Issue #14

ISSUE 14

HIGHLIGHT

FEATURING

ALEX GOOT

MAGAZINE

PARIS // DINNER AND A SUIT // HRVRD // A SILENT FILM // GLASSCLOUD // DEAD SARA

HIGHLIGHT STAFF co-founder – Editor-In-chief – Press – photography Ashley Osborn

co-founder – Art Director – Magazine Production – Photography Cara Bahniuk

CO-founder

McKenzie Hughes

Features Editor Liz Brossard

Online Editor

Jenn Stookey

Digital Marketing Coordinator Misty Frederick

online media coordinator – Assistant Anjel Lopez

Contributing Photographers

Courtney Dondelinger, Tarina Doolittle, Jordan Fischels, Nicole Mago, Charlie Martel, Heather Phillips, Sam Roenfeldt, Sam San Roman and Jared Thomas

Contributing writers (Online & Publication)

Ryan Argast, Haley Black, Jennifer Boylen, Colleen Casey, Perry Fish, Tamara Fuentes, Briana Henry, Will Howard, Logan Kant, Jessica Klinner, Matthew Leimkuehler, Taylor Pittman, Claire Pope, Allison Reames, Annette Schafer, Jessica Tagliani and Morgan Waldorf

BECOME SOCIAL WITH US website - www,highlightmagazine.net facebook - www.facebook.com/highlightmagazine twitter - @highlightzine INSTAGRAM - @highlight_mag

INSIDE FEATURES

38 alex goot

We’d like to introduce you to Alex Goot… but let’s be honest... you’ve probably already heard of him. This multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist took the time to speak with us about how he started, where he is now and what we should expect from him in the future. We’re truly honored to have him gracing the cover of this month’s issue.

INSIDE FEATURES

8 clothing highlight 18 cusses Bad Giraffe was born in a small British town but its clothing is anything but ‘small town.’

Cusses formed in 2009 and they’re redefining what rock ‘n’ roll music is all about. You have to check this band out.

10 label highlight

20 Paris

Sumerian Records will impress you with its simple mantra, “By artists, for artists,” and the bands that thrive it.

11 industry Highlight

Mark McClusky has been mixing and producing music for the past several years all over America. He’s now back in Chicago discovering new artists left and right.

Paris is exactly the fresh and new sound that we have been looking for. They may have just released their debut EP, but it seems as if they were meant to be in the music industry all along.

24 dinner & a suit

How did these rockers get their name?

What have they been up to? Get your answers here. This is a band that we hope you’re keeping your eyes on.

13 venue highlight 26 HRVRD Even if you haven’t made it to this beautiful venue in Colorado you’ve most likely heard of it. Find out why we think it is a great destination for you this year.

14 Tattoo Story

We caught up with all the members of Crown the Empire, well... the one’s who are ink’d, to hear the stories and the symbolism behind their tattoos. We learned quite a bit about these rockers.

16 lost weekend

Highlight was able to speak with this Canadian band right before they released their debut EP. They are about to take the world by storm starting right here on their American tour.

HRVRD is almost an impossible band to describe, but these alternative rockers let us into their personal lives and told us what music is all about for them.

28 a silent film

A Silent Film has “wooed” us with their second album and live music videos.

After eight years together things are only looking up for this group of talented Brits!

30 glass cloud

This band may be new to the scene but they have already released their first fulllength album, three music videos and toured the country. We see nothing but great things in their future.

34 dead sara

This band has been up to a lot in the past year including being featured on a primetime TV show and creating their own record label. We’re impressed to say the very least.

46 photos

Spring is here which means more festivals and concerts. Here are some great photos that remind us what we love most about the music industry.

50 reviews

So many great albums have been released. Paramore is making it’s return, Justin Timberlake has released his first album in six years, Conditions came back with their second album after three years of touring and Cartel has been releasing albums since 2005.

THank you

Mike Ferri, Alex Goot, EPIC Records, Press Here Publicity, Lauren Mele and CO5 Media, Cursive Creative Management, Equal Vision Records, Matt Arsenault, Earshot Media, Crown The Empire, Mark McClusky, Johnny Minardi, Sumerian Records and all of the amazing crew, tour managers and staff that helped us make these stories possible. Not to mention – our incredible readers!

mailing list

Make sure you subscribe to our exclusive mailing list!

INSIDE PHOTOGRAPHS page 6-7

alex goot

Dinner & A Suit

glass cloud

Cusses

Paris

HRVRD

A Silent Film

Dead Sara

Chicago, IL, Ashley Osborn

Chicago, IL, Ashley Osborn

Sam San Roman

Luca Venter

Cory Morton

Sam San Roman

Alex Gibbs

Chicago, IL, Ashley Osborn HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 5

alex goot - 38

glass cloud - 30

paris - 20

a silent film - 28

24 - Dinner & a suit

18 - cusses

26 - HRVRD

34 - dead sara

TRENDS YOU’LL LOVE

COMPANY: Bad Giraffe LOCATION: United Kingdom, England OWNER/FOUNDER: Matt Muholland, Director & Founder WEBSITE: badgiraffeclothing.com

What is your company story?

Bad Giraffe started back in the summer of 2010. I started the company while working two part time jobs and a full time university degree. (That probably wasn’t the best choice.) I had always had a passion for creating things.

I had my first entrepreneur encounter when I was around 13. I used to paint finger skateboards with custom designs for all the kids at the skate park–it would look like their favorite custom board. I would then put that profit back into buying more blank boards. It was my passion to create things from an early age that triggered me to start Bad Giraffe.

I have always wanted to work for myself and create something to fight for. I was passionate about art from as early as I can remember and actually took fine art classes for my degree, but I wanted something I could really be passionate about.

The idea came from the fact I would never be able to find something in the high street stores or online that I really loved. Either it was generic or too expensive. I mean, not everyone wants a skull and cross bone on a t-shirt. So, I thought that I could create a brand which targets people like me. I started with £150 of my own money and haven’t put a penny more in. I’ve built up the brand through hours of hard work. If I couldn’t afford a website, I’d learn to create one myself. Everything is done by myself–from the designs, photographs, website, marketing–it really gives me a reason to keep it going; its something I’ve grown from the ground up and is me.

The fact I’m the consumers age–19 when it started–really meant I understood what people really wanted, and to this day it’s just creating designs that I would wear. I wanted to create a good quality product while still keeping it accessible to everyone. I would hate to out-price a person purely for more profit. Thats not what I’m about. I want to blur the lines between smart premium wear and the high street. Creating a limited edition high quality item at an accessible price.

The name is actually a weird one. I was thinking about starting the brand and was writing my ideas on my phone.

When I was watching a movie, I noticed in the background really faintly the words ‘BAD GRAFFITI’ on a wall. Me, not paying much attention, thought it said Bad Giraffe. So I put it down in my phone. I came across it a couple of days

later and gave it a Google. Nothing came up; no brand anywhere. So, I decided to see what giraffes are really like. (The brand is not focused around giraffes; it’s really just a metaphor for who we are). I slowly realized that the giraffe is an animal who is proud of their skin. The pattern on their body is an extension of their personality; each unique to themselves. This is how I would like our clothes to be worn. It’s for the genuine people who like to walk tall.

What do you feel your brand represents?

Our brand really represents just being the ‘good guy.’ I know it sounds contradicting because the brand is called Bad Giraffe, but that’s exactly what we want to be known for. How bad can a Giraffe be? We represent the people who hopefully like to push the boundaries in whatever they do.

What are your three favorite designs?

1) Baseball T-shirt - It is based on the film Money Ball where money rules; a bit like us. We are the underdog and create the best we can from the little we have. It also displays our new motto “It’s a Process” on the bottom back hem.

2) Varsity Jacket - A smart everyday varsity jacket with the traditional chenille and embroidery logo on the left breast.

We don’t just do clothes. We are a brand that creates things for everyday life.

3) Premium iPad Cases - They are all hand made in the UK from 100% wool and Italian vegetable tanned leather.

They will be released soon.

Why people should check out your brand?

I think you should check out our brand if you want to see something a bit different. We are all about smart minimalist designs while always pushing the boundaries for quality at a price you can afford. It’s something you can be apart of and help progress hopefully for many more years to come.

