a music magazine highlighting how music affects life and covers the up and coming bands of our generation.
the team founder gabi yost head of interviews caleigh wells head of graphic design jared elliott head of photography heather zalabak co-head of production management jiselle santos co-head of production management ky kasselman co-head of social media ashleigh haddock co-head of social media madi mize co-head of writing victoria taglione co-head of writing peyton rhodes music coordinator brandon quiroga
the contributors writers
ana gomez, ava butera, yasmin ettobi, savannah halberstadt, alex smider, kat hollis, angela smith, allsidon wyrsch, carissa mathena, noa johnson
photographers
clay sturgeon, makenna magdalena-mague, landon lacey, emma hintz, bella peterson, chapin patel
graphics
lindsey foust, jessica whelihan, ariana cruz
follow us
twitter @hearteyesmag instagram @hearteyesmag website hearteyesmag.com
contact us for submissions & questions, email us at
hearteyesmag@gmail.com
I
S
S
U
E
F
O
U
R
C O A S T M O D E R N EDITORS LETTER Heart Eyes Magazine, Issue number four is an Issue I have been looking forward to releasing for a long time. In this issue we have rad photos, interviews with super cool bands, and articles on this past years festival season. I am so excited for you all to read this one. Check out our October themed Zine we released with the Aquadolls! Stay tuned for the future, we have a ton of awesome things planned for Heart Eyes.
gabi yost
CON TENTS.
new vinyl revival going vegan working in the music industry must-see music films
12 24 42 45
photography glass animals mutemath modest mouse san fermin
10 22 26 28
features coast modern 14 dagny 30 culture wars 34
reviews billie eilish 6 humans of the queue: harry styles 40 favorite festivals 46
BILLIE EILISH LIVE at The Constellation Room, Santa Ana October 4th, 2017
Photos and Article by
6 | billie eilish
Makenna Magdaleno-Mague
I
t’s no secret that Billie Eilish is climbing the indie-pop ladder. If by some miracle you haven’t heard of her, get excited for a unique, talented, and charismatic new artist.
When I first saw Billie Eilish, it was December 3rd of 2016 - she was opening for a popular OC band known as Armors. At that time, I noticed she only had a small group of fans. However, when I saw her headline on October 4th, the show was a completely different story. She played the Constellation Room, a room in The Observatory where upcoming artists perform. I arrived to the venue around 40 minutes before she came on. When I walked into The Constellation Room, it was already filled to the back with fans, and her opener was just finishing. I could almost feel how excited the crowd was for Billie to come on; one guy behind me kept going on about how special she was: “Her voice is amazing! I know she’s going to be huge and on all the radio stations in 5 years and I’ll be able to say that I got to see her in this small room when she was 15!” I was excited to hear that her fan base was already so dedicated, but before I had the chance to listen in on what other fans were saying, the lights dimmed and the crowd screamed in anticipation.
And then, “The Office” theme song started playing Already the crowd was roaring, and she danced onto the stage in a giant, fluffy, neon green “Coca-Cola” jacket. What I noticed most about her performance was that it seemed that singing came effortlessly to her, and she looked like she genuinely enjoyed being on stage. I love when artists are interactive with the crowd, and she was constantly doing just that with everyone along the stage, even responding to the “I love you’s” and shouts from the crowd. Every single person in that room knew every single word to all of her songs. It was a magical feeling to be surrounded by a group of people that had so much love for an upcoming artist. And, needless to say, Billie is definitely on her way to something huge.
I highly recommend checking out her show, but don’t wait - many of the shows on this tour are selling out already.
GLASS ANIMALS
photos by: clay sturgeon
10 | glass animals
VINYL REVIVAL By: Ava Butera
Come one! Come all! The vinyl revival is among us and it’s going to be here for a while. Since the creation of the MP3 Players and iPods, digitally downloading music seemed the easiest, fastest, and most popular way to go. However, this current generation of music listeners are changing the way we listen to music in a way that has already been done before. For the last couple of years, music fans have started investing their money into a more physical kind of listening experience. Vinyl records are coming back and stronger than ever before. The first vinyl record to ever be pressed was released in 1951 by the company Audiophile. For the next four decades, vinyl was the main way listeners could hear their favorite songs without patiently waiting by the radio for it to be played again. Yep, that’s right. Our parents and grandparents couldn’t just download a new track, but had to wait for the full album to be released. Or, if a certain artists or band wanted to released a preview to their album, they would distribute 7 inch records that contained two tracks. (Incidentally, 7 inches are also making a comeback, along with full LPs.) In 1988, the vinyl record sales market plummeted due to the introduction of 8-tracks and cassettes. These two forms of listening did not stand the test of time, as they were not as reliable and tangible as a vinyl record. However, for the time, these compact and portable options to listen to music were the way to go. At this point, radios in cars were becoming popular, and vinyl records were obviously not small enough to be played while driving. Cassette players and Sony Walkmans were extremely popular for the duration of the 80’s.
12 | vinyl revival
In 1984, the first CD to ever be released in the United States was Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run. After that, CDs became a prominent listening source in the 90’s. The CD never overshadowed the vinyl record, however, because digital music quickly destroyed sales of the CD. The CD was compact and more reliable than a flimsy cassette, but the popularity never stuck. CDs are still distributed currently, as some people still enjoy playing them in their cars or even in CD players. From about 2000 to 2013, nobody seemed to care about physical copies of music. Thousands of music stores across the world were forced to close their doors. Even extremely notable stores like Bleecker Street Records, located in New York City has to shut its doors after being in busy for over 35 years. In addition, HMV announced this year that they would be closing all 100 of their stores across Canada due to harsh market known as the music world. But in 2014, Jack White released his second solo album, Lazaretto, on vinyl through his own record plant, Third Man Records. This vinyl record had tons of different features to it, including projecting a hologram of an angel when the record was spun at a certain speed. White sold over 40,000 copies of Lazaretto in one week, generating the most sales the vinyl record market had made since 1991. In 2015, the vinyl record market surged with an increase to 32% in sales. This was the highest amount of buyers since 1988.
Retailers noticed this vast increase in record sales and began carrying LPs in their stores. Stores like Urban Outfitters, Barnes & Noble, and even Target have began increasing their sales of records and decreasing their sales of CDs. As great as this seems for the vinyl community, the mainstreaming of vinyl sales has also been harsh for small, independent record stores that have vigorously stayed in business despite the competition. Thanks to the Internet, we now have access to purchase records for anyone and anywhere. A popular website just for buying new and used physical copies of music is Discogs. There, fans can purchase hard to find records at discount price. Along with this, we also have Ebay, which has tons of records for sale. (Although these websites are simple and easy, whenever possible, do your best to support small record stores. Without them, the vinyl revival would not be possible.) Now, in 2017, music fans constantly pine after colored variants and special releases of records because they genuinely want a physical copy to hold, examine the artwork, and play in its truest form. We are at the zenith of the vinyl comeback, and it couldn’t be a cooler addition to the modern music scene.
vinyl revival | 13
an interview with
COAST MODERN
Interview by: Noa Johnson & Caleigh Wells Photography by: Caleigh Wells
Welcome back to Austin! Would you please introduce yourself and your role in the band? Luke & Coleman: Thank you!
