ISSUE 21
HIGHLIGHT
MAGAZINE
CONDITIONS – EMBLEM3 – FAREWELL, MY LOVE – RESTORATIONS – JAMES BAY & MORE
co-founder – editor-in-chief ashley osborn
IGHLIGH
co-founder – art director cara bahniuk managing editor jenn stookey content director anjel lopez copy editor courtney dondelinger co-founder mckenzie hughes contributing photographers
cara bahniuk, matt burke, dan deslover, courtney dondelinger, tarina doolittle, jordan fischels, brad heaton, anjel lopez, nicole mago, charlie martel, david mullis, ashley osborn, heather phillips, petey place, danny raybon, sam roenfeldt, sam san roman, daniel shippey, jared thomas and amy willard
contributing writers (online & publication)
ryan argast, haley black, jennifer boylen, colleen casey, rebecca del castillo, trevor figge, perry fish, zach murman-freer, tamara fuentes, will howard, logan kant, jessica klinner, daisy marietta, theresa pham, taylor pittman, karlin reed, ryan bahniuk, annette schaefer, alyssa schmidt, steven smith, morgan waldorf and abby welsh
digital marketing team
geoff burns, rachel carter, sierra eldridge, megan shea and catie suliga
news posters
jordyn lockwood, heather malan and taylor miller
_________________________ www.highlightmagazine.net
facebook facebook.com/highlightmagazine twitter @highlightzine instagram @highlightzine _________________________ thank you
the color morale, earshot media, atlantic records, emblem3, winnie lam, columbia records, entertainment one group, universal media group, co5 media, bullhorn publicity, jamie coletta and side one dummy. and a big thank you to our amazing readers!
_________________________ 06 the color morale jordan fischels
07 restorations jordan fischels
farewell, my love tarina doolittle
james bay jordan fischels
manika provided
emblem3 submitted
matt wertz tarina doolittle
conditions tarina doolittle
november 05 this or that
08 clothing highlight 09 film highlight 10 label highlight 11 venue highlight 12 industry highlight 14 matt wertz 16 james bay 20 manika 22 restorations 26 farwell, my love 30 emblem3 34 conditions 38 color morale 48 tour round up macklemore & ryan lewis sleeping with sirens lydia the maine the jonas brothers finch atlas genius 62 reviews
THIS
PARKS AND RECREATION
39%
OR
BOTH
3%
THAT
COMMUNITY
58%
FUN.
THE FORMAT
85%
15%
20%
BOTH
20%
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HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 5
THE COLOR MORALE - 38
FAREWELL, MY LOVE - 26
MANIKA - 20
MATT WERTZ - 14
22 - RESTORATIONS
16 - JAMES BAY
30 - EMBLEM3
34 - CONDITIONS
CATCH ONTO THESE TRENDS COMPANY: LIves & Levels FOUNDER/DIRECTOR: Tom Sykes LOCATION: Sheffield, UK WEBSITE: www.livesandlevels.com
COMPANY STORY?
My brother came up with the name Lives & Levels; it’s a phrase from when we were kids. It references playing video games, taking it in turns when you lose a life or complete a level. I’ve worked for my brothers clothing company (Drop Dead clothing) since I left school and I’ve skated since way before that. I always thought it would be cool to run a skate brand and apply everything I had learned from working for Drop Dead to my own thing. It was my brother that pushed me to start the company and he loaned me the money for the initial launch, it only seemed right to use a name that meant something to us both.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOUR BRAND REPRESENTS?
Quality and realness. Before I started the company I was noticing a lot of companies printing crappy slogans and supreme rip offs onto cheap t-shirts with no thought put into any other aspect of it, just to make a quick buck. I wanted to create something I was proud of and something that my friends would want to wear and support. I’m not sure if I’ll ever make a lot of money from Lives & Levels but as long as I keep it real and enjoy what I’m doing that doesn’t bother me.
REASON YOU STARTED YOUR BRAND?
It was a reason for me to keep doing the things I love, like photography, videography, design, typography and skateboarding itself! Also, Sheffield has never had its own skate company, which is surprising because it has a really good skate scene. I thought I could offer something to the skaters of Sheffield that no one had yet.
WHAT ARE YOUR THREE FAVORITE DESIGNS?
Black Skateboard: Streets is watchin’ is one of my favorites; I feel it represents the brand pretty well. Just a real nice typography design that shows we are proud to be from Sheffield. 3 Skateboards: I was really happy with how the Heavy Hitters skateboard series came out. The series is made up of three rappers: Tupac Shakur, Big L and The Notorious B.I.G. It is based around one of Big L’s Lyrics “Peace to biggie and pac / cuz they really were hot / Rap Game Heavy Hitters its a shame they’re no longer with us.” This lyric always stood out to me because most people know who Tupac and Biggie are but Big L is a little less known, but I believe he was one of the best. Big L’s life was taken in the same way as Tupac and Biggie. Sweatshirt: The deck script design is one of my all time favorites. I’m really into typography and just love the way this turned out. It’s one of our best sellers… even Rita Ora liked it.
WHY PEOPLE SHOULD CHECK OUT YOUR BRAND?
We are an honest independent brand, run by myself alone. Keep skateboarding in the hands of skateboarders.
HIGHLIGHTED
FILMS
EPIC MUSIC MOVIE MOMENTS OF THE
70’S AND 80’S
70’s JAWS (1975)
Why It’s Epic
As one of the most famous moments in film history, the opening scene of JAWS is nearly impossible to forget. As a few drunken teenagers drift away from their friends and head towards a dark beach to swim, the audience is immediately made aware of the inevitable danger that lies ahead. Suddenly from underwater, the viewer is given the perspective of a massive shark looming deep below, hunting its prey. Looking above at the dimly lit silhouette of the night swimmer, the most bone chilling music begins to quietly play. The JAWS score is composed of only two notes used to replicate a shark’s heartbeat as it attacks yet the simplicity of this music only adds to the haunting feeling of inescapable death. As the music peaks in intensity, the shark pulls its victim under the dark water as she lets out a bloodcurdling scream. Evoking the relentless and unstoppable power of an insatiable shark; the JAWS theme music was not only terrifying in the ’70s, but remains one of the most memorable and haunting film scores ever.
Studies proved that nationwide beach attendance as well as tourism hit its lowest point the year JAWS was released, many beach goers citing their new fear of shark attacks. In the 1970s public opinion was generally that sharks were mindless killing machines and this film only furthered that stereotype. Although more people are educated on sharks in today’s society, this epic music moment still sends chills down your spine and remains a powerful reminder of the unknown beneath the water.
80’sThe Breakfast Club (1985) A brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal. This timeless John Hughes film challenges stereotyping, the difficulties of growing up, and the everlasting hunger for rebellion against authority. This quintessential ’80s film follows a group of students each from different social cliques that are brought together to spend a Saturday afternoon in detention. They begin to teach each other that they are more than their respective stereotypes and leave detention forever changed. Yet not without leaving behind the most awesomely simple letter for their principal, explaining the judgments people make about their appearances. As the group leaves detention, John Bender “the criminal” walks away from the school and thrusts his fist into the sky just as Simple Minds’ hit “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” plays in the background. This song perfectly encapsulates the idea of The Breakfast Club because without even anticipating it, these five strangers have forever changed one another. What started as an afternoon wasted in detention soon becomes a life lesson they will never forget.
