTABLE KITCHEN

EAR TO THE GROUND

ROBBIE SEA

LUNA LAVAL

THE GLASS CHILD

DEFEAT THE LABEL

PHOTOGRAPHY

WAVES FOR WATER

TRAVELING

TOMMY & THE HIGH PILOTS PHOTOGRAPHY

25 31

THOMAS MCCONNELL

29 THE ADVENTURE PROJECT THE ONE-WEEK JOB PROJECT

JOE SYMES AND THE LOVING KIND

35 1: FACE WATCH

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ROBBIe sea “Any ride worth being on has its ups and downs” EM: First off, how did you get into music? I got into music originally cause of my Mum I guess. She’s a secondary school music teacher and from a young age I was always around music and going to various musicals, etc. EM: How long have you been playing with your band? My current band has been playing together for about a year now. Before that I was a drummer in a heavy metal / rock band for about eight years. Too many drummer jokes forced me to re-think my situation.

totally changed the vibe of it with funky guitars and big harmonies etc. I re-wrote the entire middle 8 in my own style, including lyrics and I’m really pleased with how it came out. EM: You’ve got a very unique sound blending funk and pop with rock. What artists have influenced that sound? I think some of our main influences would have to be Michael Jackson, John Mayer, Jamiroquai, Reuben, Eminem, RHCP. That sort of thing.

EM: What comes first: lyrics or instrumentals? Instruments come first for us. I don’t tend to sit around writing lyrics all day. I write them at the same time as the melodies. Comes more naturally for me.

EM: Let’s say you got the chance to go on tour with a few bands. Who would you want them to be? Any of the artists that I mentioned in the previous question I guess! We would have to be the first band on though, I don’t think I’d feel comfortable following any of them, haha!

EM: You have a ton of covers on your YouTube page from Eminem to Ed Sheeran. Your “Billie Jean” cover is my favorite but what’s your all time favorite song to cover? Glad you like it! My favourite cover we’ve done so far is actually Rita Ora ‘RIP’. We

EM: What’s the toughest part about being an upcoming band? There’s loads of annoying shit that comes with being in an upcoming band and I could easily make a list for you, but its all pretty boring and almost always leads back to the same problem: money. Much

music like everything else I guess! But yeah, the tough stuff is just part of the ride. Any ride worth being on has its ups and downs! EM: Any plans to come play in the US? We need to conquer the UK before we hop across the pond I’m afraid! One day though. EM: What’s your ultimate goal with your music? Are you aiming for a record deal or just aiming to make music to share with people? I just wanna make music that people can

enjoy and relate to. I don’t care for money or fame. Unfortunately though, a life with no money is a very restrictive one but if I can make just enough to survive, through writing and performing, I’m happy. If a big deal came along, and it was right for us, then awesome but I am in no rush to sell my soul to any hot shot execs from any big label anytime soon. We are living in DIY times. EM: Anything else you’d like to share with our readers? Throw away your television.

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How did the concept of Turntable Kitchen come to life? When we first met, Kasey already had a food blog that she updated on occasion. Meanwhile, I’ve always been slightly obsessive about music. The idea to start the site was Kasey’s, but we were pairing food and music in our home long before we launched the site. I’ve always been obsessive about music and Kasey loves to cook. Part of our evening ritual involved her devising a recipe we’d make for dinner that night and me then hitting my record collection to find an album to compliment our meal. One day the idea occurred to Kasey that we should start writing about our food and music pairings on her site. In 2010, we launched Turntable Kitchen. Meanwhile, the Pairings Box was a natural extension of what we were already doing on the site and we shipped our first one in October 2011. How do you decide what recipes go with which album when making a new pairing box?

We pare the music and the plant to press the record. The recipes are something we spend a lot of time thinking about. It’s important to us that they are unique, delicious and approachable. Some months Kasey has a theme already in mind for us to work with and other months it’s more of a collaborative process between the two of us. Occasionally we just find ourselves inspired by a specific ingredient and we see what we can do with it. What’s the process like for working with the artists and obtaining their albums to include in the pairings? In addition to being obsessive about music generally, I’m also a voracious record collector. Of course, a lot of new music these days is released digitally and initially may have no real physical release. So when I discover new music that I’m in love with but which has no

eclectic physical release, I contact the artist directly and ask them to allow us to feature them in our Pairings Box. At first some of the bands I’d reach out to would be apprehensive about the whole thing, but now we find that the bands we reach out to are excited to be a part of the Pairings Box. What is you’re personal favorite record to listen to while cooking? That’s a really hard question for me to answer. I select music to fit my mood. A few of my go to records right now include Otis Redding’s Greatest Hits, Spoon’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Beach House’s Bloom, Kurt Vile’s Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze, and Mikal Cronin’s MCII. There are reviews, mixtapes available for download, recipes by dish and more on the website. As a husband-wife team, how do you two manage it all? There’s no question that it’s a labor of love. I mean we’ll work from the moment we wake up until the moment we go to bed on many nights. Especially now that we’re new parents to our daughter who was born this past January. But really Turntable Kitchen has always been a reflection of the things we’re passionate about, so it doesn’t feel as overwhelming as it might otherwise. I mean, some people spend their free time watching TV or playing video games. We’re more likely to spend our spare time listening to a record, cooking a nice dinner, or writing a blog post. It’s what makes us happy. What’s the rest of 2013 look like for TK? It’ll be an interesting year for us I think. We’re currently in the final stages of planning an inspiration trip to Japan for this June (last year we went to Sicily). We’ll be sharing the high-

lights from our trip on TK and using it for inspiration for our August Pairings Box. Speaking of the Pairings Box, we’ll also be celebrating it’s 2nd anniversary this September! Beyond that we’re always thinking of ways to improve the experience we offer to our readers and the subscribers to our Pairings Box.