Every order we receive always steps us closer to creating new and exciting things and it’s greatly appreciated that people support us.

label highlight

WRITE-UP: Haley Black

Los Angeles based label, Sumerian Records, was launched in 2006 by creator Ash Avildsen, a passionate rock music lover. Avildsen is a musician himself, previously a member of a band known as Reflux, out of Washington, D.C., which explains the label’s tagline, “By artists, for artists.” A dedicated worker for sure, Avildsen started his empire from the ground up, first gaining experience in the industry as a show promoter, then climbing his way up the ladder to become a booking agent. Sumerian Records takes a lot of pride in the fact that several of its artists have appeared on the Billboard Top 200.The acclaimed record label is primarily comprised of popular post hardcore bands such as Asking Alexandria, Born of Osiris and I, The Breather, but it also accommodates a few solo instrumentalists and even a dubstep artist from the UK known as Borgore.

Betraying The Martyrs -

Seeking out an international audience for any band is difficult, but Betraying The Martyrs has been making headway in the United States as well as around other parts of the world. The Paris, France sextet’s fanbase is certainly not confined by the European continent. With the departure of two members, both former vocalist as well as one of their guitar players, the band has had to make some drastic changes in the past few years. Despite this hurdle, they have returned stronger than ever with the addition of Aaron Matts (vocals) and Lucas D’angelo (guitar). Victor Guillet (keyboards/vocals), Mark Mironov (drums), Valentin Hauser (bass), and Baptiste Vigier (guitar) also make up the six piece, creating a dynamic team of musicians who not only have a love for the genre, but a love for their fans and delivering positivity.

Listen to: “Man Made Disaster”

Capture The Crown -

Forming in 2010, Aussie born and raised hardcore band, Capture The Crown, is fairly new to the scene but has been creating a buzz outside of their homes in Sydney, Australia. The quintet’s music contains the perfect balance of energy, passion and the hint of aggression that so many hardcore bands strive to master. Creating music with the intent that fans will be able to relate to the lyrics is undoubtedly their number one goal and they have definitely achieved it. While remaining hard workers, they still know how to have fun and never fail to get a crowd moving. The band will soon be coming to a city near you on their upcoming Generation Now tour in May with Crown the Empire, Palisades, Heartist and Famous Last Words, so don’t miss out.

Listen To: “Ladies & Gentlemen...I Give You Hell” Periphery -

Very rarely do you ever discover a band that incorporates three guitar players, which is the key element separating Maryland based band, Periphery from anyone else in the progressive metal genre. This unique tactic provides some intense shredding and precision on the trio of guitar player’s parts. The sextet originating from Washington, D.C. has been around since before Sumerian Records even began. The band has undergone several member changes throughout the years, and after bringing in a new drummer to the team, they released their debut album with the label in 2010, which was self­-titled. The band has supported many tours with label mates Veil of Maya, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Animals As Leaders, giving them the positive exposure that they need to generate waves of their own.

Listen to: “Scarlet”

Highlight of

Marc mcclusky producer/mixer/engineer/writer What is your personal story?

I started out like most, I played in bands when I was younger and I would go to studios and record, but it never sounded how it did in my head. I figured that I would learn how to do it myself. As time progressed I had other local bands ask me if I would record their band, so I did. One of the bands I recorded was called, Hit The Lights. They were signed by Triple Crown Records and released the songs we recorded together. Shortly after that I was working with a band by the name of Farewell who quickly became signed with Epitaph Records.

I recorded some demos for a band called Powerspace quickly following the Farewell record and we received a great response. Fueled By Ramen added Powerspace to its label and that’s when I met my current manager and dear friend, Johnny Minardi. During that time I had my sights set on a band by the name of Ludo from St Louis,Mo. I had to bug the keyboard player, Tim Convy, for about three months to let me work with them. Ludo finally gave in and we ended up doing three songs which lead to doing seven more together.

Ludo was signed by Island Def Jam Records and quite a few of the recordings we did together ended up on the bands first major label album, You’re Awful I Love You. Matt Wallace produced the other tracks on the record and I developed a relationship with him. Over the next year or two I did some records for Epitaph and Victory Records. When it was time for the second Ludo record, they approached me about it and asked if Matt Wallace and I would do it together. I went to Los Angeles and became close with Wallace. He mentioned that it may be wise for me to move to L.A. and I thought, “why the fuck not”.

I moved out there five months later and became involved with the legendary Sound City Studios in Van Nuys. I had a previous relationship with Brett Gurewitz from working on a few Epitaph releases.

When I moved out to L.A., he was just signing Weezer to Epitaph and asked me if I would be interested in doing a test mix for the record. Of course I was super stoked. Since I was a teenager in the ‘90s, Weezer was one of my favorite bands. I didn’t think anything was going to come of it, but Brett called me back a few days later and said, “congrats you got it.”

I ended up mixing five songs on that second record for Ludo and Rivers asked me to mix some tunes for the album Death to False Metal, one of which PHOTO: Annalise Freytag

was a blue album cut called Mykle and Carli, which was one of the coolest things I’ve been fortunate enough to do. Another tune was a Rick Rubin’s cut, Rivers sent it to him and he loved it, which was pretty amazing. During my time in L.A., Brett offered to manage me while Matt Wallace was mentoring me.

Matt taught me a lot about vibe headspace and the power of lyrics. He really helped me progress as a producer.

Eventually Chicago was calling me home, so I decided to pack it up and move back. I’ve been working with Johnny and we have been looking for bands to develop and bring onto the scene. One of my current projects is a band called, Mighty Fox. The band is amazing at what they do. I’m also just wrapping up the new William Beckett record for Equal Vision, and let me say this thing is a STUNNER. That’s sort of my story thus far.

What are three of your most memorable career moments?

Working with Weezer, Tracking Bad Religion and Mixing Social Distortion.

What do you want to accomplish still in your career?

I want to make great music and records for people to enjoy! www.selftitledmgmt.com/clients/MarcMcClusky.html HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 11

red rocks - morrison, colorado History:

The topic of Geology doesn’t usually induce great joy, but the geologically formed amphitheater, Red Rocks, is a beautiful exception. Located in Morrison, Colorado, this natural stage has welcomed many musical legends including The Beatles, U2, and Jimi Hendrix. Red Rocks was first used as a performance venue in the early 1900’s when an editor by the name of John Brisen Walker bought the property. In 1927 Red Rocks was purchased by the state of Colorado, making way for improvements and additional seating to the amphitheater. After more than 12 years of construction, Red Rocks officially opened in 1941. At 6,450 feet above sea level, this remarkable venue now holds seating for up to 9,450 people.

why play here?

There is something unmatchable about performing in front of thousands of people, under gleaming stars, surrounded by colossal structures of nature. Past performances at Red Rocks have been described as a “spiritual experience”. With some rock formations standing at 90-degree angles and taller than Niagara Falls, this venue provides amazing acoustics. In fact, the sounds are so haunting that many live albums and videos have been recorded here. Some notable albums include Neil Young’s Road Rock Vol 1. recorded at the amphitheater in 2000 and most recently, Mumford and Sons’ The Road To Red Rocks. No matter what concert or performance takes place here, it is sure to be nothing short of epic!

Twitter: @RedRocksOnline Facebook: www.facebook.com/RedRocksOnline Website: www.redrocksonline.com

MUst attend shows May 8th

Zac Brown Band REVIEW: Perry Fish PHOTO: Rachel Bergen

may 16th

Imagine Dragons

may 20th

Vampire Weekend

may 30th

The Poastal Service

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 13

TATTOO STORIES WITH crown the empire

brent taddie

Brent Taddie – Drums

“I got my first tattoo about three or four months before I joined the band and the rest I got while I was in the band.

I got the crown on the outside of my arm right when we got signed, I got the rest along the way, and then I got ‘Empire’ across my back before we started touring and everything like that. There are a lot of different meanings within them but I have a fallen angel on there just to kind of show my religious beliefs. Everything else is just a lot of color, a lot of art and a lot of background stuff. I have ‘Rhythm’ down my leg too because I play the drums and of course the ‘Empire’ is for the band.”

Brandon Hoover – Guitar

Tattoo Story told by Andrew Velasquez (Vocalist) “I think he got it in 2012… maybe 2013? But Brandon has had a stutter since he was a small child, and he had a hard time connecting at school when he was younger.

He watched a lot of cartoons because he didn’t talk to anyone and stuff like that. He watched a lot of Looney Tunes. Porky Pig obviously has a little stutter and on his tattoo he’s on fire so he’s pretty rock n’ roll at the same time. Punk Porky. It kind of reflects Brandon’s personality too because he’s a really nice guy, really easy going, but badass too.”