Why It’s Epic This coming of age story not only brought “the brat pack” incredible fame but remains one of the most famous films about the struggles of high school. The Breakfast Club manages to shed some light on heavy issues like suicide and abuse while never forgetting to make the audience laugh. Bringing unique perspectives to one another, the characters are deep, diverse, and timeless. They learn to toss inaccurate first impressions aside and soon empathize with each other’s struggles to discover how similar they actually are. The Breakfast Club begs the audience to ask themselves how do people really see you and should you even care?
REVIEW: Rachel Carter
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 9
YOU MAY WANT TO LISTEN TO...
Some of the best things come from the deepest roots. Earthwork music, a Michigan based label, thrives on this belief. With a focus on folk and roots music, Earthwork believes in the historical power of music to raise both community and self-awareness. With 26 artists and growing, their diverse artist lineup includes several collaborative groups, as well as independents.
GIFTS OR CREATURES -
Making beautiful music together has never felt (and sounded) so right as when Brandon and Bethany Foote perform together. This real-life couple known as Gifts or Creatures produces whimsical vocals, enlightened with twangy eclectic guitar solos. Comparable to Him & Her, with a hint of country, Gifts or Creatures has created two albums since their birth in 2010. Brandon and Bethany are also active members of the Michigan’s Earthwork Music collective, supporting fellow folk artists and backing the production of original music. Listen to: “Woodrow”
THE RED SEA PEDESTRIANS -
Gypsy-infused melodies, Cajun-inspired beats, and good old American roots. Put it all together and you get The Red Sea Pedestrians. Six members strong, this eclectic band taps into the inspirations of historic music, most notably The Beatles. After becoming a band in 2005, RSP has released four albums under the Earthworks label. Their unique sound and well-composed albums have earned them several awards, putting them on the map as one of the most talented world roots bands in the Midwest. Listen To: “One Knee On the Wheel”
SETH AND MAY -
After touring as independent artists, Seth Bernard and “Daisy” May Erlewine came together to write and perform music. After six years of collaborating, Seth and May have released three albums and an EP together. In line with the Earthworks’ mission statement, Seth and May are well known for their folk rhythms and lyrics, mostly through their performances at multiple music festivals. Aside from their music ventures, this dedicated duo is passionate about giving back to the community through music and environmental preservation education. Listen to: “New Flower”
WORDS: Perry Fish
VENUE HIGHLIGHT TREES - DALLAS, TX
HISTORY:
WHY PLAY HERE?
Once a shady area in downtown Dallas,Deep Ellum had quite the reputation. A part of Dallas that was once known for homeless people and muggings is now the premiere live music district. Two main streets, Elm and Main, house several venues including Trees. First opening its doors in May of 1990, Trees has been a unique. While a premiere spot for local bands to play, Trees has also hosted some of the most popular acts in music including Nirvana, Radiohead and Pearl Jam, as well as featuring more up and coming acts such as Saves the Day and The Maine.
So what makes Trees stick out from the many other venues in Deep Ellum? For one thing, the inside certainly lives up to its name. Thick pillars make it seem like actual trees have been erected inside the building. The ambiance is dim and slightly dive-y; for a while, the men’s bathroom, situated directly across from the merch table, seemed to be missing its door. But they seemed to have it fixed. Now there’s nothing stopping bands and Dallas-ites from into this Deep Ellum venue. It is one of the larger venues in the area, leaving comfortable room for moshing and room for those who don’t mosh. Another ingredient of Trees’ success is their award winning sound system that continuously has bands coming back.
TWITTER: @treesdallas FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/treesdallas WEBSITE: www.treesdallas.com NOVEMBER 13TH
NOVEMBER 14TH
OCTOBER 17TH
NOVEMBER 25TH
Butch Walker
Of Montreal
Kate Nash
Anthony Green
REVIEW: Alyssa Schmidt PHOTO: tobydammit.com/tours/posters/1994/trees_dallas.jpeg
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 11
YOU’LL BE AMAZED BY
ADAM SMALL
JOB: Everything...literally. Just read to see! LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL STORY?
In my 20 years working professionally in the music business, I’ve pretty much seen it all. I started my career as a bassist in NYC playing with great artists like Larry Goldings, Bernie Worrell (ParliamentFunkadelic), Ari Hoenig, Sam Yahel and many more. I played a ton of gigs, toured both domestic and internationally and recorded in a variety of contexts. Around 2002, I began delving into music production, composition, recording and mixing and quickly realized that I enjoyed these elements as much as live performance. After working on a couple albums I stumbled into the world of music licensing and I got my first taste of royalty money, which quickly gave me inspiration to pursue music licensing and publishing further. In the following years I learned all of the ins and outs of licensing and publishing deals, contracts, networking, music placement and politics. I also became involved in film scoring and composing for all media. Some of my favorite credits are from the award winning film, “Another Earth” and the documentary “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead”. Along with the experiences and skills I’ve listed above, I’m also a mastering engineer, studio consultant, video editor, web designer, computer tech and all around over achiever. These skills were all learned at various stages of my career due to necessity, since I’ve always been a full-time musician working in a variety of areas. This is one of the most important lessons I try to relay to up-and-coming musicians: learn as many skills relating to your music career as humanly possible, because if you don’t understand the ins and outs of this business, you’ll get “taken for a ride.” This is why I’ve taken on a different role at this stage of my music career. My goal is to use my experience to help musicians protect themselves, protect their music and advance their careers without getting beaten down by the industry. Currently I run the website, www.MyMusicMasterclass.com, which is aimed at helping motivated musicians attain “real world” music industry knowledge and take their careers to the next level. I film top music industry artists, who share tips, tricks, advice and more. Essentially they tell you how they got to where they are and what it will take you to get there. Also, I’ve archived over 2000 pages of free resources focused on helping musicians with performance, business, technology, practice and legal concerns. Aside from the website, I’m a music industry speaker and panelist at industry events, colleges and more. I’m always happy to steer
motivated musicians in the right direction so they don’t have to learn the hard way.
WHAT ARE THREE OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE CAREER MOMENTS?
I’ve had many memorable moments in my career and it’s hard to pick three. That being said, here are a few… 1) The last tour I did (as a bassist) with “The Sam Yahel Trio” was very memorable. We played as the opening band for “Steely Dan” throughout their US tour. It was great playing artistic, instrumental music in large amphitheaters to appreciative audiences. And of course, Steely Dan sounded amazing every night as expected. That was really fun! 2) A couples years ago I played a private party for Burt Bacharach and we performed arrangements of his songs directly to him. It was truly an honor and thankfully he enjoyed it too… Burt is a total genius and a very nice man. 3) The last memorable career moment I had was when I founded “My Music Masterclass” about a year ago. I had been thinking for years about building a resource for the professional music community because I noticed that there was a lack of “real world” music education available online and in schools. Even though many people spend thousands of dollars on degrees and lessons (and are talented and skilled), many of them don’t really know how to make a living in the music business (since there are many factors involved). So, I decided to go for it and build this crazy thing and I’m really proud of how far it’s evolved in such a short time. It’s definitely one of the major highlights of my career and I feel like I’m finally giving back to the industry that has supported me for all these years.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH?