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Greg Jones writes about music at www.eartothegroundmusic.com where emerging artists in the folk, indie rock, and roots country genres are featured. If you dig this piece check out his site and be sure to share with friends.

“Good morning, Motherland” by Bears of Legend Review by Greg Jones I have never “sat on” an album so long. What I mean is that I just couldn't find the words for what this remarkable band Bears of Legend and this album “Good Morning, Motherland” have come to mean to me. It is an adventure and a salvo. It is a journey to a place that I seemingly only go with this album. I have had moments with different bands that were intimate, admittedly, but what happens when I listen to this is really transformative. I can't even understand the words in a few of the songs, but the emotions are so evocative that my heart yearns to hear it again. Really, I'm talking about an album. Listen. Delight. Be changed. The most superficial comparison I could come up with upon first listening to these talented musicians was my experience last year with St. Paul de Vence. While they are both incredible, that comparison probably does them both a disservice. Yes, they are folk albums with beautiful lyrics, harmonies, and a few songs in French. In a world that some have lamented as the “end of the album” this is an ALBUM. Start to finish there's not a track to skip. Not only that, a minion will fly out of your listening device and slap you if you skip a track. Each song feeds into the next with a gorgeous purposefulness. To skip is to defeat the point of the album entire. Seriously, go listen to some top 40 if you can't summon the time to listen to a 16 song masterpiece. The art is lost on you if you're THAT busy. The album begins with a Fleet Foxes sound of mindblowing tight harmonies. The sound satisfaction never dies down. When the full and sound joins into the acapella chorus for the second track, “Wait,” the listener immediately gets the sense that there's something significant going on here. This isn't just a simple folk album. “Tell me, what did you see when you found me lost in the deep?” This lyric introduces a sense of powerful connection between the characters in the song. Then, “don't it make your heart beating loud?” captures the excitement of young love. The song is good enough to stand alone, but is clearly connected to something greater. Just as an aside, the lyrics on the album often do not rhyme. They are not written explicitly as lyrics, but rather as stand alone prose in their own right. That makes for an intriguing album concept. In that sense, it's not a “sing a long” kind of album, but rather a sit-with-your-jaw-open kind of album. I react to this album the same way I did when I first heard “Blue Ridge Mountains” by Fleet Foxes. It's that kind of band and album. “The Mornings I've Let You Down” is a beautiful song, also. It really highlights a mandolin-over-cello sound that is quite wonderful. The syncopated beat creates a dance sound, but the lyric content is far from the triteness of typical dance fare. Instead, this song is about a flawed past and a series of mistakes. The underlying message is to forget that sordid past, focusing instead on the moment at hand. In that sense, let's dance. It's a delight, truly. The European-influenced “Let Me Be” reminds me of St. Paul de Vence's remarkable album last year. The accordion, complimented by a full band and stunning lead vocals, come together for one of the best tracks on the album. It's difficult to quote specific lines as indicative of the song. It's really a must-listen track. When, in mid song, the sound is juxtaposed from a sweet solo to a full choral sound, the listener is floored and flooded with joy. Although, again, it's hard to sing with the band, listeners can't help but smile and dance. The final message in the song is that of hope and, similar to the last song, about moving on through rocky patches in a relationship.

music Now before I get too far into this album, let me just say there are no “skip tracks” in listening to this album, but I have to skip a few in writing about it. The French “La Riviere” and equally stunning if completely different “No Moccasins” both bring a sense of variety and complexity. From layered vocals to transcendent piano background, “No Moccasins” in particular paints a picture of the American West that is frankly stunning. The lyrics and even the sound portrays an untamed West of Native culture, a theme that is revisited throughout the album. “Let your heart be the forest guide” is the opening power lyric of “Forest Guide.” This song has a sound that will be familiar to fans of The Lumineers and other like-minded pop folk acts. That's one of the incredible things about this album is its versatility. It seems like one of those albums that can just do anything. Like this group of musicians could cover just about anything from 19th century parlor music to the latest top 40 and seemingly everything in between. The lead vocals on this song have certain adolescent grit to them that makes the song really have staying power. My favorite song on the album, though, is “Catilena Star.” It's a heart-melting track that begins with the Native American affect of drums and whistle, but introduces a truly gorgeous vocal and choral part that is distinctly 21st century. The evident juxtaposition makes the track work in so many ways. The lyrical focus on a sense of the unknown is breathtaking. Just read, “I woke you up in silence somewhere in the rain. Rocking in the balance, washed away the pain. Lost among the mornings I’ve been chasing after me. The truth is that it lingers in the sea.” It continues in similar storytelling fashion. Later in the song when the powerful piano fills the sound I am blown away on every listen. This part is why I say this song is so definitely 21st century. There are a mixture of old and new meeting in the sonic construct here; it is the middle ground where the past and the present meet in a gorgeous musical blend. This is the kind of song that cannot be replicated. It's a contender for song of the year for me and deserves to be known at the highest levels of musical awards. The resonate “My friend, my friend” at the beginning of “Reclaim my place” really sets the tone for the song. It's got this gorgeous ambient distance between the strings and the melodic vocal of the lead singer. The contrast works beautifully with the harmonies, both vocal and string, that fill the rest of the track. Relaxing, dreamlike, and contemplative... this is the kind of track that would be the best on a number of other albums. But here, it's just standard fare. Amazing. There are a variety of reasons that a song can be entertaining, but we don't often talk about meter. We might say a song has a good “beat” but the track, “More” has a 6/8 time signature backed with some Old World accordion and clapping that transports listeners to another time and place. Yet, somehow, there's a distinctly contemporary feel to the overall vibe. I wish I had words for how they've done it, but I assure you it is well done. Part Fiddler on the Roof and part Sergeant Pepper's, it's a delightfully whimsical song from start to finish. “In the Streets” and “Cold like the heart of men” are both soft, sweet, and pack a powerful social message. While “In the Streets” is about homeless children, “Cold...” is a bit less clear about its purpose. I'll take a stab and say that it has to do, broadly, with urban poverty. That said, it seems to be a song with multiple, layered meanings. In both cases, though, the deep and sensitive lyrics are accented by a fulfilling and comforting overall sound. The album ends with the introspective and broadly “sacrificial” song “Stand up.” It brings this remarkable album to a beautiful end. What is most impressive about this album is not the individual songs as stand alone works of art. Rather, this is an album that must be taken together. Having listened to it repeatedly, I constantly find myself pulling out subtleties in both lyrics as well as music. The creators of this art have a welldeveloped sense of deeper meaning in life. Throughout the album, listeners will notice that the lyrics don't have a happy, clappy rhyme to them. Instead, they are prosaic not poetic. That seemingly small difference is part of what characterizes the work of Bears of Legend. This album was released at the very end of 2012, but I'm going to consider it for best albums of 2013. This is a must-listen for fans of St. Paul de Vence and most anyone who enjoys whatever is emerging in the Great Northwest. I'm not sure what's in the water in Seattle and Vancouver right now, but I am sure glad about it! Enjoy, friends, for albums like this do not come along very often.