Coleman: I’m Coleman, and I play voice. Luke: Hi I’m Luke, and I sing guitar.
You first debuted the project Coast Modern at SXSW ‘16, and now you’re back, but headlining a sold out show, which is amazing. How do you guys feel? Luke: That is wild; that is a wild quick ride, I feel like. It’s hard to believe. Coleman: Pretty buckwild. Luke: White knucklin’.
Coleman: White knuckllinnn’. Congrats on your debut album, by the way! How does it feel to finally have it out? Coleman: It feels great; it’s like a birthing an astral child.
Luke: Yeah, I’m just like… yeah now it’s not ours anymore, it’s everybody’s. Did you expect such positive feedback from fans and critics? Luke: I expected some people to be like “mehh” but everybody has been so… Coleman: We waited so long that our expectations floated away. Luke: Yeah.
Coleman: And so what were you saying that like everybody was just like… Luke: I was overwhelmed the day it came out. Coleman: Yeah, so much love.
It is a phenomenal album, very impressive. Luke & Coleman: Thank you!
On your album, you have a lot more than just your songs. You have these, what I would call, interludes like “Pogs and Slammers” and “Yemma.” Why did you decide to include those as well? Luke: That’s kinda like our rawest form, like most songs kinda start in that state where we’re just messing around, having fun, and making each other laugh, so it was to show the human side of us. We’re just dudes making tunes in a bedroom, like, it’s not fancy. It’s really good to keep it at a raw form to really show the beginning. Luke: Yeah, I feel like it can be inspiring in a way, like it’s not shined up and all glossed. Coleman: Still sounds dope, though.
It really does; “Pogs and Slammers” is probably one of my favorites off the album. Coleman: *laughing* Nice. Going back before the album was released when you guys only had singles out - why release singles and not EP’s? Luke: Good question.
Coleman: *whispers* Great question Diane. I know your name isn’t Diane. But, it’s because our label is apart of the team, and they had a vision about how to present us to the world. Their idea is that you know, the music industry is changing. The reason we had albums in the first place was because it was a physical necessity. So it was kind of experimenting and playing with the idea of not being stuck to like “Oh, here’s a batch of songs.” It kind of worked against us because everyone was like “WHERE’S THE ALBUM?” Luke: People still wanted an album really bad.
coast modern | 15
We did have to wait a hot minute for that album, but it was worth it. Luke: It was building the band up slowly.
Coleman: If we would have blown up when we first came out the wheels, we would have fallen off the tricycle because I was not ready. I think that’s so smart of your label because as a fan, it kept me on the edge of my seat waiting for you to release that next song because I was always craving more music from you guys. Luke & Coleman: Yeah, right on. I feel like there are very few albums that people enjoy start to finish. Like you said, they kind of are just releases like a batch of songs, but your album is captivating from start to finish and is pulled together extremely well. Coleman: Love it!
Luke: Yeah that’s so cool, we try to craft a flow after the fact. It was definitely not premeditated, but it’s the journey from baby band to something else. Coleman: Faux flow.
Luke: Faux flow. Post flow. Post flow-lone. Nope.
Coleman: Luke’s has too much water today. Luke: So much water.
From having “Hollow Life” drop in 2015, to finally having a full album now, how can you say your music has progressed or evolved in the last two years? Luke: It’s gotten way worse.
Coleman: Don’t laugh, he’s being serious. He’s being serious, we suck now (laughing). In all seriousness, I think we’ve become more confident.
16 | coast modern
Luke: I think we’re less likely to take influence from people trying to sneak their fingers in. This is what we wanted to sound like; this is our sonic baby. Coleman: *leaning into the voice recorder* You hear that? Keep your paws outta my music.
Luke: I think we’re also less unafraid to push it a little bit more. Coleman: We’re more less unafraid. Luke: I’m lost now…
Coleman: Less unafraid would mean we were more afraid.
Luke: Yeah, like“Run it Up” was the last song we did, and we added a lot; we added a kitchen sink to that one. It was a lot of layers of stuff in there. Talking about your songwriting process, how do you guys do that? Do you guys write together? Individually? Do you start with the music or lyrics, or does it flip flop around? Coleman: It’s always different, we don’t have a method. Luke, I think, gravitates towards a method that’s really like… how do you describe it, like gibberish?
Luke: Yeah, it’s like getting a beat with a vibe, just a skeleton that gives you kind of like images, and then you can baby talk on top of that. Ba-baby sing.
Coleman: I’m personally very lingual; the lyric always comes with the melody at the exact same time. Not a lot of people write like that. Most people gravitate towards just the melody or just the words, but for me it’s like “baby’s on the road.” It’s all very tactile. Luke: The melody works because the lyrics just come together. The only rule is to change it up all the time. We’re constantly surprising ourselves on how we do a beat.
It’s good to change it up so you don’t get bored or tired of the same things over and over again. Coleman: Sometimes I have Luke wear a nurse’s outfit.
Anything to spice it up, it’s whatever you’re into.
Luke: There’s a selection of hats and thinking caps we put on. Where do you find inspiration for the weird sounds like the kitchen sink? Does that just happen on accident?
the background to keep me distracted.
Luke: Oh yeah, I was doing dishes in the background. Coleman: Wow.
Luke: We make music on a computer so it’s like, anything to get that organic feel. We’ve placed a lot of weird instruments on the album like a fruit bowl, a desk, and a chair.
Coleman: You know in “The Way it Was” when it starts to get really trippy? A fruit bowl. That’s truly a one of a kind sound.
Coleman: We’ve gotten so close to actually using a kitchen sink.
Coleman: So much of the album is.
Coleman: We did! In “Frost.”
Coleman: Sort of like Lewis and Clark.
Luke: I think we have.
Luke: We used a fruit bowl.
Coleman: Remember, I said to do dishes in
Luke: We’re always searching for that sound, that texture, that makes it feel organic.
How do you guys come up with your music video ideas? They’re obviously very interesting. What’s the production like for it? From thought process to getting it out there. Coleman: It usually goes like this: Our label sends us all types of pitches for ideas that are really sterile and super like, “we’re a band.” So for the first one was the destructive idea of driving around with gas and that stuff and we’re like, let’s do that ourselves. We filmed it ourselves in a day and edited it, and that’s why it looks really cheap. Luke: Because it was.
Coleman: “Pockets Full of No” was a friend of ours who we met through working with BØRNS, and we asked him to pitch us… what do you call that? Not a pitch.
Luke: Hopefully it comes out. Coleman: One day.
Luke: Fingers crossed! Not only do you guys have videos, you have visualizers for your songs as well. Who makes those, and why have one for all your songs? Luke: It started with “Dive” really. The girl who does our cover, she did the first few. It’s really just a way to have the songs live, and you can trip out and do whatever. It’s just nice to have a visual component when you’re listening these days. And a lot of people listen on YouTube I guess, so it better than a little square.