Like I said before, I’ve been a full-time professional musician for the last 20 years and that has always been my main goal. I’m very fortunate to have played with some of my favorite artists. I’ve also recorded, produced, composed and licensed a lot of cool music over this time. My only remaining goal is to help musicians facilitate their own successful music careers. Also, I want to make sure others actually get paid in this economy. So essentially, I hope to help musicians get to the next level using my experience…that would be a really cool accomplishment! MyMusicMasterclass.com facebook.com/MyMusicMasterclass twitter.com/MMMClass mymusicmasterclass.tumblr.com/
HOME: Nashville, TN NOW JAMMING: Heatwave - LP CURRENTLY: Touring across the US
DID YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF
stuck in a rut saying, “time is of the essence?” For Nashville native, Matt Wertz, that was something that ran through his head more often than he had liked. Growing up in a home out of Liberty, Missouri, where exploring and finding a true passion was highly encouraged, Wertz found himself headed down a path that most kids his age did at the time: college. For a while, it looked like industrial design would be the route that Wertz would be taking. At the mere age of 21, the now pop star found himself coming to the end of his senior year in college. The duties of the classroom lead him to discover the escape that can be found through music. Little did he know, however, that the escape would open the doors of his University of Illinois dorm into a world full of endless opportunities. “My parents thought I was crazy, but who’s going to stop a 21 year old kid who’s had a taste of connecting with people through writing and performing songs?” said Wertz. Midway through his senior year in college, Wertz had his goals set on recording an album. In 2001, he reached that goal with the release of his first album, Somedays. While time may have been against him, it was also seemingly for him. Wertz explained, “Now, anyone with a couple thousand dollars can buy the gear necessary to record a record.” The sudden surge in affordable recording equipment has lead to more music being released at quicker paces. When free streaming services came into play, it didn’t make things any easier. “I don’t know if I would break through if I were starting out now,” stated Wertz.
With all the popularity, money, and glamour that come with his journey, Wertz has had to keep himself composed. Sometimes he’s had to make the best of a bad situation. According to Wertz, the most difficult part about his journey was overcoming temptation in comparing himself to what his friends (also artists) are doing. “I have to choose to be grateful today. If I focus on the gifts that I’ve been given, even if it’s that I get to breathe air today, then it’s a good day,” he emphasized. With the release of his latest record, Heatwave, he intends on traveling and promoting the record as much as possible. However, without being coy, Wertz isn’t too sure where he’s headed or what fans can expect beyond that. For him, it was all about timing, and in some cases overcoming it. It’s clear from his story that time occasionally played the friend, and sporadically, played the foe. However, time can’t interfere with is the emotion that is the driving force behind a song. It can’t spill the ink onto the pages with the poetic justice that is being born in his mind. And, it certainly can’t distort those timeless memories that have been produced from the pursuit of a big city dream from a small town boy. “I remember a moment distinctly when I was working at a camp playing music the summer after I had graduated college. I was standing on this lookout over the lake as the sun was setting, fully immersed in the moment. In that place I realized how perfectly I was made for this.” PHOTO: Tarina Doolittle INTERVIEW & STORY: Steven Smith
The term “break through” does Wertz plenty of justice. It wasn’t exactly a walk in the park for him. Coming up with artists like Dave Barnes, Andy Davis, and Mat Kearney, Wertz had to do more; he had to dig deeper. That’s when he met the man who would catapult him into that “break through.” In 2003, Wertz collaborated with producer, Ed Cash, in the production of his next album, Twentythree Places. Wertz recalls leaving the studio at times to let him flesh out some ideas of his own. When the next studio session came, there was almost always an obscure part that was eccentric and inspired. “It was like Christmas coming in after Ed had been playing mad scientist,” Wertz recalled. To say the least, it’s been a pretty exciting past 12 years for Wertz. He’s got quiet the resume and gas mileage to prove it. Besides touring nationally with acts such as Hanson, Jason Mraz, and Matt Nathanson, Wertz has also had the chance to headline tours of his own through the early-to-mid 2000’s. Wertz has also had some of his songs played in a handful of TV shows and films such as Wildfire, One Tree Hill, and Employee of the Month. Despite the praise worthy history of Wertz, he claims that his greatest highlight hasn’t been tangible to his accomplishments at all. “I kind of feel like the highlight of my career is the fact that I have gotten to have a career,” he explained.
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 15
HOME: Hitchin, UK NOW JAMMING: The Dark of the Morning - EP CURRENTLY: Touring around the UK and Ireland
TO AN ASPIRING MUSICIAN,
their goal is to “make it.” They want to score a record deal, play in front of hundreds of fans, and to be able to look back on it all and say, “I made it.” However, James Bay, a singer-songwriter from London, does not believe in “making it.” Bay believes that artists should always have goals, and once you reach those goals create new ones. From his early beginnings of playing guitar through now, Bay has been reaching his goals and dreaming of even bigger ones. James Bay was 12 years old when he found an old, dusty Spanish guitar tucked away in a cupboard in his spare bedroom in his home in Brighton, a suburb of London. When he pulled the guitar down and was able to pluck out his first rusty, out of tune chord, he knew he didn’t just come across a treasure, but rather a key for a door that lead to a whole new world. Since that day, that guitar has not seen the inside of that cupboard, and is completely dustless. Before Bay found the guitar, his interest in music first sparked while listening to two of his favorite artists. Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson grabbed Bay’s imagination and crafted it into something that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Bay would hear their songs and watch them on television whenever he could, learning how to perform well and how to grab an audience’s emotions. The way they performed and moved a crowd had a huge effect on him, setting him on a path to become an astounding musician. Like most guitarists, they need to start by taking lessons to learn the basics before they can take off on their own. Bay took only a few lessons when he first found the guitar, but realized that the traditional way of reading notes across sheet music wasn’t the best way for him to learn. Bay relied on listening to music and working through the song with only his ears and guitar. Ironically, some of Bay’s favorite guitar players; Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Keith Richards had one interesting fact in common, they all learned to play by ear as well. Bay recalled, “Not really knowing what you’re doing is actually a great way to write, it leaves a lot more doors open, creatively.” Doing this allows Bay to keep creative control and not have him tied down to theories and rules. Bay began to make his name known in his hometown of Brighton. He made his way around by doing open mics and small shows, sometimes doing two or three sets a night. Not only did the people of the town find Bay to be extremely good, he also caught the ear of one individual who would end up changing his life. Bay’s music eventually made it to the ears of Ben Adelson. Adelson is the man who is responsible for discovering Young the Giant and