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“if you don’t give u

the LUNA LAVAL By Megan Galema EM: How did you guys get together as a band? There’s a lot of history here. We started out as a trio basically with me (Jeff ), Andy, and Jakub playing covers…very badly. In April 2007 we had a show at Old Bridge High School and we realized we needed a bassist. Tom knew Jakub and he came down and we tried him out. EM: How did you guys come up with the name, The Luna Laval? That’s a story. Luna is the Latin word for moon and Laval is located in Canada. It’s known for the northern lights, the Aura Borealis Phenomenon. So a combination of that and the moon and more of an astral and spatial quality kind of represents the sound. The name is more of an image, what’s cool about is, it’s whatever you want it to be. EM: What first drew you into music? Music, I mean, we’re just big fans of music. We started as a cover band and then it just branched off and I guess it was just an outlet for our creativity. EM: Who are your greatest influences? Foals, Minus the Bear, Incubus and Radio

head. Radiohead is huge for us, probably the biggest. Also some classic rock bands like the Beatles as far as composition and experimentation goes. Philosophy wise we share a bunch of things that are similar. Individually I think we have very diverse taste. EM: The Luna Laval released A Good Fear EP in January. Was that your first studio recording? Yeah, we recorded that with producer Mike Watts. We decided that if we wanted to take things seriously, at least just for once to see if it made a difference. Working with a producer, working in a professional environment and with good equipment makes a world of difference. EM: How was your experience in the studio? It was amazing. We went three separate weekends and each weekend it just progressed and we got better and better. It was just an amazing experience. We got a great product out of it, so it was worth every second. Part of it is getting that professional experience. There’s that eye and that attention for detail. EM: Where do you find inspiration from to write your music?

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up, you will succeed” We basically come up with everything by free form jamming. We’ll just sit down and someone will start playing and we just take it from there. It almost always starts in a collective environment. EM: When do you plan on getting back into the studio? We’re probably looking for some time in September, either late summer or fall. We’ll probably go back to the same studio and try to build that musical relationship since it did go well, and see if it continues to go from there.

This is something that no one can take away from us. EM: What is your advice to younger musicians? Perseverance. If you don’t give up, you will succeed. You’re going to be faced with tough stuff, the important thing is to get passed it. Do it for yourself. Do it because you love it. No matter what type of music you play love it, live in it, and enjoy it.

EM: You guys graduated from Rutgers, and Andy you graduated from FDU. What brought you back to music? We never left. We would meet every Saturday, no matter what state we were in the night before. We don’t care how bad the rest of the week goes, this is why we work, this is why we do what we do. The point is that this is something that we get fulfillment out of. This is something that defines us in a way and to not have this be a part of our lives is just something I can’t imagine. EM: What’s your favorite part about being in a band? The stories and the experiences. We have some crazy experiences and we’ve had terrible experiences in terms of going to shows. Sometimes they’re awesome and sometimes they’re horrible. When you’re playing in front of people, that’s an experience that is very unique to us. This is something that is ours.

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EVERY 50 STEPS, TAKE A PHOTO OF WHAT IS IN FRON start

ROUTE: STRAIGHT UP GLOUCE

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NT OF YOU.

ESTER ROAD, LONDON, ENGLAND

BY MELANIE GOFFMAN

end

charity

Bullying has become one of the bigget problems in our society. While there are multiple roots of bullying, one of those main causes can be summed up in one, single word:

LABELS

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When people and society label each other based on outward appearances without getting to know each other, it is often inevitable that we start to identify ourselves with these same labels. That is what kills us emotionally, mentally and physically. Defeat the Label is an organization dedicated to a creating a bully free society where labels and stereotypes do not exist. In the form of outreach through social media, curriculums and pledges, Defeat the Label is taking a stand against bullying once and for all.

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The Glass Child EM: How did you get started in music? It just happened really. I’m not from a musical family and I never took lessons or anything, but when I discovered music and how it could make everything feel better and beautiful, I was just lost in it. I started to sing just to express these words I was writing and I realized that singing made me feel like I belonged, like I wasn’t scared anymore. I think I wrote my first song when I was around 17. EM: You moved from Sweden to London when you were 18. How has that transition been for you? It’s been everything and so much more. It’s been the hardest and toughest years of my life but also the most amazing, happiest and most beautiful ones. First when I moved, I was all alone and didn’t know anyone so I had to learn how to be independent and live with myself. Then learning the music industry and where I wanted to go as well as who I wanted to be. I don’t regret one single day because if I wouldn’t have moved I would never have found all these beautiful experiences, lessons and people. EM: Has the move affected your lyrics and music? Yes definitely. You know, it changed me completely as a person, and since my music is so personal and straight from my heart it affects every aspect there too. I often feel very rootless and this journey can be quite lonely, so I think I’ve built my home in my music and art, and I use it as a way to comfort myself, to make me feel at home, so of course it affects everything I create.