14 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

Hayden Tree – Bass

“I got this tattoo about a year and a half ago, but the whole story behind my sleeve and my chest is that my heart is pretty much me and the tree is me growing out of it. Then I have my mom and my dad on each side of me.

It’s more about family and everyone backing each other up. It goes down onto my arm where I have two different demons that represent different things in my life and just overcoming certain things, and the tree is actually killing the demons. Then it just flows down my arm with some roses and skulls and stuff to represent beauty. Then I have a pentagram around my elbow to represent evil and overcoming that because the tree is breaking it up. It’s all about perseverance and overcoming shitty things in your life and staying strong.”

Andrew Velasquez – Vocals

“Owls represent wisdom. I’m pretty young and doing this [music], and I kept moving forward and it’s on my forearm so it’s like a big ‘fuck you’ to the real world, ya know? But I’m still learning. I still have a lot to learn and I’m hoping to get a lot of experience and knowledge through doing this as opposed to going to school or something. The all-seeing eye represents the quest for true knowledge despite what the majority of people think. They’re [the tattoos] are pretty closely connected, and they both kind of go hand-in-hand.”

brandon hoover

Andrew velasquez

hayden tree

brent taddie

lost weekend

HOME: Winnipeg, CA NOW jamming: Let Me In - Single currently: Winding down from tour at home

Lost Weekend, who hail from Winnipeg, Canada, came together in 2010 as four guys with a simple dream; to make music. The band is set to release its first EP in April and hasn’t looked back since. Matt Worobec (guitar and vocals), Zan Antel (keyboard), Jason Pankratz (bass) and Luke Janzen (drums) are ready to take the world by storm. We at Highlight had the opportunity to speak with them about the past, present and future of Lost Weekend and we hope you are just as excited as we are for what is in store for them.

Q: Numerous Canadian bands have entered the scene in the states. What makes Lost Weekend different and what do you think you bring to the table that maybe other bands are not offering?

A: Even though Canada has a relatively small population the musical landscape is very diverse. It’s true there are many Canadian bands on the scene in the U.S, but they are all different. What’s exciting for us is that our first release and our tours have been in the U.S. A lot of Canadian bands begin at home and then look to America as the next step a year or two down the road.

Q: Your sound tends to be described as electro pop.

Where have you drawn your influence from that has brought about that sound?

A: We try to take inspiration from artists/bands with great songs and passionate performances, sometimes electro sometimes not. There is something about the control electronic instruments afford you as a song writer, but the elements that we love in electronic music can be found anywhere from Phillip Glass to Paul Simon. We love synths and drum machines, but that’s just our chosen form of expression for the songs. Also Kraftwerk is sweet.

Q: A lot has happened for the band in the last three years, especially this last year. What has stood out for you the most?

A: There have been so many great opportunities for us, but the best part of it all has been coming together as a band and meeting new people who like our music. There is nothing like a high stakes show or a 10 hour van drive to make everything gel.

Q: What is the most frightening thing about becoming more well-known?

A: Listing “in a band” as one’s career is a very special privilege, so the only thing that would scare us about more success would be possibly forgetting that.

Q: What was your writing process like for your latest EP? Do you work on lyrics first and let the melody flow or viceversa?

A: Writing for Matt and I centers around bringing our individual ideas and songs to each other, and for a lack of a better description, finishing each others thoughts. So when we write together a lot of lyrics or melodies have a fairly solid outline.

Q: You just finished touring ending with SXSW. Is there any certain place that you had the most fun or are looking forward to playing?

Q: What would say has been the most difficult part of your career thus far?

A: Finding our voice as a band.

Q: How do you continue to overcome these struggles?

A: Ignoring a lot of outside noise and spending time writing and playing together.

A: San Francisco was really fun for us. We played with some great bands at a great venue to a warm crowd that danced their butts off. We can’t ask for more than that.

We also played frisbee on the beach while our friends at home were knee deep in a blizzard, so that was nice.

Q: Do you have any advice for new bands trying to make it?

Q: What is the hardest thing about being on tour?

Q: Is there anything you wish you would have known before trying to make it big, or anything you would have done differently?

A: Almost crashing on the highway to Los Vegas right now while answering this question has been the worst thing about being on tour. It can be hard to eat well and stay healthy, that’s a constant challenge. Really though it’s hard to complain about being on the road, it’s what we have worked towards.

Q: Does your personal life and professional life intertwine while on tour or do you always leave your personal life at home.

A: With today’s mobile devices you always have home and your personal life in your pocket.

A: Play as many shows as you can, write as many songs as you can and be nice. Good things will happen.

A: Hit the road sooner, it’s the most immediate way to get feedback.

Q: What is next for Lost Weekend?

A: There will be more touring, new songs and a full length album later in the fall.

PHOTOS: Jared Thomas INTERVIEW AND STORY: Liz Brossard

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET -17

HOME: Savannah, GA NOW jamming: Cusses - Full Length (Ha! Records) CURRENTLY: Preparing to kick off their second leg of their headlining tour

Cusses may be fairly new on the scene, but with their debut album in hand and a unique

While the band considers their live shows “sacred” they have also come across the hardships of being on the road. It seems like many bands can’t keep their personal lives together once they start the tour. The road can be a rough place, but Cusses have their ways of holding on to who they are at home as well as who they are on stage.

In their four years as a band they have come to understand the struggles in the industry and have learned the balancing act between the road and their lives back home. All the while, the band has fought to stay true to their raw and rocker roots.

This trio has come together to create an interesting collision of catchy melodies and true rock ‘n’ roll edge.

“In the beginning, it’s a balancing act. Spin those plates and eventually things flat line,” Lackey expressed. “In order to take music to the next level, a choice has to be made. If the choice is music, it must come with support and understanding from family and friends.”

sound to back them, the band seems to have broken out with a bang. Cusses formed in 2009 with singer Angel Bond, guitarist Bryan Harder and drummer Brian Lackey.

“Cusses is a modernized version of what we all grew up listening to, from Motown to Classic Rock to Metal and everything in between,” said Lackey.

In order to make this balancing act a success the band has leaned on the trust and support of those close to them, but they have also turned to technology to make the process easier.

Don’t be fooled by the lack of years that this band has had together though. Both Lackey and Harder played in a band together prior to joining Cusses. Their amount of skill is evident in the debut album with a tight sound and the right amount of catchiness to make you want to listen to it all over again.

“Although temporary, leaving family and friends comes with a mixed bag of emotions. We all want to be there for them and support them when we can,” Lackey said. “Technology is also an incredible tool to kind of be there. Video chat, text message, social media-things we take for granted make these types of journeys a possibility.”

“Cusses is relatively new, but each of us have been playing and performing for quite some time,” Lackey said. “We feel like we have the right formula, so we’re making a break for it.”

Cusses appear to have come a long way in a particularly short period of time. The band recently released a music video for their single “Don’t Give In”. The video is thought provoking both in its story and its imagery; the main character is a young girl and it is set in black and white.

The band is touring throughout April and into May to continue to promote their fairly new, self-titled album. Cusses will be bringing their energetic live show to cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle and Denver during that time. The band seems focused on putting on a good live performance without all the clutter of technology for the audience.

“We want to keep the craft of honest rock ‘n’ roll alive. There are no people hidden behind shadows playing instruments or pushing buttons, and we don’t rely on playback or computers,” explained Lackey.

The band seems to have a good grasp on who they are as musicians as well as what is important to them. Cusses have seen all the issues that have risen in the music industry, but have chosen to be a band that doesn’t get caught up in all the chaos that the industry has become. They’ve decided that rocking it old school is the way to go.

“This industry is more concerned with the dollar than creativity and shared risk/reward,” said Lackey, “It seems we are back to square one-live performance, the most sacred.”

“The inspiration really comes from innocence and corruption… we love the idea of children as a symbol of power over elders,” Lackey said.

With a new album and numerous tour dates under their belts, Cusses is ready to take on the alternative rock world. The hooks and edges of their songs will draw listeners in, but their genuine attitude and raw energy will bring them back for more. Cusses certainly has a lot more that they could and would like to give to rock ‘n’ roll.

“Honestly, the highlight is to play music every night. We feel we are getting better with each performance, which not only fulfills our expectations but benefits the fans,” said Lackey.