gave them a record deal to put out their first album, which turned out to be a hit in the alternative scene. Adelson sits in the chair of the senior director of Artists & Repertoire at Republic Records. His job is to find bands and determine whether or not he wants to bring them in to potentially sign them to a record deal. Once Adelson heard Bay’s music, he wanted to fly Bay out to New York and hear Bay in person. This news caught Bay off guard since he had not yet been to the United States and was not expecting his music to cross the ocean anytime soon. Adelson liked what he heard and the two worked out a record deal. Bay began to start to put together what would soon to be his current EP, The Dark Of The Morning. Writing and recording the material for his five-track EP was not a time consuming process. Bay was constantly writing material as he was playing at gigs for about a year. He decided that the way he wanted to record his EP would be for it to sound like he was performing it live, organic and personal. On the EP, listeners will only hear Bay performing since he played most of his gigs by himself. Eventually, he would love to incorporate his entire band on a full-length album. “99% of the time it’s the music that kicks off a song idea; sometimes it’s chords first, sometimes it’s melody,” he explains. When it comes to the lyrics to his songs, Bay says that he is constantly writing new lines out on pieces of scrap paper or even on his cell phone. The Dark Of The Morning is an outstanding EP for highlighting Bay’s musical style. He has a mix of what may sound like countryrock guitar riffs, but sings with a bluesy feel. The sub-layer of his style would be that he is a singer-songwriter, making his sound unique. Bay’s guitar playing and vocals are superb. The first song on the EP, “Move Together” introduces us to Bay’s sound. With a simple, yet deep guitar riff and harmonies can draw the listener in. The chorus then shows us Bay’s vocal range and that he is not scared to hit those high notes. While Bay might come off as just another singer-songwriter, he has hints that he could play louder, heavier music. His voice has a grungy feel to it, making it a little more unique than other artists that may fall in his category of music. His hit song, “When We Were On Fire” shows his louder side. An almost gospel-like song, something that one would want to sing and clap along to shows what Bay could, and will bring to the table if he were to play at full volume. Recently, Bay has been touring America. So far, he has had a great response to his music because people are already asking him, “When are you going to be back?” Bay explains that hearing that is one of the most amazing things to hear. “Playing in America is incredible, the crowds are always out for a great time and they’re so responsive after shows.” HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 17
Being a new touring artist, he has come across challenges. Bay isn’t used to being so far away from home for long periods of time and he isn’t used to all of the new culture he has come across. He forgets all of that the minute he gets to play his songs live. He expressed to us that there is no greater feeling in the world than to play on stage every night. Touring across the world, seeing new places, meeting new people, and spreading his music to different countries has made it all worthwhile. One of his songs was featured during London Fashion Week. Cara Delavigne, modeling for Burberry, walked to his song, “When We Were On Fire.” Bay said that he definitely didn’t see that one coming. We asked Bay if fashion would be something that he would be interested in pursuing, or at least trying. He told us that he likes fashion about as much as the next person. Although he was very excited to know that industry professionals were using his song, he thinks he is going to stay where he’s comfortable, music. As Bay is continues his rapid climb, he is already beginning to think about his next album. However this time, he is planning on bringing his whole band with him. He is excited to start and show off what he and his band have to offer. The album will probably surprise some, because unlike his EP, where Bay is preforming songs by himself, he is planning on bringing volume to the fulllength. This doesn’t mean he is going to ditch his acoustics, but he
is going to mix both his acoustics and electric guitars, along with his band. Bay is dying to get some plug-ins on the record with accompaniment from his band. Listeners of Bay’s music should be expecting a loud, badass album. James Bay started out with ambition and a dream. He started dreaming the day he picked up that dusty guitar and has yet to stop. Bay never expected to get to this level so quickly, but he doesn’t regret that he did. He told us, “Before I signed my record deal, I hoped I’d achieve that one day. Before I started touring, I hoped I’d achieve that.” Bay’s music is very moving and will keep the listener’s foot tapping. We recommend that everyone go pick up this EP and give it a listen. Keep an eye out for when Bay’s fulllength album finally drops, and if you get the chance to see Bay perform live, do it. Although some may say that Bay is on the path to “making it,” but he still believes that’s not what music is about. He is already beginning to start to think about future goals – and he is confident he will achieve them. PHOTOS: Jordan Fischels INTERVIEW & STORY: Zach Murman-Freer
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 19
A K I N A M
HOME: Las Vegas, NV NOW JAMMING: Manika - Double Album LP CURRENTLY: Teaching herself a new instrument & working on a new music video!
EARNING A SPOT TO TOUR WITH ONE
Direction is a reality that most young female musicians would die for. Manika, a young pop artist, was lucky enough to be that artist after releasing her single “Just Can’t Let You Go.” Her dream became a reality, which has only begun. Manika is a 17-year-old, Asian-Spanish American artist who was discovered by king of pop, Michael Jackson’s manger Frank DiLeo. He came out of retirement just to manage Manika. “I was really flattered when he flew to my home in Las Vegas and talked to me and my dad when I was a junior in high school,” Manika said. “I was beyond myself, freaking out and so excited to start this career.” Manika realized she was born to sing when she was asked to tour with One Direction, one of the most popular boy bands right now. Being able to sing in front of thousands of fans is a surreal thing for Manika. “Every night before my set, I would peek out from the side and look out at the audience of up to 20,000 plus people,” she began to explain. “The first night of the tour, I snapped a picture of the crowd and texted the photo to my friend and he said there were so many people that it actually made him dizzy and he had to sit down.” Touring with cute boys isn’t the only thing consuming her time; she took a very heavy hand in writing the songs on her debut album, MANIKA. She was more than flattered with responses from her fans about her songs. “It is so exciting for me because three of the songs from my album are already Billboard Top-40 Airplay hits,” she added. While Manika feels strongly connected to each and every song of hers, there is one in particular that touches her in a special way after a visit to a hospital. The song is called ‘Through The Eyes Of The Young.” “I wrote the song after visiting and reading to terminally ill cancer patients at a children’s hospital,” Manika explained. “It was so difficult, but way worth it.”
She even graduated as Valedictorian. “Sometimes I feel like I missed out a little bit on the college experience,” Manika explained about starting her career as early as she did. “But what I am learning to better my career, there are no better people to learn from than the amazing producers, songwriters, choreographers and I am more than happy to doing what I’m doing.” Although Manika is still getting used to the fame and fortune that follows her career, she said it will never get old to her. So far, her most memorable place she has travelled is the entire One Direction tour. “It was my first time performing night after night in sold-out arenas,” Manika said. “It was such a cool thing to experience.” Things haven’t always looked up for Manika, however. After the tragic death of her manager, DiLeo, she struggled finding the strength to keep looking forward. “It was extremely hard because it was in the middle of the first single release,” Manika explained. But this didn’t stop her. She overcame this struggle by “moving forward with the vision we formed together.” Manika is extrememley happy to announce that her Facebook and Twitter have reached a total of four million followers, but that isn’t the only thing she is excited about. Just last week, Manika was the headline entertainer on the finale to an upcoming reality TV show called “Battle of the Strands.” “So look out for the show,” she added. “We also shot the music video of me for the theme song I wrote for the show, which will be on my website soon, too.” Manika said she is more than blessed to be on this journey and is excited to take her fans with her. “I love all of my Manikans,” she said excitingly. PHOTO: Submitted INTERVIEW & STORY: Abby Welsh
While writing music is what she loves doing, she also found a passion writing books. She wrote her first book when she 15-yearsold. Manika explained how each style of writing is very similar yet very different. “For both, you use creativity and you tell a story,” she added. “But the process of each is obviously very different. I’m very happy I have the skills to do both.” Because her career began when she was only a junior in high school, she had to make some adjustments. Instead of having a senior year, she crammed her junior and senior year into one allowing her to graduate early and start her career.