Luke: A treatment?
Coleman: Yeah, a treatment, and he sent us a paragraph of nonsense. It made no sense. He typed out “you’re DJ’s that are also vikings.” It just made no sense.
Luke: “Put coins on your eyes” and we were just like “Uhh.” Coleman: One paragraph run-on sentence and we didn’t even question it. We flew him out, and shot the video without even asking. We have this new video for “Dive”, and we shot the whole video, then we looked at the footage, and realized the lighting was wrong on all of it so we had to cut the entire music video out of B-roll of all the shots between the shots. So it’s a video of us not making a music video, so that’s coming soon.
... most songs kinda “start in that state where
we’re just messing around, having fun, and making each other laugh.
”
coast modern | 19
With social media being a vital part in a band or musician’s reputation these days, how has it played a part with connecting to your fans and promoting your music? Coleman: Man, we just don’t want to be a band on social media. Like, so often you’ll like a band and look them up on social media and it’s like, they’re not trying to adapt to the avenue at all. It’s like, this is us, and it seems so two-dimensional. We wanted to like reach into the internet and be apart of it. So with Instagram, we try to create content and media that extends our brand rather than it reflecting right back at the music because we love visuals.
Luke: Trying to create a little world, a little bumble, not just “I’m eating cereal today” but that might be good, I don’t know. Coleman: If we overthink it, then it works. Luke: Then it doesn’t work.
Coleman: Like you eating cereal but like…
You could just make music out of it, the cereal. Luke & Coleman: Oooh.
Luke: Like the crackling and crunching.
20 | coast modern
Alright to wrap this all up, the year is almost over, so what does 2018 look like for you guys? Luke: Whoa.
I know, crazy right?
Coleman: That scares me. Wait really? Is another year actually coming? Luke: It comes again?
Wasn’t the world supposed to end?
Coleman: The world did end in 2012.
I mean, has anything felt real since then? Luke & Coleman: Wow.
Coleman: Have you thought about that? Have you ever thought about THAT? Luke: 2018…
Coleman: If we make it. Are you planning on taking a break? You have been touring like… Luke: No! No breaks, album two.
Coleman: We’re cutting the breaks. Luke: Cuttin’ the breaks.
Coleman: Album two comes out end of October… just kidding. Luke: World tour, we could.
Coleman: Mark my words, end of October 2019. Luke: Spice World maybe.
Coleman: Spice World two, toasted.
Luke: Spice World two, the Coast Modern story.
Coleman: Ah I love it. 2018 is going to be a year of exploring other mediums, collaborations, touring outside of the US, and hopefully we’ll continue our own personal growth and exploring the inner universe. I’m promoting that idea, dive in there people. There’s a whole world and also I’m sorry.
pictured top: Coleman Trapp
pictured bottom: Luke Atlas
coast modern | 21
photos by: emma hintz
modest mouse modest mouse photos by landon lacey
S A N
FERMIN photos by bella peterson
an interview with
interview by ky kasselman photos by chapin patel
“Most of my songs have a very personal story behind them� page name | 34
Dagny is a Norwegian pop singer who broke onto the charts with her single “Backbeat.” She released her EP Ultraviolet in September of 2016, on which she collaborated with BØRNS. She has released three singles in 2017, most recently “Love You Like That.” She is currently on tour supporting LANY, and Ky Kasselman got to sit down with her at her show in Austin, TX. How has it been starting this tour? Dagny: Oh, it’s been wicked. I’ve always dreamt about doing a bus tour, and this is my first ever bus tour so it’s been really exciting. I’m still getting used to the whole sleeping on the bus thing, but it’s really nice. How is it touring with LANY? Dagny: They’re great! Very friendly, very open, and very awesome people. Obviously, you’re going to be on the road for like two months together so I bet everyone was excited to see how the chemistry was going to be between everyone. Do you have a favorite song of theirs? Dagny: “Super Far!” So I wanted to talk to you about some of the challenges of being an international artist touring in the U.S.? Dagny: I think, what is the case right now, is that there’s so many artists. The biggest challenge of going on tour is getting the funds to do it. As an artist, the biggest drive for me has been going to play live, be on tour, and meet the audience and stuff. But, it’s a big world. And there’s a lot of logistics going into it, which sounds really boring, but I guess you just want people to know how much effort goes into making a tour like this happen. Therefore, I think you get to appreciate it so much more. Kind of going along with that, what are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a female artist in the music industry? Dagny: I think that I’ve been pretty lucky. I am quite stubborn and strong-minded;
I don’t really let myself be pushed around. I think a challenge that we all face as artists, particularly women artists, is to stand up for what you want to do, what you believe in, and trust that it’s good for you to do. And just make everyone understand that no matter what, this is you, and this is you being true to yourself. I think once you do that, people respect you, and that is the most rewarding, when you feel like you do something that people respect. So, you collaborated with BØRNS on “Fool’s Gold”, how was that? Yes! I love him! I’ve never actually met him, though, but I love his music, and I love him so much. I think he’s brilliant; when I first heard his take on his verse on “Fool’s Gold”, it was actually meant for me, but then I heard it and I was like “Oh my gosh, he needs to be singing this.” And then I thought, “Heck no, that’s never going to happen.” And then it did, and I was so happy because I am a big, big fan of his work. So what’s coming up for you? Do you have a full length album in the works? Dagny: It’s definitely in the works, but we’re just releasing a lot of singles here in the upcoming months. We have a lot of people asking about different songs in the set, and some of them aren’t even released yet. I think the focus is just getting out as much music as possible and keep touring. But, I dream about a full album and I always have; I feel like 2018 is “the year.”
dagny | 31
Hoping to headline soon? Dagny: I would love to. You guys are such a great audience. It’s good fun playing these venues. So which one of your songs is your favorite to play live? Dagny: There’s one called “Bullet”, which isn’t released yet, but it’s one of them that we’re releasing soon, and I love playing it. It’s so much fun; there’s so much attitude, and there’s like drumming and punching, and I love it. But I also really enjoy, there’s a moment in the set, where we do “Wearing Nothing”, and I always really enjoy that as well. Who are some of your musical inspirations? Dagny: I would say that BØRNS is one of them over the last two years. I hadn’t heard him before I started going out to LA to start working with Universal, but he absolutely blew my mind. Also, MØ, I think she’s great. I’m having a Lana Del Rey period right now, and I’m so late to the party, but I love her stuff and I saw her live this summer. She played Ride, and that’s one of those songs that from the moment I heard it, I knew it was going to be on repeat for a long time. What do you want fans to take away from your music or your live show? Dagny: I think I bring a lot of energy when we play, and I want people to feel that and to feel energized from the show. I want them to feel strong and like they can do anything. That’s how I feel when I go onstage. If people could listen to my music and feel empowered or it picks them up, that would be the best thing that I could do. I always want music to either make me feel strong and happy or make me cry my eyes out. I don’t think that I make music yet that makes people cry their eyes out, though.