PHOTOS: Sam San Roman INTERVIEW: Liz Brossard STORY: Annette Schaefer

debut albums cusses is now available

itunes.com/cusses HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 19

HOME: Lowell, MA NOW jamming: Paris - EP (Self-Released) CURRENTLY: Celebrating the release of their debut EP

Every now and then a band comes

along that challenges the stereotypes put on them by the music industry. Paris has no doubt been put under these said stereotypes. A female-fronted band with a heavy rock and roll sound? Not possible. Well, think again.

Lynn Gunnulfsen not only belts out notes Hayley Williams herself would be jealous of, but she also plays the guitar.

This is one of the many things that makes Paris stand out among the other female-fronted bands out there.

“We’ve been told that we sound a bit like Circa Survive if they kicked out Anthony Green and replaced him with Rihanna. We’ve also been told that if Saosin had a girlfriend, Paris would be its girlfriend,” said Gunnulfsen.

The band now known as Paris started out with an entirely different identity. Upon entering the studio, they never thought they would leave as an entirely different band.

They went in with one goal in mind and emerged with a new and improved sound.

“By the time we left [the studio], we had formed Paris and an entirely new sound that we were all more than satisfied with. We basically transformed from a little Charmander into Charzard,” Gunnulfsen said.

And boy, are we thankful for that transformation. Paris’ sound is different from anything currently circulating in the musical airwaves. If Paris had been a male fronted band, they would have easily faded into the sea of rock bands trying to make it. Gunnulfsen brings a spicy and emotional element to the music that only a woman would be capable of doing.

22 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

“You’ve gotta have that sassafras, I always say,” Gunnulfsen said.

Whenever a new female-fronted band emerges, people are more than eager to start jumping to conclusions about their sound. Almost always these new bands will get compared to Paramore, VersaEmerge and other wellknown female-fronted acts. Most bands huff and puff when asked about this type of comparison insisting that their sound is much different, but Paris had a different approach.

“We’re also probably one of the few female-fronted bands that don’t get offended when we get compared to bands like those,” she said. “Those bands are great bands, to be compared to them isn’t something that is taken offensively.”

The band’s debut EP was released on March 26, and the positive comments found on their Facebook page show the solid and growing fan base the band has already acquired. When we spoke to the band, they were more than anxious to get their new songs out there.

“There’s been an incredible response, better than any of us had anticipated. We’ve been waiting months to release this music and cannot wait to hear everyone’s response,” said Gunnulfsen.

As it goes with most bands, the writing process is a tough thing to describe. Every song comes together differently and the process changes from album to album. For Paris there is always a constinecy with their writing and the music always comes first.

“Majority of the time, I’ll have a general idea and demo it out on my laptop like a crazy mad scientist. Then I’ll show it to the guys and we’ll all put our own sugar and spice into the song to make it our own. The lyrics will usually work their way in there as the song grows musically,” said Gunnulfsen.

We, here at Highlight, are very excited to hear the new EP and see where it takes the band. With this being their first music release, Paris has a world of opportunity in front of them. Their sound is new and refreshing to a music world full of repetition and redundancy.

“I’d like to think we’ve got a bit more bite in our music,” she said. “ We definitely try to find a nice blend of aggression and grace both instrumentally and vocally. It’s very dynamic.”

will have no problem overcoming them,”said Gunnulfsen.

“As long as we continue to communicate with each other, stick together and stay positive, I know for a fact that we can overcome absolutely anything.”

Now, that is the kind of attitude we like to see and support.

In a scene where bands break up as often as Taylor Swift, it is nice to see bands full of positivity and working hard and together to achieve their dreams. Paris’ journey as a band has only started, but it already looks promising.

With an EP already out, this band is ready to win over the hearts of music lovers everywhere.

The band plans on doing a few week long tours later in the summer. They are also hoping to be picked up on a tour,but that is top secret as of now.

Paris has been working on a music video for their single “The Heartless” which was released in February. The video is mostly performance, but there is a small story line that follows along with the song.

“There isn’t much I can say about it, but if we do land it, it will definitely be huge for us. We’ve got our fingers crossed, toes crossed, legs crossed, arms crossed, eyes crossed, etc.,”she said.

“To be short, “The Heartless” is all about not letting those who doubt you drag you down or ‘pull you under’ and just overcoming that by keeping your eyes on what your heart wants,”Gunnulfsen said.

Regardless of whether Paris lands the gig or not, they are set for a 2013 takeover. Keep an eye out for them. They are one band you are going to wish you started supporting from the beginning.

As a new band, Paris faces a long road ahead of them, but who is to say that it has to be a tough one? The band already knows what hard work feels like with working full time jobs while trying to be a successful band.

“We hope to turn some heads and catch some people by surprise. Watch out world! We’re coming for you.”

PHOTOS: Black and White: Erik Rojas Color: Sam San Roman INTERVIEW AND STORY: Jessica Klinner

“I know for a fact there will be many struggles to overcome in the future. That’s just life, but I strongly believe that we

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 23

DINNER AND A SUIT

HOME: Nashville, TN NOW jamming: Since Our Departure - Full-Length CURRENTLY: On tour with The Parlotones

Many new and upcoming bands are

making it to the big time in many ways, but not all of them can say that they’ve had the chance to play with the likes of Imagine Dragons, something that vocalist and guitarist Jonathan Capeci of Dinner and a Suit said was a surreal and incredible experience.

Comprising of cousins Jonathan Capeci, Joey Beretta (vocals/guitar) and Anthony Genca (bass), this dynamic trio is ready to make it into the big leagues and they are ready to do whatever they can to do so, even moving from New Jersey to Nashville.

“We would love to travel overseas and play in some other countries. It’s definitely a goal of ours,” said Capeci.

He also said that by touring and seeing all of the fans they are seeing their dreams come true right in front of them.

“Playing in a city we’ve never been to, seeing people we don’t know sing along to songs that we wrote; it’s a feeling unlike any other,” Capeci said.

As for what the future has in store; Dinner and a Suit dreams big and hopes to one day play a show in space.

“It had a huge impact on us. We essentially left everything that we knew, all our ‘comforts’ to chase a dream,” said Capeci.

While they’re one of the few bands to say that they’ve played with Imagine Dragons, they still hope to tour with many more big name bands, specifically Switchfoot, who they have admired since they were young.

As the band heads out on their new tour with their second album, Since Our Departure, they’re ready to take the next step. While they have no plans to make third album anytime soon, they’re still planning to take out some new stuff for their fans.

But even with their success, they’ve had their share of struggles. “I think in life there are so many reasons to doubt yourself, or what you’re doing. With us this is a constant struggle,” said Capeci. “Doing something out of the ordinary is always met with opposition.”

“We’re constantly writing new material, and we even have a few surprises to release later this year, but they all reinforce Since Our Departure,” said Capeci. “We don’t think enough people have heard this album for us to move on.”

“When we moved 14 hours from home we left a lot behind, family, friends, good-paying jobs, college, just to name a few. There are always moments when you think, “was this the wrong decision?”

While many people would think that working with family might be a problem, Capeci said that it’s not the same case with them, the band gets along famously and this makes life on the road enjoyable.

“It definitely gives us a bit of a different perspective than most bands. We are all super close, so it helps in the song-writing process because we can connect and communicate fairly easily, Capeci said.

Even their own band name is a tribute to their greatgrandparents. “During The Great Depression, our greatgrandmother worked as a seamstress, and was known for taking old suits, fixing them up, and keeping them in a wardrobe in her home,” said Capeci. “She would then invite less-fortunate people into her home, feed them dinner, and tailor them a suit; offering a fresh start in otherwise dark times. We grew up hearing this story, and thought it be a good theme to incorporate into our band name.”

With their new tour spanning various cities and areas, including a performance at The Roxy Theater in Los Angeles, they’re still hoping to make it even bigger than ever.

However, with all they’ve faced until now, they’re still not ready to give it all up anytime soon. Faith and perseverance continues to keep this band going. “The easy thing to do is always to quit and give up. To listen to all the voices of negativity and let them defeat you,” said Capeci. “Thomas Edison said, ‘Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.’ Remember that you only have one life to live, and live it with no regrets. It’s better to have tried and failed then to have never tried at all.”

As for what the ‘highlight’ of their career has been so far, Capeci said that there are so many moments to choose from, but being in the top 100 on iTunes and playing a sold out show in their hometown would definitely be on the top of their list.