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RESTORATIONS HOME: Philadelphia, PA
NOW JAMMING: Restorations - LP CURRENTLY: Heading back to Philly from tour with Weatherbox
WHILE SOME BANDS TAKE A WHILE
to make a name for themselves, this one is making strides towards fame in record time. Restorations just completed the first leg of their exciting West Coast tour, and singer/guitarist Jon Loudon took a break to share about their new album, LP2, and more. For Loudon, he’s been really inspired lately by musician Mark Kozelek, whose “droney Americana tone” is really appealing to him. Writing in a really unique way, Jon considers that the songs exist in their own world. Of course, musical inspiration is different for every band member. And speaking of artistic inspiration, if you’re wondering where the band gets their albums and poster art from, they’re all done by Bruno Guerreiro. A brilliant artist and old friend of the band, they let him interpret the music as he sees it, and out comes the art. Having recently released their second full-length with Side One Dummy Records, Jon expressed how happy they are with their choice, “These are some of the kindest, most supportive people in the business. They’ve taken us in and helped us become a steadier band.” Delving deeper into LP2, he explains the writing process, that everything except the lyrics is collaborative, and that it’s the healthiest writing environment he’s ever experienced. If you can imagine a band working together on an album like any other sort of team project, each member brings in a couple of small ideas and they start to glue them together. Then comes the editing and cutting. The band spent three weeks last year with Jon Low at Miner Street in Philadelphia. The studio is across the street from their practice space, and close to home, so the recording process was a lot like hanging out with their friends in the neighborhood. It was the first time they had room to go in and just focus on making music. They had a blast with Jon Low, who Loudon has dubbed a genius.
Since the new songs are a little more energetic, they’ve been a lot of fun to play on tour. But equally as exciting to perform have been older songs, revisiting old ideas and reworking a few things. They aim to keep it interesting for people who keep coming out to see them play. Although they don’t necessarily consider their sound far off from other bands “making it” out there, they do want you to know they play louder! After this tour ends, they’ll be playing a couple of local shows over the holidays, including the Bouncing Soul’s Home for the Holidays show. Then they’ll be busy working on booking a couple more tours and onto their next record. Never having been out on the West Coast, but trying for a couple of years resulted incredibly well for Restorations, as they made quite a few fans for themselves in the interim. Supportive fans came from far and wide to see them play; showing them just how great it is to achieve their goals. So far the most difficult thing collectively has been money, which if you know anything about bands in this day and age, shouldn’t come as a surprise. Though it’s not the easiest thing to organize five people’s personal and professional lives to leave town for any period of time from a few months to a year, but through the support of the band’s friends and fans, they’ve been able to hit the road, finally. They’re very thankful for what they’ve been able to accomplish. Along the same line, one important thing they’ve learned that have helped them overcome their challenges, have been trying to tour smartly instead of touring for the sake of it. They started doing one-offs and weekend shows, and slowly worked their way up. Persistence and planning does pay off, after all. PHOTOS: Jordan Fischels INTERVIEW & STORY: Daisy Matietta
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HOME: Phoenix, AZ NOW JAMMING: Gold Tattoos - Debut Album CURRENTLY: Gearing up to go on tour
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TWITTER IS BECOMING THE NORM
for everyone these days. The social media platform can be used for networking or simply to tweet what you had for lunch but 140 characters has become a quick and efficient way to reach people. Recently, I couldn’t help but notice my twitter feed has been taken over by one thing; tweets and retweets from the band Farewell, My Love, all in response to fans. This band has definitely gotten my attention, and clearly the attention of hundreds of thousands of others. This five piece from Arizona is made up of vocalist Ryan Howell, guitar and pianist Robby Creasey, Chad Kowal on drums and vocals, bass player Charlee Conley, and Logan Thayer on guitar. They came together not only to play music, but also with a purpose represented by their name, Farewell, My Love. “The name Farewell, My Love basically represents letting something go in your life that you feel is holding you back from being the person you feel that you’re destined to be even if it seems hard in the moment,” they said. “We want to do that exact same thing with our songs. We want to inspire the world to chase after their dreams no matter how hard it may seem, life is too short to regret not making your dreams become a reality.” Not only do they want to inspire people, but also their fans have become one of their biggest inspirations. “The main inspirations for the album [Gold Tattoos] came from personal life experiences and also the fan base that we call our ‘Lovers’ family. They inspire us to do and be the best we can be. We are truly grateful for them,” the band expressed. From the get go, Farewell, My Love wanted to stand out; and people are definitely taking notice. In an industry where many bands become very similar, Farewell My Love wants to bring back the best in music and take on a theatrical rock persona.
“It was definitely something we knew we wanted to do from the very beginning of this band’s formation. We wanted to create something that was more than just another band on stage in jeans and a t-shirt. We wanted to bring back the show aspect similar to that of Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe and Ozzy Osbourne. When people listen to our music and come out to our shows we want to make them feel like they are a part of something, like they’re apart of another world. People listen to music to escape, so we want to give them a place amazing to escape to,” they explained. That being said, standing out has been one of their biggest struggles as a band. Farewell, My Love knows first hand how difficult it is to create something that hasn’t been done before; and even more so to have people take notice of it, but they are willing to work hard for their dreams. “Like the old saying goes, ‘It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock n’ roll’,” they said. They believe in their music enough that they know their positivity will translate to their audiences; and it most certainly has. While their fist EP, Mirror, Mirrors was “an introduction to what was about to be known as Farewell, My Love today,” it had some songs that also were carried on to their full-length album released in September. Fans have received their debut album, Gold Tattoos, very well and Farewell, My Love could not be more ecstatic. “It is most definitely a dream come true in itself. Having your own record out with your blood, sweat, and tears put into it is something that is hard to put into words. It’s honestly a great feeling,” they continued. “We are blessed to have such a dedicated, loving family that stand behind us truthfully and they believe in us as we do in them. The feeling is mutual. Without them we are absolutely nothing.”
Even after reaching a goal of releasing a full length, Farewell, My Love’s ultimate dream is to meet people and connect with them through music. “We have had so many young individuals come to us and say that we have saved or changed their lives for the better with what we are currently doing. It is definitely such an amazing blessing to hear that,” they confessed. The band believes music is universal; many of their musical inspirations all the way from Frank Sinatra to 30 Seconds To Mars have spoken to them and they want to do the same for other people. “For us personally, it is our life’s ultimate goal and dream to tour the world and share our wonderful message, gift and music with as many people as we can touching and changing lives as we go,” they added. “The highlight so far would be playing to more individuals and watching everything grow more each and every day. It’s most definitely like raising a young child and watching them grow into an adult ready to take on the world,” they shared. You can see them living out their dream once again very soon. Farewell, My Love plans to work hard, tour a ton, and just get out on the road to share their message. Be sure to catch them in your city while they are out on tour this December and check out their debut full-length Gold Tattoos. All this band wants is a chance for people to hear what they have to say, and you will not be disappointed. PHOTOS: Tarina Doolittle INTERVIEW & STORY: Jennifer Boylen
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HOME: Huntington Beach, CA NOW JAMMING: Nothing To Lose - LP (Columbia Records) CURRENTLY: Touring with Selena Gomez
WHILE CHECKING THEIR EMAIL,
pop-rock trio Emblem3 came across an offer they did not want to turn down. One of the producers from the show, The X Factor, decided the three boys were past their YouTube days and onto the next big thing. “We had never even heard of the show until then,” the band said. “They thought we would be a perfect fit for the show.” The three members of the band, Wesley Stromberg, Keaton Stromberg and Drew Chadwick, were extremely broke and on the verge of being evicted from their apartment. It was safe to say they were not only trying out for the show because of their love of music, but because they needed money, and fast. The three landed in fourth place during the third season of The X Factor, but landed in first place in Simon Cowell’s eyes. Emblem3 was shocked when Cowell expressed interest in signing the band to his record label, knowing going into the show that there were no guarantees of anything happening after.