32 | dagny
So which one of your songs has the most interesting story to it? Dagny: Most of my songs have a very personal story behind them. I don’t think all of them, necessarily, when you listen to them, you don’t take my story from it. I wrote “Bullet” from my brother’s point of view. I think a lot of people listen to it, and they think it’s a love song about going back to someone, but it’s actually about waking up and realizing something, I don’t want to go too into it yet. I love observing people and writing about them. Sometimes my songs are incredibly personal about something that happened to me; sometimes I find that it’s almost easier to put words to the emotion when it’s something I’m observing, rather than being completely in it. I think when I finally open up about what “Bullet” is actually about, people will be surprised. One day. Do you have any advice for our readers that are wanting to get into the music industry? Dagny: Just be persistent. That’s the only reason why I’m still around. I just never stopped. Be honest. If you don’t believe it, no one else will. That’s what I’ve learned. Find your people, and find your team. Surround yourself with people who are passionate about what you do, and you have a good time with.
Be sure to check out Dagny’s EP Ultraviolet, and her singles, including her latest one “Love You Like That” available everywhere. See Dagny on tour with LANY this fall!
C U LTU R EW A RS U L T U R E W A R S photos by ky kasselman
Culture Wars is a band based out of Austin, TX. Formerly known as The Vanity and having opened for bands such as Cold War Kids and BØRNS, Alex Dugan (vocals), David Grayson (drums), and Mic Vredenburgh (guitar), have reinvented their sound and style to create this project. They released their EP, Culture Wars, in August of this year. Just breaking onto the scene, Culture Wars played their first full set under this name in Houston, TX at White Oak Music Hall. Ky Kasselman got to sit down with Alex and Mic to talk about this new phase in their careers. Why the name Culture Wars? Alex: It was totally random, actually. We were just thinking of names for months and nothing really stuck. It randomly came up and it was the first one that everyone didn’t hate immediately, and then we waited it out. We couldn’t come up with any reason to hate it. Mic: It’s hard to tell if it came to fit the music just because we started liking it more, but I kind of felt like it actually fit the music pretty well early on. Alex: It adapted into itself. Mic: Our manager said it was strong. To new listeners, how would you describe your genre? Alex: Everyone’s been saying electro-rock; I’ll go with that. Mic: Yeah, I’ve been kind of saying that for lack of a better word. Alex: I mean, it makes sense. Mic: There are a lot of electronics and synthesizers in addition to the guitar things. Who are your musical inspirations, both personally, and for the group? Alex: If we’re just hanging out in the studio, it’s just all Atlanta trap music, honestly. It makes me feel more relaxed for some reason, I don’t understand it. I listen to it in the car now too because I hate being in the car. So I’ll go with 21 Savage as my answer.
Mic: I grew up playing classical music, which I still zone out on. Rap too. When you work so much doing your own music, it’s good to listen to different stuff, especially when you’re driving away from work. Alex: Especially now since we’re playing so much and listening to each other so much, whatever is the polar opposite of what we’re doing inspires us at the time. Mic: I think for all beat-based music, though, it all goes back to what’s pretty old. Like blues music, people always seem to go back to. Hip hop artists, electronic artists, like Depeche Mode always goes back to the blues. Sometimes, if I need inspiration for something, I go back and listen to old blues and then it turns into a modern rock song. Alex: That’s why I have him, because I don’t want to listen to that shit. culture wars | 35
What are you most excited about with this new era? Alex: It feels more like us. I feel like, in the other stuff, we were trying to be something that we’re not, and so now it feels more natural and more comfortable. It feels right. I get way less self-conscious about it, and that’s just really nice and makes everything easier. Mic: I feel the same way, I think when we get up there and play these songs, for people who haven’t heard them it might be weird in some ways, but for us, this is stuff that we’ve been making for over a year. There’s a certain type of confidence that comes from that, because it’s your thing that you made. What’s your favorite song on the EP and which one is your favorite to play live? Alex: Favorite song? I guess “Lies.” Favorite one to play live? It wasn’t like this until yesterday, but “Delilah” is more fun than I thought it would be. Mic: For me, “Bones” is my favorite song in the studio. It might be my favorite song to play live too, but I’ve actually really enjoyed playing “Money,” it kind of has a different energy from the rest of the songs. I have kind of an aggressive energy when I’m on stage and I feel like that song fits that. What’s coming up for you guys? Alex: I guess building this thing. We’re not rebuilding, we’re just building. But, it’s a different thing, so you’re reselling everybody the pitch. We’re just playing shows, getting people to hear the music, trying to get some tours, and radio and stuff like that. Nights when we’re playing shows, like tonight, is when everything feels tangible.
Do you have any advice for our readers and other aspiring musicians? Alex: I used to think that it was all about getting out there and getting out in front of as many people as possible. I think one thing that I’ve learned in this new phase is that it’s really about the songwriting. It’s a craft and it does take time. Really focus on songwriting before you just run out in front of people. You’ll be a lot happier afterwards instead of that, “Man, I can’t believe we used to play that song.” Give it time and breathe on it before you just go rushing out the door.
S P EED RO U ND Cats or dogs? Alex: Dogs. Mic: I’m currently around dogs more right now, but I grew up with cats. Alex: Lightning round, bro. Move on. Does pineapple belong on pizza? Alex: No. Mic: I can eat it.
36 | culture wars
Winter or summer? Alex: Winter. Mic: Summer.
Tea or coffee? Alex: Coffee! Mic: Yeah, coffee. Ky: What are your coffee orders? Alex: Cold brew with coconut milk. Mic: Cold brew. Black and bold. Sandals or sneakers? Alex: Sneakers. Mic: I’m wearing flip flops, so sandals. What is your favorite song right now? Alex: Ooh, “XO TOUR Lif3!” Or “Goosebumps.” Travis Scott. Mic: Probably “Creature Comfort” by Arcade Fire. Alex: That is a good song! Ky: Pancakes or waffles? Alex: I’m gluten intolerant. Mic: Pancakes. Chipotle or Freebirds? Alex: CHIPOTLE. Mic: Yeah, Chipotle. Alex: Put that in all caps. Yeehaw or howdy? Alex: I’ve been saying howdy a lot. Mic: I’m a howdy too. Is a hotdog a sandwich? Alex: Sure. Whatever you want to call it. Mic: Well, if you really want to get into… the bun of it. I’d say that it is in a bun… and hamburgers are also in a bun, and hamburgers are considered sandwiches so therefore a hotdog is a sandwich.