EM: What the meaning behind the name, ‘The Glass Child’? The Glass Child comes from when I was younger and it has stayed with me ever since. I was always told that I was so guarded, distant and hard to get to know. That it was as if I was living behind glass, like they could see me but never really reach me. I always felt very strong and independent, but at the same time it always felt like just one ugly word could break my confident into a thousand pieces. The name kind of reminds me of why I started to write music in the first place. EM: Broken Glass Records is your own record label. What prompted you to create the label? Because when I found music I knew I wanted to spend my life within that world, and by building my own record label I have 100% control over everything I do, release and create. My dream and goal is to grow the label and help more bands on it, just a few that I truly believe in. EM: Your lyrics are heartfelt and compelling. How do you begin writing a song? It’s different every single time. Sometimes I start with the lyrics or even a whole novel, and then just kind of sing the words in the way that feels natural. Other times I sit down with my guitar or piano and the melody and the lyrics just appear together. Then sometimes I write and even record all the music first and then write the words and vocals as the last element. There are no rules for it and that’s the amazing part.

music EM: What artists do you draw inspiration from? I don’t think I’m influenced by sounds or genres at all, but mostly how certain songwriters build their songs with structures and how they use and pronounce certain words. I think I’m more inspired by how the bands build their careers and journeys, how they reach out and how they choose to build a life on music and the arts. I really look up to Ani Difranco for how she’s built her career, and she’s also one of my favorite songwriters and vocalists. I love Trevor Hall and how true he is to himself, and Counting Crows is another band I truly admire. They’ve been doing this for so long and their music is just real. I’m also very inspired by other kinds of artists, like dancers, writers and screenwriters. EM: You’ve played in the US before. What did you think of it? Is it different than playing back in the UK? It was an amazing experience and I can’t wait to go back! It was very different from playing in London, because here people never really appreciate music just because there are so many bands here, playing everywhere every single day. But in New York they really listened and cared and they were so enthusiastic about a little Swede following her dream. EM: You have over a few thousand likes on Facebook and close to 20,000 followers on Twitter at the moment! That was all you without help from management, a label or anybody else. How do you manage everything? Would you ever sign with someone to help with that aspect so you can focus solely on the music? It’s just insane but amazing to be a part of this little community I’ve managed to build through my music. Using social media was a way for me to reach out with my music in the personal way that I want and that’s how I want to do this. I don’t want a major company to pay a fortune for mass-promotion just to reach out through shallow ways. I want it to be personal, to be able to talk to real people about real things. I would never hand that conversation with my fans over to anyone else. To get tweets or messages from people telling me that my music means something to them, that’s what keeps my fire and inspiration up.

EM: Not only a talented musician, you’re also an author in the midst of writing a book! Can you tell me a bit about it? What made you want to write it? I am and I’m so excited about it! I’ve always been writing a lot, everything from short stories, prose, poetry and other creative writing so it’s just a natural way for me to express myself. I came to a point when I felt that I’m on this amazing and beautiful journey, seeing all these things and meeting all these people, and it’s just a shame to not let people be a part of this. So I just started to write down my journey, lessons and tips to other people who want to do this, and it happened really natural. The book is about my journey, from learning the music-industry, learning to live with myself, living homeless on the road for a year and what a home really means. Then there’s a second part with my journaling, poetry and other creative writing about everything from self-discovery to learning how to love and lose and let it go. It’s just in the printing-progress now and will hopefully be out in May! EM: What can we expect from you for the rest of the year? Any big plans, shows or new music? Since I just released my debut full-length “I’d Like To Remain A Mystery” I’m gonna promote and reach out with it as much as I possibly can. Now I’m focusing on getting my book out, and then will hopefully be touring this summer. Me and my friends are planning on doing a busking-tour through Europe, travelling with only our instruments, and through Crowd-Funding and the support from our fans try to get as far and wide as possible!

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Waves for water

EM: When was it that you realized Waves 4 Water needed to exist and how did you make it happen? I was aboard a boat off the coast of Sumatra during a surf trip in September 2009 when I felt a slight shake. I had no way of knowing at the time, but a 7.6 earthquake had destroyed the nearby city of Padang – with more than 1,000 lives lost and 100,000 homeless – until I came to shore and saw the devastated city. I happened to be en route to Bali to deliver 10 water filters for what would have been the first Waves For Water mission. But with tragedy striking Sumatra, I went into Padang to get water filters into the hands of rescue workers to help those who were most in need of clean water. That was really the start of Waves For Water. EM: W4W is backed by Hurley International. What is their role? Waves For Water is an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization. That said, Hurley has been

an ongoing partner/supporter since very early on, through their H2O campaign they have really focused on engaging the masses -- making them aware of the global water crisis and also what can be done about it, via Waves For Water. Aside from the monetary support they’ve shown us, the partnership has truly given us a platform to get the message out in a way that is unique to most other non-profits. We basically have this forum to be able to fuse lifestyle and purpose, which has proved to be incredibly engaging for the “Hurley” generation/demographic -- and ultimately a great match with our guerrilla style DNA as an organization. EM: There have been numerous projects in countries like Ethiopia, Nepal, Peru, Bali, Nicaragua as well as projects based on relief efforts for countries affected by natural disasters. What has been your most successful project yet? Every project we do is successful because