While they might be new to the music scene with only their second album out, we can’t help but think that this is not going to be the last we hear from them. If you can, make sure to check them out on tour and watch out for new material.

PHOTOS: Cory Morton INTERVIEW AND STORY: Tamara Fuentes

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 25

HOME: Charlotte, NC NOW jamming: From The Bird’s Cage - Full Length (Equal Vision Records) CURRENTLY: On tour with Daylight with more touring plans to be released soon!

Aaround band like HRVRD doesn’t screw when it comes to its music. Originally coming together as a post hardcore, experimental band from Charlotte, N.C., HRVRD shed the genre and the moniker separating itself from a genre oversaturated with similarities, uncovering true beauty.

Releasing the band’s first record under the new name, HRVRD has reinvented itself in the most excellent of ways. Forgoing any generic or genre specific essentials, HRVRD created a pure expression of creative beauty in From the Bird’s Cage. A ten-track testament to the power of creative expression.

We recently caught up with bassist Garrett Leister to speak about the new album, the name change and what’s in store for the future of HRVRD. With a sound that is nearly impossible to describe as anything other than the love child of As Tall as Lions and Circa Survive, HRVRD’s influences are varying and sometimes unexplainable.

“There may have been a moment in the very early years where the guys had an idea that they wanted to go for a more post hardcore sound,” said Leister.

They, however, have long since let go of this desire. “We have always just written what we feel, and what comes out is what it is.”

With such an organic and natural writing process the mystery of how such a cohesive and personal record like From the Bird’s Cage comes about. Heading into the studio with Brian McTernan for a second time HRVRD was not looking to duplicate the process of its first full length, The Inevitable and I. Taking three years since the release of this first record HRVRD had a taken a great deal of time to put together what they believed would be nothing but a success.

“We definitely have some bands that have changed all our lives such as Deftones, Radiohead, At the Drive-In, Engine Down, As Tall As Lions and Mogwai,” said Leister.

“I don’t think people should expect this album to be similar just because we went with the same producer as our last album,” said Leister. “It has that Brian McTernan sound, but we really got to experiment more and explore some new things in the studio.” The band even took the more time consuming and old school approach of recording drums to analog tape.

With such diverse and varying influences it is no mystery why the band toyed around with a more post hardcore sound years ago.

HRVRD is about more than just a great sound in the studio.

Taking its passionate and personal sound on the road is just as important to these five North Carolinians.

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“You don’t want to keep playing the same set over and over,” said Leister.“You know there are some songs that are the best openers or closers as well.”

To counter the inevitability of a set list becoming repetitive and losing its power and passion HRVRD takes to the road with multiple set lists, “We usually will have a couple of different set lists we play on a tour, and a few extra songs to interchange with others,” said Leister.

HRVRD also makes no qualms about sounding different than its record. Understanding that a recording is a representation of that sound and that emotion in that very moment. ”We definitely like to play our music a bit different and not exactly like the album,” said Leister. “The way the songs are recorded are how the songs came out at that specific moment.”

What better news could avid concertgoers want to hear?

With each night slightly different than the last, every concert is a unique experience unto its own. “From an artistic standpoint, we like for our listener to paint a picture in their head,” said Leister.“Why would we want the same picture to be painted every time?”

For a band as promising as HRVRD the highlight of its career is only a glimpse, a prelude to future success and endeavors. While speaking to Leister we were curious about what the highlight of his personal career was.

“Being signed to Equal Vision Records and working with producer Brian McTermnan were a huge highlight for me,” said Leister. “I’ve loved so many records Equal Vision Records has put out, it’s an honor for us to be a part of their family.”

HRVRD has had the opportunity to share a roster with bands like The Dear Hunter and Eisley. The band has felt honored to be associated with bands that put out such successful and inspirational records, and rightfully so.

“The most difficult parts for me has been to keep a steady income at home to pay bills and still tour as much as possible,” said Leister in regards to rough parts of touring.

“It takes a lot of sacrificing and commitment, but I couldn’t see any of us doing anything else with our lives.”

With the release of From the Birds Cage, I think we can all confidently say we are glad HRVRD is able to push through even the lowest of lows.

PHOTO: Alex Gibbs INTERVIEW AND STORY: Will Howard

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 27

A Silent Film

HOME: Oxford, England, UK NOW jamming: Sand & Snow - Full-Length (Creative Media Investments) CURRENTLY: Playing some shows and gearing up for festivals this summer

There’s always a bit of extra magic in an accent, and English bands always seem to mesmerize their American audiences. If the accents weren’t classy enough, throw in a chill wine bar and an interview with Highlight Magazine, and A Silent Film’s coolness is almost off the charts.

This British group recently released their second album and a set of live videos, as well as wrapped up yet another tour here in the states. Highlight got to catch up with Robert Stevenson (vocals,piano), Spencer Walker (drums), Ali Hussain (bass) and Karl Bareham (guitar) of A Silent Film to hear about it all; from touring in America to who they are as musicians.

Most people would describe their music by comparing themselves to other sounds or other artists. No one could have prepared us for the visual response front man Stevenson gave when he was asked how he would describe A Silent Film to someone who has never heard them before.

“Think of it as the first breath of wind on a stormy day or the smell of the dew on the grass on a spring morning or the spray of a sprinkler from your neighbors sprinkler system gently falling on your face on a summers day and you’ll be half way there,” Stevenson said. “The other half could be described as rock with an piano edge, but that’s not important, it’s the sensory details that will really get to you.”

A Silent Film was born in 2005 but it’s far from over and they are set up to take the world by storm.

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“Spence and I were at school together and we were actually rival drummers in two different bands,” said Stevenson. “Spence won and I decided to sing and we started writing songs together and along the way we met Ali and then Karl and this line up was solidified about three years ago.”

“Its perfect,” he continued. “That’s when everything started happening for us.”

He then went on to explain where the band name came from.

“I was watching a Charlie Chaplin film called ‘The Kid’ and all the piano music was written by Charlie Chaplin. There was a theme when the tramp character and the kid were together and its really beautiful and I thought ‘hmm, I like that’, so I took that and wrote some lyrics around it and turned it into a song. Unimaginatively enough, I called it A Silent Film,” Stevenson said. “We played it together as a band and as we were trying to choose a band name it just felt like the start of something.”

For A Silent Film, the end goal is about writing music and enjoying what they’re doing. For Stevenson, it is also important to have a meaningful relationship with the audience.

A Silent Film hails from across the pond, and while many bands feel they’ve made it big once they get the opportunity to make the jump overseas, this group doesn’t necessarily see it that way.

“I think doing it specifically in America is a bit of strange specific, if you wanted to do that route,” said Stevenson.

“We’re not sort of obsessed so much with it being in America per say, but we adore it here. This country is just absolutely wonderful. It’s very welcoming to British people, with our funny accents, and it’s a great place to be a musician.”

Even so, America has definitely had an impact on these Englishmen, specifically when it came to their most recent release, Sand and Snow.

“After our first major tour in America we ended up in Arizona, of all places and that’s where we made the album,” said Stevenson. “I think one of the most inspiring things for us was that it’s a part of America that is like an alien place compared to England. There’s no desert in England. We just love the idea in America how you can drive from a snowy climate to desert climate within a few hours. In America there is just so much going on. The idea of sand and snow to us was two things that could never exist together, but in America apparently it can. So that’s exciting to us.”

Regardless of the ability to record this album in Arizona and El Paso, Texas, the location wasn’t as important as the timing was to get Sand and Snow perfect.

“We had a lot of things that held us up (while working on this record), but it was really nice to be able to spend the time,” Stevenson said. “A lot of times when you’re making a second album, you have to rush it. We were in a fortunate position where we didn’t. We already had all the songs written, we wrote a lot of new songs, and just took the time to be inspired by this incredible country and the desert.”

Pulling a lyric, “Cigarette smoke curls up in the sycamore” in the song ‘Rustle of the Stars’ on the new album, A Silent Film recently released a set of live videos entitled “The Sycamore Tapes” and they’ve taken the bands’ social media by storm.

The band was in a position, at this time, to go into the studio for a week, but they decided that instead of working on new material, they wanted to capture live takes of what they had been doing on the road.

“We happened to have sort of our photographer and video guy with us so we decided to just limit ourselves to one take,” said Stevenson. “We’d set it up nicely and if he was happy with a take and we were happy with the take, we’d move on. I think we did maximum three takes for any of them. It was an amazing process to go through.”