ut P, o ck ed E d e h titl n c a , f o l t e ere ows s e r ’ su ars rywh sh e B e W ve ying ur le e pla as! t l ex Cu ilab em T d h a av tch t roun a ca
Humans of The HARRY STYLES AUSTIN, TX
Written & Shot by Caleigh Wells
O
n a Wednesday in the early afternoon, I joined my roommate who had tickets to see Harry Styles at the Austin City Limits theatre in downtown Austin, Texas, to buy merchandise before the show. Unfortunately, I didn’t have tickets to see the exOne Direction member, whose solo career I had been following avidly since he announced his album, but I decided I wanted a t-shirt anyway, so maybe people would at least think I got the chance to see him. Walking up to the theatre, I wasn’t surprised at the size of the queue already snaking down the street and around the corner. As one familiar to camping culture in music, I was used to the blankets, chairs, and even sleeping bags strewn on the sidewalk next to the people in line. However, what surprised me was the amount of time some people dedicated to waiting for Harry. Rumors throughout the line was that the first people in line had been there since September 22nd (the show was October 11th) and rotated who was waiting while the others left to run errands or go to class. While the amount of waiting time wasn’t confirmed, it was obvious the first people in line had been there for a long, long time. 40 | humans of the queue
“We’ve been waiting since 5:00 this morning,” gals Grace, Maggie, and Katie told me. They were relatively close to the front of the line, saying “I don’t know how many hours it’s been, but it’s been enough.” I asked them about their experience so far, especially being in downtown Austin, which has a history of aggressive homeless people. “It hasn’t been too bad,” they answered. “I mean, at the start of the line we had the two-line problems. We had some fights— not fight fights— it was very tense because there was a lot of yelling because some people were really angry.” Grace, Maggie, and Kate were referring to a story they had told me earlier about a security guard accidentally starting another line, causing an angry outburst from the first few people in the actual line. “But as far as Austin city life, no one has bothered us. Apparently some homeless people stole some things from the people in the front.” One would assume that tensions would be high as people queued for hours, maybe days, to see one of their favorite artists in such an intimate setting. I asked them if things were more tense or friendly among the people around them.
“It depends. These girls closer to us who are farther back, they’re a lot less tense,” they answered, gesturing to the girls camped next to them. “The girls who are number one and number two, they’re like “I’m gonna shank you,” intense. I’m genuinely scared.” they said, partially joking. “They were kind of awful. I think it depends, do you feel genuinely threatened [by people also camping] or are you more here like, we’re all in the pit, we’re all going to have a good time either way.” Relations not as close to the front seemed better than where the three girls were. My friend Andrea was a bit further back and told me, “Everyone was really nice. We all, for the most part, kept to ourselves.” I understood why people were camping, if I had tickets I would have been right there with them. I asked Grace, Maggie and Katie if there was any special reason Harry was worth camping for. “He’s a prince. A king!” the girls replied, laughing. “I just think there’s a lot of hormones. There’s a lot of people who liked One Direction for years. I think part of the reason is that this is such a small venue, and a lot of it is general admission. People who liked One Direction know that they played stadiums, so the fact this is a small, intimate show is really interesting. You’re really in there with him.” Finally, after seeing so many videos of Harry singing, dancing, spraying water, and starting Kiwi over three times, I had to ask Grace, Maggie, and Kate what they were most excited about. “Harry! No, just being there. I want to get smacked in the face with water.” one of them said. “Honestly, I’m just excited to be there. It’s gonna be intimate. Everyone is going to be sweaty and close. It’s going to be really tense and really fun. It’ll be a great atmosphere.” After the show, Andrea confirmed Harry was worth waiting for. “He is one hell of a performer and beyond charismatic. I can honestly say I teared up when he covered “The Chain.”
As someone who grew up listening to Fleetwood Mac with my dad, it was surreal to see one of my favorite people cover something that was a part of my childhood. He was meant to be on a stage, and I’m glad I was able to witness him doing what he loves.”
humans of the queue | 41
a look into
THE MUSIC INDUSTRY Written by Gabi Yost To a lot of us on the outside, the music industry seems like some sort of monolith: like a huge, complicated machine with far too many parts to ever be understood. If you’re looking into getting your start in the music industry, whether you’re planning to be the artist, the producer, the sound guy, the manager, or anything in between, you may not even know where to start. But it’s easier than you think: at least according to Dylan Graham, lead singer of Glass House Point, says. We reached out to three talented people in the industry to get some insight on their journey to success within the industry and how they managed to beat the odds. Question 1: How did you get into the music industry? I first started making music as something to do with my time in high school - writing simple songs, learning about me and what I wanted to be as an artist and as a person. I really came into myself as an artist when I started college. Babyblu has only been a main project for me for about 7 months and I’ve been working on creating my vision as a solo artist. The inspiration for my music as it is now is lots of dream pop mixed with variations of 90’s R&B. Artists such as the 1975, Daniel Caesar, Prince, Wet, and The Cure have been very big for me in forming an identity as a musician and creating a sound that I think is very me. I don’t want to be very set in a sound, I want to go project to project evolving into new versions of me and being better at my craft. For my next project, I want to really dive into a goth R&B style. Dylan McBrayer, known as Babyblu. Question 2: Do you have any advice for people trying to get into Career in the Industry: Up-and-Coming artist Photo Cred: Brooke Nolan
42 | the music industry
this field of this music industry?
The biggest tips I can give to someone trying to gain a foothold in the music industry would be: 1. Stay honest and true to your vision, make art that you want to see in the world and hopefully people will see the vision just as you do. 2. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to be a good artist. Be very DIY, make cool art happen with small budgets and make things affordable. Money doesn’t always equal a good project. For example, my album “Petals” artwork was made with a bed sheet in my living room with 10 dollar flowers from the supermarket. You can do it yourself. 3. Lastly, build a team of friends who are down for the pursuit of good art. Even if a project is DIY, it doesn’t have to all be on you. Make art that is fun with your friends that is genuine and people will see the realness that is being created.
Question 1: How did you get involved in your field? During college, I studied music business for a semester at the Contemporary Music Center in Nashville. During the three month semester in Nashville, I fell in love with the local music scene and forged many valuable connections and relationships. The idea of touring for a living was becoming a reality. But before I would pursue the tour life, I decided to return to college to finish my final semester and receive my bachelor’s degree in Communication. Within months of graduating, I was back in Nashville with an internship at a small artist management label. I was starting at the bottom of the barre l- a non-paying internship, and two dead end part-time jobs, but I knew with hard work and determination I would make a name for myself in Nashville. I hustled hard for two months, and then my big break came. Through connections made during my semester studying in Nashville, I was offered a gig as an Assistant Tour Manager for a couple well known local Nashville artists. I was now on my first bus tour within two months of being in Nashville. I had kept my head down, worked hard, and made sure to complete all tasks selflessly and with the best attitude possible. For the most part, touring careers don’t tend to happen overnight. There are people who work hard for two or more years before they find a stable touring gig. I was very blessed to have been given an opportunity to prove myself on a big tour. From there, one gig turned to another, and I’ve been touring with bands working as an Assistant Tour Manager, Merchandise Manager, and now Tour Manager.