charity when it’s all said and done, people have access to clean water that didn’t before. So for me success is truly measured by the action and then the only thing that changes from project to project is scale and if we wanted to get specific and measure our successes by scale - then without a doubt it would be Haiti. We’ve distributed over 70,000 filters there in 3+ years, which has resulted in over 2.5 million Haitians that now have access to clean water. EM: How do you decide what the next country your projects will be for? We are focused solely on creating and implementing the best field programs possible, which means we are always the implementing partner for a project - essentially, it is our program and then we have a financial partner (another organization, corporation, or individual) that funds it. For example, a wonderful organization named Shine On Sierra Leone reached out to us and asked if we’d be interested in doing our program in the villages they work in there. We then assessed the needs and designed a pilot program accordingly- which was ultimately funded by them and implemented by us. So, a lot of the places come to us this way, from a partner who knows specifically of a need and has the funds to put towards it. That said, mother nature also decides where we work when it comes to our disaster relief programs. In that case, when a disaster hits we do a VERY quick assessment and decide if we’re going to mobilize an effort or not. Most of the

time we do. EM: The Clean Water Couriers and fundraisers on your site are great ways for individuals to become active and connect with others trying to do the same. How would someone go about getting involved with them? We’re distributing filters almost every day. Waves For Water has programs in over 13 countries - Haiti, Indonesia, Liberia, Pakistan, Kenya, Brazil, Nicaragua, Afghanistan and Chile to name a few. Each of these countries is being used as models of success that can be applied to other countries in need. Then through our Clean Water Courier program, travelers can purchase W4W filters and deliver them to destinations all over the world. They can travel with a purpose and do something truly remarkable. In fact, a few surfers are off to Panama on a trip next week to surf and deliver some filters in an area that needs clean water! EM: Filter solutions are one way to bring clean water to people. If taken care of properly, they can bring water to over 100 people for many years at a time. The three filters that are available on your site are all different, how would someone know which one to buy? Basically there is no “right” one to buy. The MVP produces the most water and cleans the best. But the Kin is half the price and works well too, just doesn’t last as long. The Renegade is the exact same filter as the MVP, it’s just a different application - instead of a bucket it’s used with a (provided) squeeze bag, which is better for more of a single person use. The idea was just to create options and teach people that there

charity get clean water to every single person who needs it. are many ways to address this problem - ultimately eliminating any reasons for people to talk themselves out of it. There’s something for every situation. Through Waves For Water’s DIY program called Clean Water Couriers (more information can be found on our website www. wavesforwater.org/couriers) travelers can connect with local networks and community leaders in countries that need clean water, and can carry the filters with them in their luggage. Creating the filtration systems is simple – all people need once in-country are paint or 5-gallon buckets, a knife to make a hole, spigots and the water filters that can be purchased for $25 each or a community filter (generally the better option to serve more people) at $50. EM: Why is it so crucial that people take action for this global issue? If it is one thing people need to know about this cause and W4W, what is it? Our goal is to get clean water to every single person who needs it. Waves For Water works on the front-lines to provide clean water to communities in need around the world. In addition to our primary focuses around clean water, the organization has coordinated disaster relief

efforts following earthquakes in Indonesia and Haiti, post-tsunami Japan, Pakistan, Brazil, and now Hurricane Sandy here in the US. We work with world leaders and strategic partners who take a “no-nonsense” attitude toward making global change. It’s hard to say when we’ll be able to achieve this, but our organizational structure and work is built upon trying to get as many people as possible involved in this mission. The idea isn’t to get one person to drop off 100 clean water filters and call it a day. Let’s instead try to get 100,000 travelers to each pack 10 small filters, or team up with groups to implement projects with larger filters for an entire village. Then, the world will start to take notice and we’ll be that much closer to realizing the ultimate vision. But the biggest thing I like to highlight and remember is to always think about addressing this challenge in a decentralized way - a viral way- as a group, as a movement, we can solve this problem- and in our lifetime no less. EM: How has W4W been involved in Hurricane Sandy relief efforts? Within a couple days of the storm, I knew we needed to be in the coastal communities in

charity New York and New Jersey to provide support. Sandy struck such a personal chord with me because, as a surfer, I knew that most of the communities hit by Sandy were surf/beach lifestyle based; many of them I had spent time in personally over the years. In addition, I actually had personal friends that lost a business or home (or both). I would also never pretend that I am a local there, but, through guidance from the key people I already knew in those areas, I was able to quickly pinpoint what needed to be done and how to do it with integrity and heritage preserved. My Waves For Water team leaders on the ground are all locals and those who were leaders in these communities long before the storm hit. Now they are using their already established connections in these communities to be our eyes and ears on the ground in determining where the greatest needs for aid continue to be. In my line of work I am used to seeing areas wiped out with a seemingly endless road to recovery. The region devastated by Sandy is no different. The sheer scope of destruction is mind boggling - roughly 220 miles long. Because of this wide range and all of the various challenges that go with that, it is definitely worse than Katrina in my opinion. But the simple fact that this catastrophe happened so close to NYC also means that there

are more resources and great minds focused on it that wouldn’t be otherwise. I think this alone will help to speed up the recovery time. That said, we are looking at probably five years minimum to have everything in these areas feeling totally normal again. That’s not to say that some communities will bounce back quicker, but as a whole I think we will feel the after effects of this for five, maybe even ten years. I have unfortunately seen before other areas hit like NY/NJ were. We worked most of the major disasters of the last four years - Haiti earthquake, Pakistan floods, Japan Tsunami, Chile Tsunami, and Indonesia Tsunami and Sandy is right up there with all of them in terms of damage and scale. EM: Any last comments? Did I forget anything? I always like to bring everything back to centerto my driving force- my DNA which is completely based around FUN. My dad used to ask me when I was a kid if I was having fun when I was doing something. If I said no then he’d say, “then why are you doing it?”. I’ve never lost sight of this. Our entire mantra for W4W is, “Go do what you love, and help along the way.” So that’s exactly what we do. We go out into the world and follow our passion then we plug the purpose into that - not the other way around.

eclectic

AR B BY JUSTINE GU

I love to travel and that’s a good thing because I travel all the time for my job. I am a television producer for ESPN and fly at a moment’s notice all over the world to chase a story. If you open my wallet, I have lots of plastic cards that you can’t charge dinner to. I’m platinum this and elite, preferred and premier that and I’ve been doing this for so long, I am now accumulating lifetime status. Yikes!