“It was a bit self-indulgent,” he admitted. “The best thing about it there was no real agenda. It’s like lets do these and we’ll put them up. We didn’t want to sell them we just wanted to do them and show people something else.“ According to Walker the process was a lot of trial and error.

The band would go into the studio every day and make a group decision on what song they would want to try. If a song worked they would use it, if not they would just move

on. Due to this sort of a process they were able to get 17 tracks done in a week.

“Its a nice way, when its hard to get in front of our audience because touring is expensive and time consuming, we keep touring but by doing this it’s a great way to come to us and see us online doing what we do best,” Spencer said.

Since this band has been up to a lot lately, we couldn’t help but wonder, what is their favorite part? Walker didn’t discount that being the studio is great, but they all agreed touring pretty much takes the cake when it comes to being a musician. However, each of the band mates have their own favorite part of being in the music industry.

“I like to write new songs, that’s my favorite thing.

Its also the worst thing in the world because its so difficult and it brings you under a huge amount of pressure, but its my favorite thing, whatever happens, and that’s what I live for,” Robert Stevenson said.

“It’s fun,” Bareham added. “Its always fun. It’s always Friday night.”

I think it’s safe to say, A Silent Film lives, breathes and bleeds music. When we asked what they did to get away from music, we couldn’t help to question their sincerity, in a good way. “[I] go to the gym, I work out. I bench press about 350, so it’s not a big deal but it’s quite time consuming. I eat a lot of protein and a lot of egg white omelets. So in between that I just read poetry,” Walker said, and no one else in the band could top that.

It’s clear A Silent Film isn’t planning to take any time away from their craft anytime soon because they have just gotten started. They even joked that their music career isn’t even a real career yet because they couldn’t pinpoint one major moment for them as musicians.

“I think often you’ve got to have little things, just steadily.

For us, the other day we played our biggest show we’ve every played over here in Charlotte and that was an amazing night,” said Stevenson. It’s like you just hit a benchmark and then you’re like ‘okay great, move on.

Lets keep going’. I don’t think a lot of bands are like ‘rest on your laurels’, you tend to sort of always be thinking.

As soon as you’ve achieved something you’re like ‘great I want the next thing.’ Were quite ambitious.”

Ambitious is always good; it means fans can expect a ton from A Silent Film, especially coming up. Since wrapping up their tour mid March, they’re already gearing up for festivals.

“We’re taking a very short break and then we’re back out for festivals, as yet unannounced, we can’t say which ones. We’re not allowed to,” Stevenson said. “It’s so silly. I don’t know what they really would do, like put you through hellfire if you told anyone, but were not supposed to tell anyone.”

PHOTOS: Luca Venter INTERVIEW AND STORY: Jennifer Boylen

HOME: Hampton, VA NOW jamming: The Royal Thousand - Full-Length (Equal Vision Records) CURRENTLY: Touring, touring and more touring!

2012 was a crazy, but incredible

year for Glass Cloud. Coming together at the end of 2011, signing almost immediately to Equal Vision Records and preparing for the release of its debut album, The Royal Thousand, Glass Cloud is the definition of a whirl wind success. The four-piece project features former member of Sky Eats Airplane, Jerry Roush, and the former guitarist of The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, Joshua Travis. The band also features childhood friends of Roush and Berklee graduates, Travis Sykes and Chad Hasty.

In just one year Glass Cloud toured the country, released its debut record and filmed three music videos, entering into 2013 as the blip on everyone’s radar they wished they would have taken notice of earlier. “ “This year has been an eye opener for Chad and myself,” said Sykes. “It’s our first time in a touring band.”

Despite this lack of touring experience Glass Cloud has gracefully recovered from every obstacle thrown their way. The gravest of blunders was with the tragic and disastrous totaling of the band’s van and trailer. Insistent on not missing any tour dates Glass Cloud reached out to its fans. Asking them to assist, donate to the band and purchase special edition t-shirts to help get the band on its feet and on to the next show.

“We had an incredible outpouring of support from our team and our fans,” said Sykes “We only missed two shows before we jumped back on the tour.”

Despite this lack of experience Glass Cloud is sure to bring its A- game into the studio and on the stage.

“We don’t really think too much about it, “ said Sykes in response to how the band puts together its live shows.

“We’ve all been playing for so long… we all feel like a great live show should be a totally separate beast from the music”.

Glass Cloud has conquered both beasts, landing a spot on the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, and even heading out on the road with Silverstein.

When coming together as a band, combining musical tastes and discovering where the perfect intertwining of each unique taste meshes seamlessly, is no easy task. To do it with the success and perfection, which Glass Cloud has done, is nearly impossible for a lot of bands. Glass Cloud has not only created a broad record, but rather one with a broad influence, cultivating its own perfect niche.

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“While now I think we’ve realized that we really carved out our own unique thing,” said Sykes. The unique sound that Glass Cloud produces goes far beyond its approach and the way the band intertwines, even as a four piece.

“Josh takes a lot of time to create an entire production for us,” said Sykes about Joshua Travis’ guitar sound. “We have a lot of great companies behind us who let us use their crazy equipment and come up with sounds that not a lot of people can achieve yet.”

Glass Cloud is more than just your average group of musicians. With educations at Berklee College of music, Glass Cloud set out with the intention of success, studying, training and preparing in any way possible for a life in the music industry. As such Glass Cloud is far from naïve about what the changes in technology mean for the music industry.

“As a musician I think all technology should be utilized,” said Sykes. “If you look at a trailblazing legend like Miles Davis he was one of the only Jazz musicians who evolved with technology and made a successful career for almost 50 years doing it.”

Glass Cloud cares about more than just the success of each band members careers, they stood up and took cause alongside fellow musicians as they were a part of the Take Action Volume 11.

“Any company that stands up for suicide prevention is something we can easily stand behind. Being an artist is at a lot of times a tortuous life beneath the surface.

We understand the fragility of the human condition and support the people who support our damaged and fragile friends,” said Sykes.

As Glass Cloud push into 2013 its eyes are only looking up. According to Skykes this year will be a time for the band to work on new music. With a horde of passionate and eager fans behind them, Glass Cloud took year one by storm; it is no mystery that the next year will be bigger and better. Be sure to keep an eye out for new music from Glass Cloud, and don’t miss your chance to see this incredible band of musicians live.

PHOTOS: Ashley Osborn INTERVIEW AND STORY: William Howard

HOME: Los Angeles, CA NOW jamming: Dead Sara - Full-Length (Epic/Pocket Kid) CURRENTLY: Just released a video for their single “Lemon Scent”

Since the release of their debut

album one year ago, Dead Sara has created a huge buzz.

They’ve been on high profile tours, had a song featured on a popular television series and Dead Sara has created its own record label. With a strong stage show and a hard rocking album to back it up it’s safe to say Dead Sara is here to stay.

The half female four- piece from Los Angeles comprised of Emily Armstrong(vocals), Siouxsie Medley(guitar), Sean Friday( drums) and Chris Null (bass) have been touring almost non-stop this past year. Including tours with The Used, Neon Trees, The Offspring and the Van’s Warped tour. And most recently the band has been opening for Muse on a part of their spring arena tour of the United States. The band certainly doesn’t have any problem with this heavy touring schedule.

“I think we are best live. So I think we show the most of what we can do on the road,” said vocalist, Emily Armstrong.

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She also said that the hardest part of being in the band is when they are off the road and have downtime.

The band self-released their debut self-titled album on their own label, Pocket Kid Records, last April and have since signed a joined partnership with Epic Records. All four members of the band have been in the music industry for quite a while. According to Armstrong creating their own record label was something that helped them learn a lot.

“It makes it that much easier because we’ve been through it,” she said about signing with the joined partnership.

While the band may get attention due to being a female fronted band, they certainly have the talent to exceed any expectations. Armstrong said that being a female fronted band is probably different from other bands because people don’t really consider the idea of women rocking so hard as the norm. But the dynamics seem to be working well for Dead Sara.

“We are taking it in stride and it does seem to work out for us,” said Armstrong.

Within the last year, while on tour, the feedback the band has received has been more than they could have expected. Armstrong said that the reaction to the debut album was much bigger than any of them could have predicted.

For Armstrong the highlight of Dead Sara’s career so far has been working on and releasing the debut album as well as the success it’s single “Weatherman” has had.

“It’s definitely something we didn’t think would bring back that much success for us. The fact that we are on tour with Muse now and the record hasn’t even been out for a year, it’s quite humbling,” she said.