Tim Lyons Career in the Industry: Tour Manager
Question 2: Who inspired you to take this career path? My mentor, Natalie Ferwerda, was the first person to take a chance on me. She gave me my first practice as a Tour Manager during my semester studying music business in Nashville. I had the opportunity to be her Assistant Tour Manager/Merchandise Manager for a year, and during that time she consistently challenged me and taught me many valuable lessons for life on the road, as well as many constructive life lessons. Throughout my time as a tour manager, I’ve continually asked myself, “What would Natalie Ferwerda do?” She always set an example of going above and beyond the call of duty, and always putting others first. Question 3: Do you have any tips for people trying to get into this field? If you’re interested in music business and the music industry, you’re going to have to start at the bottom. Whether it be a small time internship, or working security at a local music venue- you will have to prove yourself at that level first. This may sound cheesy, but if you work hard and give it your all, people will take notice. Bigger and better opportunities will come about once you’ve proven that you can complete seemingly small and mind-numbing tasks. I would also definitely recommend getting involved with your local music scene, or moving to a city with an professional music scene like Nashville, Los Angeles, or New York City. In order to get jobs and internships, you will need to network and connect in whatever city you are applying. Be open to meeting new people, and keep in contact with any connections made along your professional journey.
the music industry | 43
Some background on Dylan’s career: Most people know me as the frontman for Glass House Point, but my involvement in the music industry reaches far beyond the scope of artistry. Behind the scenes, I run an artist production and management company called Channel Patch Productions, in which I book tours, promote shows, and consult bands. Question 1: How did you get involved in your field?
Dylan Graham Career in the Industry: Lead singer of Glass House Point
My involvement in the industry was originally spurred by the local pursuits of my band, Glass House Point. I actively began managing my band in my senior year of high school, and it was then that I was first exposed to the music business: a sector riddled with corruption, insincerity, and an appalling lack of professionalism. Over time, I decided it was better to take advantage of the industry’s tragic flaws, rather than be a victim of them. So, I started Channel Patch Productions to create a platform in which local, regional, and national artists could work together to take control of their careers. We aim to shift the power of the industry back into the hands of the artist. Question 2: What inspired you to take this career path? I’ve always been frustrated by the notion that “it’s so hard to make it in the music industry.” Growing up, I heard this expression all of the time, and the truth is, it is so disastrously ignorant! It implies that the only way to “make it” in the music industry is to be discovered by an industry player, and it suggests that an artist’s career is left to an element of chance. In reality, it’s surprisingly easy to establish yourself in this industry, and an artist’s career is certainly not left to chance. My inspiration to book, manage, and promote spurs from my ability to creatively manipulate industry channels in favor of the artist. It’s really thrilling to approach business creatively and create your own opportunities. Question 3: Do you have any tips for those trying to get into the music business? If you are trying to get involved in the music business, you need to realize that opportunity will not come knocking. Starting off without credibility requires you to make opportunities for yourself. If you are an artist, you need to be competitive, and that includes differentiating yourself from label bands — bands with tremendous financial backing, management teams, PR support, and unrestricted studio time. It’s a daunting thing to think about, but it’s the reality of the business. The most significant way to differentiate yourself from other acts is to handle business creatively, and have fun with it. You need to be as passionate about your business as you are about your music. If you can handle business in an innovative way, you will quickly find ways to create opportunity.
44 | the music industry
4
M USTSE E
written by Yasmin Ettobi
1. Sing Street The 80s were a wonderfully wacky decade for fashion, music and pop culture in America, but what was it like in Ireland? Sing Street showcases the harsh and slightly depressing life of teenagers in Dublin, from their school lives to their home lives. The story is centered around Conor, a boy struggling to find himself among a hectic family life and adjustment to a new, slightly shabby school. He decides to form a band in order to impress a girl, and through her influence and the exposure to a new passion, making music, begins a journey of self discovery. The soundtrack of Sing Street is a mixture of iconic 80s hits and original songs. The catchiness and beauty of both the new and old tracks will have you wishing that you were born 30 years earlier. 2. School of Rock School of Rock is one of those movies that’s impossible not to love. I mean, how can you go wrong with Jack Black, over-the-top humor, and classic rock music? In the film, Black plays Dewey Finn, a lowlife guitarist with big ambitions of becoming a true rockstar. After being kicked out of his band and illegally accepting a substitute teaching job that was meant for his roommate, Dewey transforms the 4th graders in his class into a world class rock band. School of Rock will have you rolling on the floor laughing, headbanging to its rocking soundtrack, and inspired to follow your passion, whatever it may be. It’s truly a must-watch! 3. Whiplash If you know anything about the film industry, you’ve probably heard of Damien Chazelle, the director of the magical movie La La Land. Chazelle has said in interviews that Whiplash is the movie that made him able to create La La Land, and after viewing it, it’s clear to see why.
Film and music are two of the most common forms of emotional expression in modern society. It only makes sense that when the two come together, the results can be incredibly moving. If you love the combination of music and cinema, here are four movies that you NEED in your life: Whiplash is a terrifyingly intense depiction of someone who goes to the extreme when following their dream. Andrew, played by Miles Teller, is an aspiring jazz drummer who gets accepted to a music program where the instructor will stop at nothing to find the next “Charlie Parker.” Be warned - when I say nothing, I mean NOTHING. Andrew’s instructor screams, curses, and even throws things at members of the band who aren’t pulling their weight. The acting in Whiplash is so raw and realistic that it’s at times hard to watch, but that’s what makes it so intriguing - it’s meant to lead you out of your comfort zone. This combined with some awe-inspiring jazz music makes for a groundbreaking film through and through. 4. Almost Famous No movie depicts the music scene in the 1970s as well as Almost Famous does. This film covers the life of touring bands, fans, and groupies, and how music plays a key instrument throughout all of them. Almost Famous is the semi-autobiographical tale of 15 year old William Miller, a boy with a big interest in rock music and bigger dreams of breaking into the music journalism scene. After gaining backstage access to a Black Sabbath concert through a group of girls who call themselves “Band-Aides,” William is introduced to the opening band of the night, Stillwater. William ends up going on tour with the band, planning on writing a story on them for Rolling Stone Magazine. Almost Famous makes its way through themes of romance, passion, and frustration, with music being the center of the entire plot. The film is acclaimed by both fans and critics alike, and possesses a retro soundtrack that was meant to be sung along to. If you’re a music lover of any kind, you’re bound to love this film.