Picture taken in London, England

eclectic LAST TRIP

A week in Miami where I interviewed a major league baseball player and a NFL player.

NEXT TRIP

San Antonio for a conference.

HOTEL NIGHTMARE

Had to once sleep with a chair under my doorknob to block any surprise entries because my motelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clientele was rather sketchy (Blackburg, VA).

WEIRD HOTEL EXPERIENCE

Staying in a business hotel during Christmas when it is empty. They feel sorry for you so they give you a nice room but half the hotel is closed up anyway.

NATURAL DISASTER

Drove through tornado warnings but I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know if I needed to pay attention because I had no idea what country I was in. The emergency broadcast system came on the radio with instructions depending on location. I pulled over and went shopping in Walmart. I survived.

FAVORITE PALCES TO GO

Anywhere that requires a passport, any city near a ski resort or beach, home so I can see my family and any place that is experiencing better weather than where I came from.

HIGH POINTS

Free food, cute seat mates on airplanes, celebrity sightings in airports, convertiles, dropping in on friends and family in other cities.

LOW POINTS

Nasty flight attendants, noisy neighbors in a hotel, room service that closed ten minutes before you check in, endless flight delays when the airlines give you no information, missing fun things you have planned at home, and staying in hotels with large conventions.

And once I was staying on the Penthouse Floor of a hotel and so were the Backstreet Boys. You needed a key to gain access to the floor. Every time I got in the elevator, gaggles of girls would beg me to take them up to that floor. Did I? Of course!

music

EM: How did you come up with the name and how did you guys come together? The name came from a painting I saw at an aviation museum. There was a plane going down for a crash landing and the caption read “From High Pilot to Low Pilot”. I thought high pilot sounded much more uplifting than low pilot! The band consists of Michael, my little brother, whom I’ve known for quite some time, Steve

Libby, a Santa Barbara native who came up in the music scene with me, and Matt Palermo, a Texan I met out on the road when I was 18. When it came time to start the band, these guys were all on board, so it was a pretty organic get together. EM: If asked you to describe the band in one word, what would it be? Energy. EM: You’re album “Only Human”

music came out recently. What’s the response been like? Great reviews across the board so far! It’s really nice to see all that hard work pay off and people responding to it.

EM: Who have you guys been listening to lately? Any specific artists today that you’d like to tour with? New Vampire Weekend is great. That would be a fun tour! EM: Do you have any pre-show traditions? Shot of whiskey and an Irish blessing. EM: Most importantly, what are your plans for the rest of 2013? Hitting the road with The Dangerous Summer from late July through mid-September. More touring to follow. We’re pumped to keep Only Human on the road for a while!

ONLY HUMAN

EM: The first single off “Only Human” is called “Outta My Head”. Both the song and the music video for it are infectious! Is there any specific story behind the song or concept for the video? The chorus came to me while I was walking on the beach near my home. I hurried home and fleshed it out and we recorded it days later in LA. The video director, Matt Odom, came up with the concept pretty quickly and

told us to trust him - we did and the video was a blast to shoot. We hope that comes across in watching it.

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london, 25

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england 26

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SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS OVER THE WORLD EM: Let’s backtrack to the start. You and your co-founder Jody met while traveling in Africa. How did The Adventure Project then arise? Jody Landers and I first met while on a site visit to Liberia. We were both involved with charity: water at the time, and we quickly discovered that we both felt entrepreneurship was the most effective way to end extreme poverty. We stayed friends and founded The Adventure Project in 2010. EM: There are a myriad of organizations that also aim to fight poverty so how does The Adventure Project differ from the rest? The Adventure Project differs because we defy the traditional way of of giving by supporting existing, lowcost high impact nonprofits already doing great work. We consider ourselves, in a sense; venture capitalists for nonprofits that will create the highest social return for our dollar. Every local nonprofit we support has a long-term vision of sustainability, meaning that one day they will be profitable and no longer need outside support. We seek high-impact solutions by supporting local communities. We believe in the dignity of creating a job that matters. A good example of our work is our support of a charcoal-efficient stove program in Haiti. We chose stoves because the number one cause of death of young children in developing countries is respiratory illness, often caused by the harmful smoke of cooking over an open fire. Three years after the devastating earthquake, it is estimated that 70% of the population is unemployed. So instead of donating stoves and passing them out, we decided to help start a stove

production program, training men and women to produce and sell them locally. EM: What is the best way for someone to get involved in your organization? The best way to support us is to commit to sponsoring one job in a developing country. For $30 per month, you can give one person the skills, education and training for them to become a profitable entrepreneur. We also need people to fundraise and promote these important causes! If you’d like to set up your own fundraising page for one of our projects, visit our webpage, click on any of our causes’ existing fundraising pages and follow the steps to create your own fundraising page: www.theadventureproject.org EM: Donating is one of the best ways for people to help. Where exactly does that money go? If you sponsor one job, you are providing the education and tools for one person to thrive. By donating $30 per month (one dollar per day), at the end of the year your funds will create one job in a developing country. Your money will go to the most cost-effective solutions to ending poverty while empowering people to serve their own communities. If you make a one time donation to one of our current campaigns: to train well mechanics in Uganda, to support entrepreneurs who are building environmentally efficient stoves in Haiti, to train female leaders in their community to become health care workers in Uganda, or to support small farms in Kenya with irrigation systems. EM: Any big plans or goals for the rest of 2013? We want to create 1000 high-impact jobs that will benefit approximately 1.5 million people to better food, water, and health.