“Weatherman” was surprisingly the first song the band wrote together as a band.

“It was definitely just a creative burst. The lyrics just seemed to flow over the riff. It was finished pretty fast,” said Armstrong.

Since that first song, the band has continued to be on the same page while writing despite the band mate’s diverse musical backgrounds and influences.

“I think we just have great chemistry despite what we’re all influenced in,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong herself has been heavily influenced by music of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

“I always listened to the radio as a kid and I started playing guitar at 11 so your antennas go up a lot on music,” she said. “I listened a lot to what was on the top 40, but it wasn’t until I got into the ‘60s and ‘70s [music] that made me really respect a good song. And still to this day a good song is a good song, no matter what genre or artist.”

When we spoke to Dead Sara, the band was just beginning to embark on the U.S. tour opening for Muse.

While looking forward to it, Armstrong was a little unsure about the size of the crowds and mentioned her fear of the size of the rooms.

“It’s just gonna be the experience, I don’t know what to expect,” she said.

While on the Muse tour, the band has been having fun with a sing-along before shows. They usually don’t have any before show rituals, but recently on this Muse tour, the band has been singing Elton John’s “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”. Armstrong doesn’t know how this started, but it for them it just seems like this funny thing for them to do before the band hits the stage.

Another huge opportunity for the band recently was being apart of an episode of the CW’s, “The Vampire Diaries”.

The band recorded a cover of the Patti Smith song “Ask the Angels” and the band’s own song “Lemon Scent” was featured as well on the show. Armstrong said it was very cool experience and she’s very thankful the show featured them.

“It was kinda like a long music video. We’ll see about the future on cameos, nothing yet,” Armstrong said.

She hadn’t seen the show before contributing to it because she doesn’t have a TV, but she looked into the show and liked how the show supports and features Indie music.

With all of the exposure and new fans created by their album, tours and television appearances it’s no wonder they’re beginning to gain a lot of attention from music fans. Dead Sara has been rocking harder than ever this past year and has no plans of slowing down. Coming off the Muse tour they plan on writing another new record with new influences and at the rate they’re going fans can probably expect more touring in the future.

POSED PHOTOS: Epic/Pocket Kid LIVE PHOTOS: Ashley Osborn INTERVIEW: Jenn Stookey STORY: Morgan Waldorf

dead sara is now available itunes.com/deadsara

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“It’s just gonna be the experience, I don’t know what to expect.”

alex

HOME: Poughkeepsie, NY NOW jamming: In Your Atmosphere - Full-Length CURRENTLY: Well, he’s always recording something new for your ears!

The biggest blessing and curse that

has hit the music industry is a little thing called the Internet.

Ten years ago, the social media network everyone was talking about was Myspace. This website opened doors for musicians they never thought possible. Musicians of all ages started posting their music on their Myspace profile in hopes of gaining fans. Adding friends and messaging everyone who accepted their friend request was the only means of getting people to visit their page. Virtually unknown artists had a way to reach thousands upon thousands of people from all over the world by sitting at home and clicking a few buttons. We have now seen the rise and fall of Myspace, but since then new and improved methods of putting music out there have come about.

Among these is the extremely popular Youtube, a video sharing social network that has launched the careers of a countless amount of people including the very man this article centers on, the fantastic Alex Goot.

Goot has always considered himself to be very involved with music. The multi-instrumentalist has been playing music since he was young. It wasn’t until he discovered the wonders of Myspace though that he started to promote his music. After Myspace ended, Goot scouted out the next big music sharing site and Youtube seemed to be the perfect fit. Goot began posting cover songs and the fans both new and old ate them up. Since he posted his first video, a cover of Jack’s Mannequin’s ‘Dark Blue,’ Goot has acquired over a million subscribers on Youtube and holds a spot in the Top 100 most subscribed to channels on the site.

“I did the whole Myspace thing until it died and then I saw where all the activity was on the Internet, where people were putting their music most. I realized it was on Youtube.

People do cover songs and when they get fans they put out original songs. You build this crazy huge fan base just by doing covers. I saw that and I was like ‘Well, I’ll try that!’ and it worked out very nicely.”

Youtube has opened a door to a whole new world for musicians to explore. Goot did a smart thing by ditching the Myspace scene to pursue a better opportunity. Most of his covers have over a million views and that number continues to grow daily. At first, Goot posted cover songs with him simply sitting behind the piano. Then, he moved into playing several different instruments and putting them all together to create a collaborative video. Now, he makes full-fledged music videos complete with concepts and usually featuring other people besides Goot. By watching any of his videos, it is easy to tell that he puts a lot of effort into his work. It takes a great deal of time to record himself playing the different instruments and editing the video clips together perfectly to arrive at the final cut that viewers will see. Although it may not look like it, Goot puts together

”I USED TO THINK THAT BEING THE YOUTUBE COVER GUY WAS A BAD THING, BUT IF YOU HAVE FANS, YOU HAVE FANS”

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music videos in a different way than most artists.

“It’s really non-traditional. It’s not like your traditional high production value job in the sense that the actual concepts for the video and when they’re being drawn up are almost one in the same with the actual production. We go right from ‘This would be cool’ to ‘Alright, let’s do it now!’ The plan and production go together a lot of the time. For my more serious music video projects… those were all professionally planned out and shots were all scheduled and things like that. That’s unusual I would say. That creates a different kind of product. Most of the time I just roll with it and do whatever happens.”

Over the years, Goot has been able to multiply his fan base through the medium of Youtube. He never imagined that his covers would get as much recognition as they have since he began posting them some years ago.

Although Goot is still known for his well thought out and executed cover songs, he also writes original songs that are just as popular as his covers.

“I used to think that being the Youtube cover guy was a bad thing, but if you have fans, you have fans. Basically the fans I’ve cultivated on Youtube enjoy the fact that I have covers and originals and they like both equally. We play live with a mixture of covers and originals. Now I’ve come to realize that there’s nothing wrong with that. Why not play what people want to hear? It makes total sense. That was a perceived disadvantage I had in the beginning, but it’s kind of fading away. The advantages are way more obvious. The audience is just so huge. It reaches the entire world every time I put a video out. It’s like crazy.”

With every new fad in the music industry come flaws. Goot began posting covers on Youtube right before everyone else hopped on the bandwagon. Type in any popular song on Youtube and you are bound to find at least 30 covers of that song all from different people. What sets Goot apart from the thousands of other people who post cover songs is that he has talent and a musicianship that extends far above most. Most cover songs found on Youtube have been posted by fans who want to get the attention of their favorite artist by trying to sound exactly like them. Goot takes the opposite approach. An Alex Goot cover song can stand by itself. He doesn’t simply take the song and play it just like the original artist. He adds his own spin to the songs to create something entirely his own. Goot’s musicianship can be seen in almost all of his videos where he plays all the instruments himself.

“I think that it’s pretty common amongst musicians to play a lot of instruments and kind of be able to be a jack-ofall-trades. I wouldn’t say that’s a super unique thing, but the fact that I show it would make me more unique and I just really enjoy every instrument. I like multi-tracking and putting things together. I think my favorite [instrument] is absolutely piano though. It’s kind of become my thing.

I started on the drums though, but honestly I’m not too great at the drums. I never have been. I’m okay like I can do the job, but piano is where I really fly musically.”

Last year, Goot had the privilege of releasing his first album entitled In Your Atmosphere consisting of eleven original songs. Being an independent artist, Goot called upon his loyal fan base to help him raise the funds needed in order to record the album. His Kickstarter campaign goal was $20,000. By the deadline, Goot’s supporters had raised over $34,000. This kind of support is what makes being an independent artist possible and worth it. He has seen that it is possible to be a successful musician without someone telling him how to do it. Being an independent artist these days seems to be the way to go. Goot does not seem to be in any kind of rush to change his independent artistry either.

He has complete and total control over everything he does creatively.

“There’s no middle man and no one to answer to which is actually a gift/curse because if you ever want to confide in someone and get guidance, it only comes from you. I’m the only person that I can ask. I do something because I want to do it and because it makes sense.”

The road to this success was not an easy one for Goot.

Though, is it ever easy for any artist? He decided to take his music beyond the confines of a computer screen and started playing shows across the country. Seeing where he is now, it is hard to imagine that he used to play to crowds of ten people or less.