must-see music films | 45
FESTIVALs FOREVER As we say goodbye to our old friend, festival season, we took a minute to ask fans to send us their favorite memories from festivals both in 2017 and in years past. ACL by Caleigh Wells I’ve been going to Austin City Limits for three years now, and each year gets better and better. It is a festival that accommodates for the Texas heat with free water refill stations, and kind security that will hand out water bottles to the lucky few at barricade for a stage. The festival stretches across Zilker Park, one of Austin’s most beautiful parts of the city, and each inch of the park holds something special for the festival. From multiple photo-ops, local food stands, the many music stages, beer gardens, and merchandise tents, there’s never a dull moment at ACL. My personal favorite set this year was Glass Animals. They were the 6:00 show on Saturday, just before the closer, Chance the Rapper. I was determined to get as close as possible since this was my first time seeing one of my favorite bands ever. I got second row, dead center barricade. Dave Bayley-- front man-- was so energetic and interactive with the massive crowd, and lead an amazing show with the band. This was their last show of their North American tour and had to make it a good one. They were so successful, that after surviving the escape of the Chance the Rapper crowd, I broke down into tears. The feeling of finally seeing such a great band is so bittersweet. Another memorable experience this year at Austin City Limits was seeing COIN, another one of my favorite bands. Many of my friends were at this stage to see them at 11:45 Friday morning, and the band recognized their Texas fans as “My people!” (Thanks, Ryan.) As Chase tried to climb into the crowd during “Fingers Crossed,” he managed to kick me in the face, giving me a small bruise for the rest of the festival. It was more funny than it was painful, and the cameraman managed to catch the whole thing. Chase retweeted it from my Twitter afterwards, with a sweet, “my b.” as a caption. If you have the chance to come to Austin in early October for Austin City Limits, it will be an experience you won’t forget. Indulge in some Torchy’s Tacos-- which are, without a doubt, the best tacos in the world, and only local to Austin-- or any other local vendor while enjoying good live music. Who knows, maybe you’ll stumble upon your favorite band enjoying the festival as well, or maybe you’ll get lucky enough to be kicked by one while they’re performing.
46 | festivals forever
LOUFEST by Allison Wyrsch My favorite set was Cage the Elephant. Their energy was phenomenal, and I walked away knowing it was something I’d remember forever. One of the more notable experiences was the possibility of getting my car towed, which didn’t happen. More specifically, there was a situation surrounding one band: Houndmouth. After inching our way towards the front, a group of young teenage girls landed in front of me and my friend. These girls were doing vape tricks with one another. Following after, the lead singer of Houndmouth said, “This one goes out to the young vape gods out there.” I have never seen someone put away their vape quicker than those girls did at that time. My day was made, and it was good entertainment for our relaxing day. Overall, Loufest was clean with perfect weather and great energy. The crowds weren’t too rough, but they were all there for the music. Plus, the fried Mac and cheese balls I had were impeccable. It was a small festival in the heart of St. Louis. Everyone was there for a relaxed, good time, and it was hard to walk away with a negative memory. Shaky Knees by Carissa Mathena Festivals are a concept that can be terrifying when looking at the facts: the amount of people attending, the number of horrible things that could possibly happen, and the horrendous amount of money you’ll spend overall, but those things should not outweigh all of the possibilities there. I arrived excited and overjoyed, albeit a bit nervous, but I left with memories that I would never forget. At Shaky Knees in Atlanta, Georgia, I found a home within the dancing sweaty bodies, within the diverse voices lifting up to scream the lyrics to their favorite songs, and within the grounds of Centennial Olympic Park. Between the cheesy tater tots, the $11 paninis, and the FIDLAR mosh pit, I found snapshots of a life I was meant to be living. Catfish and the Bottlemen played on the Saturday of Shaky Knees: my favorite band who had brought me to my favorite people. Together, the eleven of up lined up hours before the gates opened for a chance at barricade. At eleven o’clock, our wrist-bands were scanned, our bags checked, and our feet ready to sprint. We all ran to the other end of the grounds, pushing in hopes of what we had dreamed of since buying our tickets, and we had success. We waited all day, the anticipation almost killing us until the band finally walked on stage. I’ve never lost my voice that quickly at a show before. I looked to my left and right, to see all of my friends with the biggest smiles singing to the songs we hear daily, but they weren’t the only ones. The crowd, the largest I’d ever seen before, was dancing, jumping, getting onto shoulders, all to experience the music that had affected my life. I felt connected to every person in the audience and it created an atmosphere I would never forget. These people, who were already so important to me, shared in this moment. The pure joy I felt in that moment could never be replaced. This joy only went on to grow in the sets we saw after this, and brought us together in the crowd for Phoenix; this was the last set on Sunday to end the festival. Catfish and the Bottlemen played on the Saturday of Shaky Knees: my favorite band who had brought me to my favorite people. Together, the eleven of up lined up hours before the gates opened for a chance at barricade. At eleven o’clock, our wrist-bands were scanned, our bags checked, and our feet ready to sprint.
festivals forever | 47
Catfish and the Bottlemen played on the Saturday of Shaky Knees: my favorite band who had brought me to my favorite people. Together, the eleven of up lined up hours before the gates opened for a chance at barricade. At eleven o’clock, our wrist-bands were scanned, our bags checked, and our feet ready to sprint. We all ran to the other end of the grounds, pushing in hopes of what we had dreamed of since buying our tickets, and we had success. We waited all day, the anticipation almost killing us until the band finally walked on stage. I’ve never lost my voice that quickly at a show before. I looked to my left and right, to see all of my friends with the biggest smiles singing to the songs we hear daily, but they weren’t the only ones. The crowd, the largest I’d ever seen before, was dancing, jumping, getting onto shoulders, all to experience the music that had affected my life. I felt connected to every person in the audience and it created an atmosphere I would never forget. These people, who were already so important to me, shared in this moment. The pure joy I felt in that moment could never be replaced. This joy only went on to grow in the sets we saw after this, and brought us together in the crowd for Phoenix; this was the last set on Sunday to end the festival. I had never heard any of Phoenix’s music before. We went to find our friends to enjoy the last set of what would always be the best weekend of our lives, and it ended up being so much more. We decided that we were going to make these last moments the greatest. In the back of the crowd, we all started dancing and jumping around each-other, laughing, holding onto one another. These types of moments are the ones when you can see outside yourself, where you feel like you’re floating on the happiness radiating from everyone around you. I remember crying, wondering if anything can be this good, if I can be this happy. Happiness was the feeling we held onto as we walked out of the gates that night. Music is something more powerful than we can imagine; it can save lives, it can create purpose in someone. It can also bring us home to the people who we will always see as family, and that’s why Shaky Knees was so important to me. Outside Lands by Angela Smith My first experience with a multi-day music festival was the tenth anniversary of Outside Lands. Outside Lands is annually held in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, usually towards the beginning of August. August in San Francisco is nicknamed “Fogust,” due to the extremely heavy fog that occurs throughout the month. In addition to 60 degree weather, the fog was collected so heavily on the trees that it felt like rain was falling by the end of the weekend. Despite the fact that the weather was not ideal, my experience at Outside Lands was amazing. The lineup was great and the food was great, as were the memories I made with my friends. Outside Lands really went big for their tenth anniversary with headliners such as the Gorillaz, Metallica and The Who, but as with most festivals, my favorite sets came from the underbill. I was able to see some artists I’ve been waiting to see for a while such as RAC and K.Flay, as well as see some people who I’ve seen a few times before, such as Mondo Cozmo.