Because the band was formed when they were all in middle school, Keaton and Wesley were able to adjust working in a band for a while. “Drew, Keaton and I all grew up music lovers and when we started the band at ages 9, 11 and 13, we just knew this is what we wanted to do so we did everything we could to make it happen,” Wesley recalled about how the band formed. “You can say we put in our 10,000 hours and we fully believed in ourselves.” Those 10,000 hours did not go without reward, and now the band is touring all over the world to fans in several different countries. When the band travels, it can be tough for them because they get lonely. Technology has made that easier for the boys to keep in touch with their family and friends. “We Skype, text, call and fly them out to our shows as much as possible,” Emblem3 added. “But missing our friends and family has to be the most difficult thing for all of us.”
“We honestly just hoped for the best, but by the end we had a good idea that Simon wanted to sign us,” Keaton went on to explain. “When we finally had the official meeting, it was the best day of our lives!”
Even though they miss their home, they wouldn’t trade the traveling and music making for anything. The band’s first album, Nothing To Lose, was Emblem3’s ideal music moment. The recording process allowed Wesley, Keaton and Drew to venture to Hollywood and record music all day, which is any musician’s dream vacation.
Many people are familiar with the sarcastic judge, Simon Cowell, from TV shows American Idol and The X Factor where he has no filter when it comes to his opinions. Fortunately for Emblem3, Cowell has become a huge influence on the three ambitious young men and has only said positive things about their music.
“We were able to work with big pop writers from all over the world such as Max Martin, Martin Johnson, The Madden Brothers and Savan Koteca,” Wesley said. “Every single day was such a blast because we learned so much about writing and creating loveable music for the masses.”
“Simon is so awesome to work with and we are just so blessed he wanted to sign us and work with us,” the band expressed. “He believes in us and trusts us to do what we do best.”
Even though their inspirations for music came from the help of other artists, a Christmas party inspired one particular song that is now a tune every girl turns up when it comes on.
Even though their journey since the show has been crazy and nothing but exhilarating, the hard work has resulted in major accomplishments for them. They have all learned important aspects to their new lifestyle and they all felt as if they have leveled up musically.
“The song ‘Chloe (You’re the One I Want)’ is a song for our fans that struggle with insecurities to let them know that inner beauty shines brighter than outer. Also, that no matter what, they deserve to be loved and will find it one day,” the band explained about the song’s meaning.
However, the three boys do not let their fame and fortune get in the way of who they really are. They try to remind themselves of who they are based off of where they come from.
But that still doesn’t explain why they named the song Chloe; the band was at the Kardashian’s Christmas Party the night before their recording session and Wesley was inspired by the sound of Khloe Kardashian’s name, so he decided to sing “Chloe” at the beginning of the chorus. Soon enough, the song began blowing up on the radio, and pushed Emblem3 even further into the spotlight.
“It’s hard with all of the fame, but we stay true to our roots,” they explained. “Now we can add our fans to our family, which not many people can say.” Lucky for Keaton and Wesley, they are reminded of their family every day seeing as they are brothers. “It’s awesome because Keaton and I have such a strong relationship,” Wesley said. “We rarely fight and when we do fight, we completely respect each other and will settle the argument with an ‘agree to disagree.’”
This past summer, Emblem3 traveled all over touring the release of Nothing To Lose. They held signing for fans at their shows, which was a great way for them to meet their supporting fans. “Meeting all of our fans face to face is always absolutely amazing,” the band expressed. “We have the most loving and supportive fans in the universe.”
The band is currently on tour with Selena Gomez where they get to experience performing on bigger venues and audiences. Although it is different for them, they said they are not scared and don’t let their nerves get the best of them. “First off, Selena is such a sweetheart and she is such an awesome person to tour with,” the three said. “Second, the venues are insane and it is a dream come true every single night getting in front of that many people. We are more grateful and completely excited to have such an honor.” Being able to tour the world, share those experiences with friends, family members and with each other, are some of the few reasons Emblem3 is excited to do for the rest of their lives. “We know we chose the right path,” the three said. “Always do what you are most passionate about and love.” Emblem3’s story has only begun with more to come for fans. They are looking forward to touring the world on their own stadium headline tour as well as producing more music for fans. “During one of our first shows in front of 10,000 people or more, having all of them with their hands in the air singing along to every word completely lost in the music and getting to look out at that and back at each other is an indescribable feeling,” Emblem3 explained. “We can say, ‘We did it. We are here.’” POSED PHOTO: Submitted by Columbia Records LIVE PHOTO: Jenna Ross INTERVIEW & STORY: Abby Welsh
HOME: Richmond, VA NOW JAMMING: Full Of War - LP (Entertainment One) CURRENTLY: Prepping for their final tour as Conditions
IMAGINE A BAND THAT IS SOLELY
founded on love, which strives to inspire people through their music, who also know how to rock. With hard-hitting, soulawakening lyrics, Conditions are an alternative-rock lover’s dream come true. No gimmicks, just four guys who work hard to incorporate sincerity and passion into every verse and guitar riff they write, which is clearly executed in every song and live performance they produce. Brandon Roundtree (vocals), Alex Howard (guitar/vocals), Corey Thomas (bass), and Ryan Tinsley (drums) are the spirited individuals who make up the Richmond, Virginia, band Conditions. They are not only one of the most underrated bands in their genre, but one that has a message that deserves to be heard. Alex Howard opened up about the release of their first full-length release in three years and what it really means to be “full of war.” “What is life but an infinite series of decisions? Furthermore, what are decisions if not a war within us? Constantly, we walk through this life in the middle of opposing forces having to eventually succumb to one of them…become one of them…live for one of them…or do we? Why not embrace duality and paradox instead of fear them?” Released earlier this year, Full of War is the sophomore album following the band’s 2010 debut, Fluorescent Youth. It is easy to forget that musicians are normal people too, with lives outside of music. Often times the industry does not supply a sufficient income to make a decent living, which calls for day jobs once tour is over. The reoccurring themes on the album are those that the band reflects on their life and the struggles that they continually face in order to ensure that their music careers are not just a dream, but also a reality. Full of War is just as much for the fans as it is for the quartet themselves. With straightforward lyrics, each song can be interpreted to match any situation that is resembles. “Full of War touches on the split lives that we have being in this band, balancing a full-time band and jobs, friends and everything else at home and how it is a constant battle and struggle,” Howard stated. The time gap between releases left the band skeptical about the response they would receive from fans as well as those who had never heard of them. A few obstacles delayed the recording process for them, but they were finally able to create a record that they would be just as proud of as they were of the first one they had released. Howard explained the reason for the delay, “There were times that we thought we were ready to head in and do LP #2 in those years following, but for various reasons, be it management or label or what have you, it never happened. The recording of Full of War finally happened in October of 2012 on somewhat of our own accord, and we got the label on board to bring it all to fruition.”