“It used to be really shitty on tour. It was really bad. The past two years have all been legit tours where everything goes the right way. There’s a whole crew involved and everyone has a job and everyone does their job. It just works out really smoothly. Before then, it was rough.

Shows cancelled, two kids showing up, zero kids showing up, then five, then zero kids five days in a row. It was a rough world, but it’s totally different now.”

As far as new music goes, Goot seems to be playing it by ear. This is one of the many perks of being an independent artist, being able to do things on his own time.

“That’s another thing about just me running the show. I don’t know. I have to ask myself and then get back to you.”

But he does reassure us by saying that there is enough material up his sleeve to produce a new album within the next year.

“I’ve been working on new stuff because I always am. I always end up having something floating around.”

So for now watching the videos he posts on Youtube and playing In Your Atmosphere on repeat will have to suffice. Goot recently went on tour with Secondhand Serenade where he played to hundreds of people a night, a step up from previous tours. Being able to play with acts like Secondhand Serenade and Boyce Avenue has given Goot a platform to share his music with people who may have never heard it before. With every tour, he gains new fans and continues to surprise and charm old fans. Either way, Goot is sharing his music and that’s all that really matters for a musician.

Looking back at his career in music, it is amazing to see how far Goot has come since his first post on Myspace.

Being able to build a career off of social media has to be one the best perks of the Internet. It surely paid off for Goot. None of his success would be possible without all of the loyal fans who watch and favorite every Youtube video and download every song he puts on iTunes. As long as people continue to watch Goot’s videos, he will continue to make them. Even if people did stop watching them, he would probably still make them just because it is what he loves to do.

Goot may or may not be a new face to you, but either way once you take a look at a few of his videos and listen to his song “Lightening” you instantly become a fan. His quirkiness and charm make him all the more likeable.

He is a hard working guy who will stop at nothing to make sure his music makes it to the ears of his fans.

Genuineness like his is hard to come by these days.

It’s nice to see such a good hearted person working hard and endlessly for what they love and believe in.

On March 15th, he released a deluxe edition of In Your Atmosphere featuring 4 new tracks. Also, if you haven’t already, download all of his cover songs which can be found on iTunes. If Goot ever plays a show near you, make sure to go out and support him. He will not disappoint. If you have never heard his music, now is your chance! Go to his Youtube channel, immerse yourself in his beautiful covers and fun music videos and fall in love.

PHOTOS: Ashley Osborn INTERVIEW: Anjel Lopez STORY: Jessica Klinner

"I do something because I want to do it and because it makes sense."

anberlin

WHERE: Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL PHOTOs: Ashley Osborn

WHERE: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL PHOTOs: Ashley Osborn

Green day

best coast

WHERE: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL PHOTOs: Ashley Osborn

tyler, the creator

WHERE: The Metro, Chicago, IL PHOTOs: Ashley Osborn

album

reviews artist:

Paramore album: Paramore rating:

Recommended tracks: “Grow Up” “Ain’t It Fun” “Last Hope”

Tracks: Fast In My Car Now 3 Grow Up 4 Daydreaming 5 Interlude: Moving On 6 Ain’t It Fun 7 Part II 8 Last Hope 9 Still Into You 10 Anklebiters 11 Interlude: Holiday 12 Proof 1 2

13

Hate to See Your Heart Break

Where to begin? We all know that Paramore has been through hell (on and off headlines) and back. Well, you should probably start thinking of a nice tweet because whether you’re on their side or against them - they’ve delivered one the most genre diverse albums I’ve heard in years.

Paramore kicks off with “Fast In My Car.” I absolutely love this track. The drums in it specifically stand out to me. It makes you feel like you’re driving down the freeway while a movie is starting – before you know anything about the plot or the characters.

You’re as free as can be and loving life. It’s a perfect start for this album and the lyrics fit everything the band has been through. It’s a great opening track and I loved that it leads straight into the album’s first single, “Now.” If you’re an old school Paramore fan, don’t worry. “Part ll” is, in my opinion, the most incredible track on the album. It’s a continuation of Riot’s, “Let The Flames Begin.”

Words cannot explain how refreshing it was to hear this track. It was a true reminder of Williams’ vocal capability and the band’s lyricism as a whole. Immediately after we have my other favorite track, “Last Hope.” This song is incredibly deep and is reminiscent of the struggles and pain that you always find somewhere on a Paramore album. Then there’s “Be Alone” which was that early demo feel you may find on All We Know Is Falling.

(One of Those) Crazy Girls 15 Interlude: I’m not Angry Anymore 16 Be Alone 17 Future

My only concern with this album was it having 17 tracks. I wasn’t sure exactly what the band was going for with that many songs and at times I feel that the songs get lost within the tracks. I think they should have cut it down a bit to allow the tracks to stand out more and truly have a place. On the plus side, they did throw in a few intermissions to kind of break the album up into four pieces – each of them very simplistic and filled with sweet ukulele strums.

Release date:

Overall I give this album a 4.5/5 star rating because it truly is phenomenal. Paramore has overcome a lot and this album shows every aspect of who they and how they have evolved as musicians. If you like pop, rock, country, songs that sound like 50’s slow dance hits, songs to cry to or some really crazy alternative indie breakdowns... you’re just going to love this album. Even if it seems a bit much at times, there’s literally something for everybody within these 17 tracks. Clearly, this band and their fans certainly have some celebrating to do. Congratulations, Paramore. review: Ashley Osborn

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April 9, 2013

website:

www.paramore.net

Everyone who has been a fan of Timberlake since his ‘N Snyc days expect nothing but gold from the multi-talented Timberlake. It is clear that Timberlake and producer Timbaland put a lot of thought into each song on the album, but maybe not how they were going to flow into one another.

One of the glimmers of brilliance comes in the form of the opening track, “Pusher Love Girl.”

The song goes from R&B to big band to hip-hop beats, but amazingly it works in the purest of ways. I can’t say the same for “Suit and Tie.” Not only is this track repetitive and overplayed, but it is predictable and severely lacking any originality.

artist:

Justin Timberlake album: The 20/20 Experience rating:

One of my favorite tracks is the last track on the album, “Blue Ocean Floor.” There are so many different layers and this is one shining moment for the production of this album.

There are moments throughout the album that I see more D’Angelo than the pop version of Timberlake, but I can only hope this is the path he continues on with the second volume of the 20/20 Experience due out in November.

Timberlake is a performer before anything else and I feel as if this album is meant to be played live. Listening to it without the visuals and the live band takes away a couple layers and may leave the listener desiring more.

Don’t misunderstand; the album is well done, albeit a little bit overproduced. If nothing else, the 20/20 Experience is original and it shows how versatile Timberlake can be.

recommended tracks: “That Pusher Girl” & “Blue Ocean Love” review: Jessica Klinner Artist: Cartel Album: Collider

I always get anxious when a band I enjoy is releasing a new album. I’ve been a Cartel fan for years so I was in that mind set, but my fear quickly subsided when I started playing Collider. I haven’t stopped playing this record for days and I don’t think that is going to change anytime soon.

I love title track “Collider” for the attitude and raw sound to it. “Uninspired” is a song I find myself singing along to with out fail. I am head over heels for all 11 tracks; but “First Things First” may still take the cake. It’s just a song everybody needs to hear sometimes. It’s one of those ‘life is tough but you’ve got this’ anthems.

This album doesn’t have tons of variety to the point where it doesn’t make sense, but every song stands on it’s own while still contributing to a release that feels like it is actually meant to fit together. It’s all I could of hoped for from Collider and it’s definitely one of my favorites at the moment.

recommended tracks: “First Things First” & “Collider” review: Jennifer Boylen Artist: Conditions Album: Full of War Conditions created a masterpiece when they released their first studio album Fluorescent Youth back in 2010, and Full of War is no different. Three years of hard work and constant touring have, without a doubt, paid off for the band, as their new album displays their growth while remaining true to their honest lyrics and authentic sound.

Brandon Roundtree is a vocal powerhouse, exerting his natural talent into every single track. It is blatantly clear that a lot of passion and attention to detail went into making this album a genuine work of art by the four-piece band.

Conditions is simply Alternative Rock at its finest, and is possibly the most underrated band of the entire genre. For how talented they are, they deserve so much more recognition than they receive. Hopefully the release of this album will give them the boost they need to thrive in the industry, while catching the ears of potential fans.

recommended tracks: “Wonderful Lie” & “Best Mistake” review: Haley Black

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