charity

Photography Credit: Esther Havens at www.estherhavens.com

music

thomas mcconnell

EM: Tell me a bit about how you got started in music? I started playing guitar when I was seven with guitar lessons in primary school. But I’d been listening to The Beatles for a few years by then anyway. EM: The Beatles and Paul McCartney specifically, have a huge impact on your music. What most attracts you to them? Everything about them, I suppose. It goes without saying that their music is the best there’s ever been but I love everything else around them as well - the clothes, the story, the films, even the wrong moves they made were the right ones because they ended up enhancing the legend around them. The speed of their output is mind-blowing. In seven years they did 13 albums, over 200 songs, 5 films, 13 E.Ps and countless shows. These days, it takes bands five years to make one album. Paul has always been my favourite. I have my reasons now for why that is, but when I was 4 I didn’t. I simply chose him as my favourite and it’s stuck but I do believe him to be underrated in his part sometimes; this really annoys me when I think the majority of the groundbreaking creative decisions were largely informed by him. EM: You started writing and recording at the young age of 15. Do you remember any of your songs from back then? Oh yeah, there are even one or two of them that I still play live but the majority

were not very good at all. I made instrumentals for years before those tunes, but they were the first ones with lyrics and some of them make me cringe a bit when I listen now. You’ve got to get through that stage though because obviously no one is good when they first start out. I was lucky enough that I really liked the very first one, “In My Tree” - I still play it live occasionally. I don’t know how it came out as a good song when I’d had no previous experience of writing proper songs but it was a very happy accident and it gave me a lot of confidence to keep going. I also had a mate, Joe, from school that I’d play these tunes to and he was always honest and encouraging about them which was great. EM: Some of your songs have got lots of airplay in England. What was it like the first time you heard yourself on the radio? It was really cool. The very first one was probably on Liver Radio which is an online station that always features unsigned Liverpool musicians. Then the first national play was on BBC Radio 6 which was mad. It was on at about 3 in the morning and I stayed up to listen to it - it’s weird to think someone else is playing your song without you being there. EM: What is your main goal with music? Is it what you want to do for a living? I want to be a successful artist as a living, yeah. Never wanted to be a session musician, music teacher or anything like that. All

music I want really is to be able to play my songs to people and hopefully they’ll like them. EM: Any specific artists have you been listening to these days that are worth a listen? I don’t listen to any current mainstream stuff because it annoys me more than anything but I’ve recently been getting very heavily into David Bowie. Really, really love the Berlin stuff but also starting to get to know all the lesser known stuff better from throughout the 70’s. I’ve always loved the famous songs but it’s great finding out how good the album tracks and b-sides are. EM: Have any plans to come play in the States? Not plans but dreams to! I went to America when I was 10 and feel like I didn’t get to experience it properly. I wasn’t as into collecting records and stuff then but if I went

to Greenwich Village now I think I’d end up moving into a record shop. I’d absolutely love to play there! EM: If you could only listen to one album for a whole week, what would it be? Hmm, very difficult. I don’t have a favourite album. I just say every Beatles album are my joint favourites. In Fast Show style though I’ll say... “This week I will mostly listen to ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie.” EM: What do you have lined up for the next few months? New music? Gigs? I’ve got quite a few gigs coming up supporting Ian McNabb around England that will be great. I never line up new music but I’m sure there’ll be new songs here and there and to release my debut album which is already planned and being demo-ed.

eclectic

A MUST READ:

THE ONE-WEEK JOB PROJECT When I graduated high school in 2010, I was excited to start college. I was entering my freshman year as a public relations major and music management minor. Although I was going in declared and knew I wanted to combine the two after graduation, I was still feeling those pre-college/ pre-real world jitters. Despite not being much of a reader, my mom picked up a book that she wanted me to read that summer before I left for college. It was called “The One-Week Job Project” by Sean Aiken. Although hesitant at first because the idea of a different job every week sounded crazy, author Sean Aiken opened the book explaining about how this whole concept of a ‘job a week’ started and I was hooked. The rest of the book is his optimistic and intriguing journey about his adventures in the various and eclectic, career choices he made per week. From a radio DJ, astronomer, park ranger, tattooist, pizza maker and as Mayor in his hometown of Port Moody, British Columbia during his last job, there are 52 eclectic stories to keep you turning the page. By Melanie Goffman

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“I wanted to do everything and be everywhere. I had big ambitions, but I was totally directionless. I’d been thrown ill-prepared into a wide open landscape in which I could create anything. “ - Aiken The One-Week Project has turned into more than a book. There is a complimentary documentary showcasing Aiken’s journey. Additionally Aiken speaks at conferences about his experiences and how others can learn from his journey.

music Joe Symes and The Loving Kind

EM: Tell me a bit about how you all came together. Joe: I was playing acoustic gigs, festivals, radio shows and magazine interviews around Liverpool and Colin who I've known for a number of years asked if I need help by playing bongos. I agreed to that then after a lot of gigs, we agreed to look for other members. We tried numerous people who didn't work out but I now have great musicians whom I'm working with. They think the same and are passionate about the band and were its going. Dave S: A friend of mine asked if I was doing anything as Joe was looking to expand the band and I met up with Joe and Colin. I watched them play and liked the drive they had. I've been in original bands before but the reason for wanting to jump on board is that Joe writes material that appeals especially to me, so I was hooked. EM: Any specific bands that have influenced your sound? Joe: The usual bands like The Beatles, The Doors, R-E-M, Neil Young, Motown, Soul Music and John Barry. Colin: Definitely The Doors, The Beatles, John Barry. I could go on forever. Dave S: On a personal level I love the work of Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock and Brad Mehldau. The dexterity that these musicians put forward creates some fantastic sounds capes. I also like Miles Davis, especially Kind of Blue, that's in my top 5 albums. I love all types of music and I think that in time that will show in the music we put out. We