The behind the scenes aspect of the music industry can be a difficult business to be involved with, but Conditions have never let any of their losses or bumps in the road begin to deteriorate their dreams. Proceeding to overcome battles that many musicians are familiar with such as having to cancel tours, losing members, and experiencing conflict with labels, in addition to personal struggles, helped to sculpt their sound and contribute inspirational fuel to the writing and recording process. Change is the only constant and people have no other choice than to learn how to acclimate to the evolving world around them. “A lot of changes happened since 2010. We lost a guitarist, and our sound was changing and maturing. We tried a lot of things in the studio that we never would’ve even entertained in the past, and I think it really affected us in a positive light. By the time we finished the record, I know all of us were much more confident than nervous on releasing what we worked so hard on.” The majority of feedback received on Full of War has been nothing but praising the band’s growth and maturity acquired over the past few years. A new understanding of love, life, and loss embodies the lyrics, as well as themes of perseverance and overcoming everyday struggles. Fluorescent Youth was such a hit that it was going to be difficult to live up to, but as always, the quartet delivered and came out on the other side unscathed and proud of the direction they had chosen to steer the album in. “There were plenty of changes and we strayed a bit from the Conditions that many people had come to know, but I really haven’t seen many negative comments on it. People have connected to it lyrically and have noticed the change in us, and appreciated it,” Howard stated. “No one wants the same record twice.” Evolving musically year after year is to be expected, but Conditions has always remained constant with relatable lyrics; particularly the anthem-like choruses heard in almost every track. These components alone display their strength and dedication to leading a life in pursuit of inspiring many despite the difficult circumstances that may occur. The four band mates try their absolute best to remain optimistic when things don’t go as planned. “This industry is a constant roller coaster of ups and downs, so I think we learned years ago not to get too discouraged if certain opportunities don’t pan out. It’s the name of the game. All you can do is look forward.” Following the official album release, much of the new material was finally incorporated into the set list throughout the year as Conditions opened for popular rock artists including letlive, Sleeping With Sirens and most recently alongside You Me At Six on their headliner this fall. Undoubtedly, playing new music for the first time to a live audience can be a nerve wracking experience. The fear of the unknown and how people will react always stirs up some nerves, in hopes that all of the hard work in the studio has paid off.
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“I am nervous about every single piece of music we put out. It seemed like we were a band of EPs for years and years before we finally signed with Good Fight and released Fluorescent Youth. That first full-length was a huge milestone for us and we were really proud of it,” Howard recalled.
In a make-or-break industry filled with critics, it is easy to get bogged down by everyday hassles when dreams appear to be too out of reach. Howard shared some friendly advice to fellow bands and artists who are also looking to get involved in the music industry.
Going on tour may as well be the equivalent to joining the circus. The crazy, non-stop travelling and tight schedules is chaotic and stress inducing. Howard admitted, “My least favorite part of touring is being broke and missing my friends and family. It definitely wears on you.” Life on the road is not as glamorous as it appears, but it is an adventure nonetheless.
“Keep your head up, because you will get knocked down. Think about the first practice you had in a garage or the first song you recorded and take yourself back to why you even started playing in the beginning. Keep yourself humble and take everything in stride, and you will succeed regardless of what others define as success.”
Of course, many musicians will agree that the pros of tour often outweigh the cons. Those who have had the opportunity to see Conditions live can probably say with confidence that it was a liberating experience; the kind of show that one can close their eyes and feel united with the music, all worries temporarily erased from existence. Feeling the bass bump in their chest while compelling lyrics strike a nerve within them is something that most concertgoers thrive for, and is exactly the type of sensation that can be experienced during any performance by the band. Not to mention, their energetic stage presence allows for a classic, no nonsense rock show. They are constantly amazed by the overwhelming reaction received whenever they get the chance to interact with new audiences.
Without a doubt, Conditions still remain faithful to the reason why they initially started making music, which can be easy to lose sight of as time passes. Their musical progression is not only intriguing to watch, but also enlightening. The ability to connect with complete strangers through the power of music is a talent unfathomable to many, yet these four individuals have joined together to make it possible. As superficial artists these days can be, Conditions remain genuine despite the unique opportunities that they are fortunate enough to live out.
“I absolutely love playing live to crowds that are willing to listen; crowds that are singing along and are willing to be engaged. Having that conversation after the show with someone who has connected with our music and gets it. That makes touring all worth it.” Positive energy reciprocated from an audience is the kind of rush that bands live for, reminding them that they are effectively utilizing the amazing talents they have been awarded to touch the lives of others. However, the studio is a refreshing break from the madhouse that is tour life. “Tour under the right circumstances is amazing and I really do love it, but the studio has a special feel to it. When you get that right riff that you’ve been looking for or the right vocal hook, it’s unbelievably satisfying. The birth of that creativity is inspiring,” said Howard. Howard reflected that working as a team is the single most important task that a band can do in order to ensure success. The guys were able to overcome many of their struggles once they made the executive decision to become “a stronger unit as a band and make smarter decisions together, rather than individually being influenced and not communicating well.”
“The only thing I care about is leaving something behind. Leaving a memory of a show with someone or someone always turning back to our music for comfort. We won’t live forever, but I hope we inspired some people along the way.” Conditions may not be around forever, but the messages they convey through their artistry are eternal. They have already been a source of inspiration, relief, and escape to many, which is precisely what music is all about. Now that the quartet is back in the game with two phenomenal full-length albums and countless tours under their belt, they are prepared to convey their words of love and positivity by connecting to broader audiences around the world. They are certainly off to an excellent start, and they have only just scratched the surface. PHOTOS: Tarina Doolittle INTERVIEW & STORY: Haley Black
HOME: Rockland, IL NOW JAMMING: Know Hope - Full-Legnth (Rise Records) CURRENTLY: On Warped Tour in the UK and Europe
WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN A
rock, hardcore band stemmed from part of our very own stomping grounds? Probably not much…except maybe some adorable picture of a whole bunch of kittens. Once upon a time, circa 2005 in Rockford, IL, The Color Morale came to life and eight years later they are still going strong. Countless tours, a record label, three records and a few member changes later, The Color Morale is still going strong and currently on Vans Warped Tour in Europe and the UK. With their current line up consisting of vocalist Garret Rapp, Devin King and Aaron Saunders on guitars, Justin Hieser on bass, and drummer Steve Carey, Highlight got to catch up with Garret right before they headed off overseas. Since their inception, avoiding the ‘gimmicks’ of the industry has become a reoccurring theme in the musical career of The Color Morale. For years they had been covered by one specific genre umbrella and have battled with being considered a ‘Christian band’ over and over again. The band as a whole is not shy about saying that the whole Christian band title is more about marketing than it is about the religion and Rapp admitted that such a classification became tough to accept.
their lyrics that The Color Morale wanted to pay some respects to those people and had some of them featured on the album artwork of their most recent record, Know Hope. The inside album artwork of the record was collage of over 300 The Color Morale lyric tattoos sent in personally from fans. Rapp acknowledged that this concept is probably one of the highlights of his career to date. “It honestly gives me peace and reaffirms me daily that I went through everything I have for a reason.” He said. On their Facebook page there are easily a thousand pictures of fan tattoos alone so it’s easy to understand why it is very humbling to Rapp and the rest of the band to see them. Especially once this record was released and even just after the title had been announced, tattoos featuring the words ‘know hope’ have become increasingly popular. The Color Morale not only collaborated with Joshua Moore and Dave Stephens (both of We Came As Romans) on a couple tracks on the record, they also worked with producer Josh Schroeder of Random Awesome! Recording Studio in Bay City, Michigan, where he produced, engineered, mixed and mastered Know Hope. The band could not have been happier with the end result of their third record. Rapp gushed that Schroeder understood what
“Christian hardcore became a gimmick at one point. I’d watch the things that happened behind the scenes and they were extremely inconsistent with what happened at face value,” he confessed. “I don’t ever want our band selling records or merchandise because of a gimmick.”
they wanted to do as a band as assisted the band from writing all the way to the finish product we know as Know Hope.