34 | humans of the queue
One of my favourite sets didn’t come from a music artist at all. It actually came from the comedy tent where I essentially was at the live taping of the podcast Lovett or Leave It. This podcast is pretty politically driven, but also has a large comedy element to it. My favourite music set probably came from Bleachers on the main stage somewhat early on Sunday, the last day of the festival. Bleachers had tons of energy, was super interactive with the crowd and left me thinking about their set for the rest of the day. Overall, Outside Lands was amazing. There were little things that were uncontrollable by festival promoters that were disappointments. However, I believe everything was handled fairly well. Even though hip hop icons A Tribe Called Quest cancelled two days in a row, promoters handled everything extremely well, filling their scheduled time slots with artists I ended up enjoying anyways. I cannot wait to see who the promoters of Outside Lands bring back next year, because I’m pretty sure it can only get better. Coachella by Kat Hollis The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival takes place every year at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. The festival is well known for its impressive lineup and Instagram-worthy instillations. This year’s headliners, Radiohead, Lady Gaga (the replacement for the much anticipated Beyoncé), and Kendrick Lamar as well as all the other acts brought over 100,000 people to the festival. Walking through the gates onto the festival grounds feels like walking into a toaster oven full of dirt and over-priced watermelons. The sets I was most excited to see were Glass Animals, Lorde, Kendrick, Bastille, and Grouplove-- who all played amazing sets. The people who attend Coachella are mainly there for the evening acts, therefore the smaller bands playing earlier in the day get little to no attendance. There is always a massive crowd moving from one stage to another, and that crowd keeps growing every year. There is also no cellular service, so if you get lost, you’re doomed. While the lineup is always stellar every year, the attendees are rarely if at all focused on the actual music. People are either spending way too much on food, or taking pictures in their extravagant and impractical outfits. There are constant hookups and drug exchanges at every set. If that’s your thing, then fine but I always felt like I was trying to have a better time than I was actually having. Coachella is advertised and posted about as this magical place where you are care-free and living your best life. Between bickering with friends about what set to go to, being unable to locate those lost in a crowd and never having any room to catch my breath, Coachella was quite the opposite of a magical place (Note: only I am allowed to be this critical since I’ve gone. If you haven’t been- just spend hundreds on a ticket and hotel to validate your opinion and you can join the Coachella-bashing party with me!). If you can afford to go, go with one other person and with no expectations. You won’t be able to see everyone you want and chances are you won’t get a very good view for any set unless you wait for hours in the desert heat. However, their headliners are always great and you can post about it to social media to increase your beloved social status! festivals forever | 49
Forecastle by Savannah Halberstadt My friends Bailey, Brittney, Rachel, and I drove to Kentucky for Forecastle festival. The reason we drove 4 hours from Knoxville, Tennessee where we all live was mainly to see COIN and LANY, two of my favorite bands. It was my first outdoor music festival so I was beyond excited. We didn’t know how festivals like these work, but we sprinted to the stage where COIN would be performing, my favorite band. We waited a few hours by the barricade for them to come out. This was our 8th time seeing COIN so we knew what to expect from their set and they were incredible as always - by far my favorite set of the day. We took a break sat in the shade after COIN’s set, then headed over to the stage where LANY was performing. LANY put on an incredible, show singing songs from their debut album and old songs from EPs that my friends and I love. It was an incredible day, although at some point between sets I thought I was going to die of heat stroke! If you ever have the chance to go to an outdoor festival with COIN and LANY both performing, I highly recommend it. I had a blast seeing my favorite bands with my best friends. The experience was amazing and I had such an incredible time at my first outdoor festival. SXSW by Noa Johnson South By Southwest (also styled as SXSW) is a festival that takes place in Austin, Texas during the month of March. SXSW not only has music showcases, but it also includes interactive and film. Creators from around the world come to Austin to show off their new music, new films, new gadgets and so much more. SXSW is my favorite festival I’ve ever attended because it’s like nothing i’ve ever experienced or seen before. My favorite part of the festival is towards the end of it because that’s when the music really thrives. 2,000-plus artists from everywhere in the world perform every year all over the city and many artists play more than one show, giving fans more opportunities to see their favorite bands. SXSW isn’t contained in a designated area like most festivals are. You can go see a band play in a traditional venue, a church, or even in parking lots. The overall vibe of SXSW is chill yet extreme; the whole city is morphed into something so different than what it normally is. It’s an indescribable change, and the only thing I can compare it to is New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Since I’m an Austin native, I’ve been fortunate enough to attend SXSW for years and I’ve had my fair share of memorable experiences. One of the ones that sticks out the most is from SXSW 2017. My friends and I were hanging out outside a venue called Empire Control Room waiting for the band Hippo Campus to start their set. The venue was 21+, so unfortunately we couldn’t get in, but it was outdoors, so from where we were standing we could see and hear perfectly. Once Hippo Campus started, we just sang and danced like we would have if we were in the venue and this caught a lot of people’s attention. Photographers were coming up and taking pictures and videoing, while random pedestrians would come dance with us. The vibes and atmosphere in that moment were so sublime and amazing and that moment will forever be one of my favorites. 50 | festivals forever
Music Midtown 2017 by Alex Smider Music Midtown is a music festival that took place in the beautiful city of Atlanta, Georgia on September 16th and 17th. With headliners such as Bruno Mars, Blink-182, and Mumford and Sons, this festival was almost impossible to pass up on. I was lucky enough to travel from Texas to Georgia to attend this festival, and it was without a doubt one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had. I started off my festival experience with Dua Lipa at the Salesforce stage. She set the tone for an amazing weekend by bringing in a huge crowd who loved her just as much as she loved us. As the day went on, the acts only got better and better. Oh Wonder had a radiant performance on the Honda Stage at 4:30. Seeing Oh Wonder perform is like seeing life in brilliant technicolor for the hour that they’re singing and dancing their hearts out, and they leave you craving more. The positive vibes continued on into the night with Bruno Mars as the headliner, and he far surpassed everyone’s expectations. The Super Bowl-worthy performance contained fireworks, jazzy brass instruments, and some of the greatest dance moves I have ever seen. Bruno Mars ended the night perfectly, and everyone went home anxious and excited for Sunday. The next day began as a mad dash to the barricade for the band we all hold near and dear to our hearts, COIN. Friends who only knew each other via Twitter were finally introduced in real life, and everyone was in good spirits for the start of Day 2. Circa Waves kicked it off on the Salesforce stage, and they put on an incredible show for those who knew every word to every song, and for those who didn’t know their name until they came on stage. It’s safe to say everyone became a fan after witnessing their performance. COIN followed, and gave one of their best festival shows to date. The boys had the time of their life, and the size of the crowd was insane. Seeing them smile over how many people were there to watch them perform melted my heart, and I have never been prouder to call myself a band. To the boys of COIN, I love you, and I am so grateful for any opportunity I have to see you play. Day 2 continued with Two Door Cinema Club, Young the Giant, and Bastille. All three had massive turnouts, as expected, and gave everything they had to put on an amazing show. The festival continued on into the night, and everything felt as if it were a dream. Music Midtown was an unforgettable weekend, and I am blessed to have been able to make the trip. Thank you, Atlanta, for the friends I made, the music I bopped to, and memories I will carry with me for a lifetime.
festivals forever | 51