wouldn’t hold back. As long as the music is good, I listen to it. Motown, Classical, Jazz, Rock, Pop, Funk, even a bit of Trance music doesn't hurt! In addition, I'd say we all fall under the stereotypical influences, The Beatles, The Doors, Pink Floyd, The Kinks, The Small Faces etc. The list is endless. Paul: For me personally, blues guitarists tend to influence my playing. Mainly guys like Albert King, Peter Green and Buddy Guy. EM: You’ve got some airplay on US radio. That’s awesome! How did that come about? Joe: We have had a lot of airplay in the USA and also a lot of live interviews via telephone and Skype and we still are in the process of confirming more dates and stations. I think that’s going to increase when we release our self titled debut mini-album soon. Lots of work ahead for the band this year including filming promo videos to go with the album too. Dave S: I think because we don’t conform to a particular sound or genre, one song will be heard or played and then people are then checking us out. Being from Liverpool helps I suppose but we realize that the songs are giving us the attention and that we have them to back up what we are about. I hope what people hear gives them enough to want more! Paul: Being from Liverpool seems to carry some weight, and a heightened interest in what we’re doing. It must be a hark back to the whole Beatles/Liverpool scene, but in the U.S it seems they can’t get enough of us. EM: You also headlined the after-show for

music Noel Gallagher’s band last year. Must have been a very exciting night! What was that like? Joe: It was an amazing experience for the band, I think I can speak for us all on that one. It was our 2nd or 3rd gig as a full band and to play and headline that gig in Liverpool was amazing. We have a lot of other big gigs in the pipeline for this year that I’m looking forward to. Colin: Yeah, I really enjoyed that gig. The place was packed, and we went down great. I don’t understand people who say they get intimidated by playing to large crowds. That’s one of the main reasons I do what I do. Dave S: Great gig, albeit with past members, but all in all it was a great gig and turnout. Prior to that gig I was saying “we’re good check us out” and some didn’t come to earlier gigs. But then people from work and friends turned up and they said, “I get it”, basically. And that is a big thing for us as there isn’t any point if you cant turn heads. Another plus was that there were other bands there and people had come to see them but after we played we were approached asking where are we next playing. So although local, it was the start we needed. EM: Is the song writing process collaborative or individualistic? Joe: I’ve written all the songs up to now but I’ve collaborated with Dave on a new track called “Your No Friends Of Mine.” He had the music, so I wrote the song around what he had. It’s really great the way it’s come together and I’m sure we’ll be working like this a lot more. Dave S: I personally have loads of material and would love to get more into the song writing aspect of the band either penning one myself or with Joe, Paul or Colin or even all four of us. It will take pressure off Joe to keep coming up with stuff but it will hopefully add a different element of character to the band. Paul: Joe is a song writing machine- there’s no stopping him! Everyone has their own input on tracks, and this will be more evident on the next albums.

EM: You can pick two other bands to go on tour with- active or inactive. Who would they be and why? Joe: All the bands I was raised on are no longer around, but I’d like to tour with Paul McCartney if he’ll give us a gig. Colin: Yeah, McCartney I’d say because we all have a great fondness for The Beatles. Bob Dylan is another, or perhaps The Band. Dave S: Hmm, too many to mention, off the bat you’d have to say The Beatles for their sheer performance and just, well they’re The Beatles! Jimi Hendrix also- I think that would be mental gigging with him. The sheer energy you’d see would be hard to beat! Pink Floyd because again, it’s Floyd so do we really need a reason why? The Doors; the way Manzerek plays the keys is awesome to watch and Morrison’s voice, wow! Paul: I’d go for two with a solid retro sound like Miles Kane or Flaming Lips. I think they’d be a perfect accompaniment for touring. EM: If you could plan the next five years out, what would you want them to look like? Joe: I’d like the band to at least put out five amazing albums that stand the test of time and be able to have some sort of success. We’ll just to hope for the best, we work hard enough, so I think it’s possible. Colin: Make at least three great albums, play a lot in America, where we’ve getting a lot of great feedback. I just want to be as creative as possible. Dave S: Being the best band in the world, our music solves world peace and we’re all knighted! Ha, ha, ha! No, seriously, I’m happy playing as we are and what were doing. I’d like us to do some major festivals either this year or next and start on a few more albums over the next few years. This is just the beginning so who knows what the future holds. I’m playing music with three great friends and I can’t ask for more at the moment. It’s great. Paul: Getting the first album launched is the next big step, and I can’t see us stopping there. Taking the whole band as far as we can is on the bucket list!

charity 1:FACEWATCH SEVEN WATCHES. SEVEN CAUSES. SEVEN CHARITIES.

5 WATCHES PROVIDE AIDS TREATMENT

KEEP A CHILD ALIVE

12 WATCHES PROVIDE ONE MAMMOGRAM

american cancer society

625 WATCHES BUILD one WELL IN RWANDA

charity water

charity 1 WATCH SUPPORTs 8 CANCER PATIENTS

american cancer society

1 WATCH FEEDS SIXTEEN CHILDREN

one days wages

3 WATCHES PROVIDE one EFFICIENT STOVE

the adventure project

5 WATCHES PROVIDE one YEAR OF EDUCATION

pencils of promise

music

DREAMING IN POMPEII 1. pompeii by bastille 2. red hands by walk off the earth 3. sweater weather by the neighbourhood 4. dreaming by smallpools 6. tiptoe by imagine dragons 7. you & i by local natives 8. young blood by the naked & the famous

I we are always looking for contributing writers, photographers, artists and just about anything else! if you are interested, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to contact us!