That being said, Rapp wants to be clear that their categorization should not matter, but rather the music they are making. “Follow our band if you can relate to what’s being felt or said. Follow Jesus if you’re a Christian. Whatever it is you’re following, be a leader in doing so,” he expressed.
In addition, the band went through quite a bit of stress due to member changes while working on this record. Devin King was welcomed as a full time guitarist as original member Justin Heiser stepped back down from guitar to bass. The band also welcomed new member Aaron Saunders and founding member Ramon Mendoza step down from touring; although he still remains a session member and was part of making the record. Despite all these changes, Rapp doesn’t think the evolution of The Color Morale has affected the music.
That very mentality has stuck with fans over time and The Color Morale is known for following that with their unique take on their genre. Since their start in 2005, they have definitely stood out and have definitely gained a few followers; and I do not mean just on social media. People relate to their band so much that countless of them have gotten The Color Morale inspired tattoos through out the bands career. Enough people have permanently showcased 40 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET
“Josh has a great attention for detail. We refined these songs daily until we were all satisfied with them,” Rapp said.
“You know, we kind of just go by feel. Our band has always kind of been controlled chaos. It keeps things interesting for sure.” He continued, “Everyone involved in this band has either been a
great friend, or a merch/crew member of us over the years.” With Know Hope in particular, they wanted to music to stand on its own. On their first two records, The Color Morale made a transition from very refined to extremely raw, but with their third release, they laid it all on the line. “With this album we wanted to be honest; no gimmicks and a sound that was inconsistent with everything else going on,” he admitted. The Color Morale named Know Hope before even writing the record knowing exactly the message they wanted to send. They wrote over twenty songs before going into the studio and narrowed it down to the twelve, but it looks like that dozen hit the nail right on the head with the very theme they had hoped for. They have for sure succeeded on that front; many fans have been excited most of all for the honesty and emotions on this record; pinpointing the fact that a lot of the deeper subjects on Know Hope have not been dealt with on The Color Morale’s previous releases. Rapp shared that The Color Morale “has a heavy delivery and emphasis on the lyrical content and message delivery.” And they definitely succeeded with that philosophy on this record. The album has been received extremely well from fans and others alike; Know Hope is widely considered The Color Morale’s best work to date. With lots of talk of the need for innovation being thrown around and creativity in ‘generic and monotonous’ genre, Know Hope is a winner. Reviews have praised this records lyrical depth as well as Rapp’s maturation in clean vocals, comparing him to the likes of hardcore veteran, Johnny Craig and others. There was also another reoccurring subject with Know Hope: Rapp’s organic take on screaming. It was The Color Morale’s intention to sort of break out of the mold of their current genre, and fans have respected that progression. Although it took some time for long term fans to adjust to that change, and some are not totally sold on it, the other positive qualities on the record make up for it in most people’s minds.
“WITH THIS ALBUM WE WANTED TO BE HONEST; NO GIMMICKS.”
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It is pretty much inevitable that bands will have a tour leading up to the their record, take a break from the road while in studio (obviously), and then head right back out on the road to promote their new release. But, for The Color Morale that was not exactly the case. After the release of Know Hope, they did not immediately head out on tour to support it; but in turn, when they did get out on the road everyone in the crowd was singing their hearts out to the new songs and that’s what music is all about. Rapp admits that being signed to a label such as Rise Records for all three of their releases really gives them the platform to be able to be musicians on a larger scale; but touring definitely has gotten The Color Morale a lot of attention. Garrett Rapp is notorious for being open and honest with fans, even to the point where he mentions not liking being the “front man” or face of a band, admitting to us that at the end of the day he wants to be a guidance counselor after music. His opinion on touring is no exception to his openness. Fans are all aware that being away touring constantly is the toughest part of being a musician for the lead singer. That being said, touring is a doubleedged sword for him; his biggest struggle is also exactly what keeps him dedicated to The Color Morale and their following. Rapp keeps his “morale” up while out on the road by connecting to the fans. The Color Morale is known for standing at their merch table after every show to meet each and every fan that is there to support them. They make this effort because they know full well that those very conversations are the reason they get to play music for a living; which seems to be a fact that many musicians these days like to ignore.
“Nothing is more reassuring that knowing what you’re doing has a purpose and a reason. This makes it less about you and more about who you’re connecting with,” he said. “For me it’s meeting all of the people at the merch table, sharing hearts and stories or reading the letters I receive, that drives me daily.” For a lot of music lovers, the bands and the songs are what keep them going everyday, but it’s always nice to know that that feeling of security, and almost companionship between a band and it’s fans can go both ways. Even if you had never heard of The Color Morale, I bet Rapp’s passion for his fans would make you want to start listening. Not to mention, if so many people are getting tattoos for this band, it has got to be worthwhile, right? If you are American stay tuned for what is to come from The Color Morale, and for those overseas make sure you catch them on Warped Tour for the rest of the month. Hopefully, new tours are in everyone’s future but until then we will just have to settle with reveling in Know Hope and admiring all those fan tattoos! I know I’m not complaining. POSED PHOTOS: Jordan Fischels LIVE PHOTOS: Ashley Osborn INTERVIEW: Alyssa Schmidt STORY: Jennifer Boylen
“NOTHING IS MORE REASSURING THAT KNOWING WHAT YOU’RE DOING HAS A PURPOSE AND A REASON. THIS MAKES IT LESS ABOUT YOU AND MORE ABOUT WHO YOU’RE CONNECTING WITH.”
TOUR ROUND UP
PHOTO: Ashley Osborn
P
PHOTOS: Ashley Osborn
PHOTO: Megan Leetz
PHOTO: Megan Leetz
PHOTO: Cara Bahniuk
PHOTO: Heather Phillips
PHOTO: Cara Bahniuk
album
reviews artist: Anthony Green album: Young Legs rating:
Sounds like: The Dear Hunter A Lot Like Birds Good Old War Harvard
Recommended tracks: “100 Steps” “Conversation Piece” “Anytime”
Tracks: 1
Breaker
2
Young Legs
3
100 STeps
4
Too Little, Too Late
5
When You Sang To Me
6
Anytime
7
I’ll Miss You
8
Stolen
9
Conversation Piece
10
Shine
11
You Have To Believe It Will
Happen
Release date: October 12th, 2013
website: anthonygreenchilrens.com
Anthony Green has always been a musician that I’ve constantly seen as inspiring and everevolving when it comes to his musical ventures. I think it truly says something if an artist can jump between projects and all of them be successful, and Anthony Green continues to do that with his solo work. Young Legs, the latest release from the musician, is just as strong as anything he’s done before, and yet still shows his maturity as a musician and a person. The album begins with “Breaker,” which is a smooth yet slightly eerie track but sets the mood well for the rest of the album. The title track, “Young Legs” incorporates a bluesinspired sound, with a strong focus on the piano, which plays a role in most of the album. The use of piano really adds a new element to Green’s sound, and makes the tracks on Young Legs a little more jam-worthy than in albums past. “100 Steps” is one of my favorites on the album, featuring an upbeat sound, harmonies and showcases Green’s vocals. Green’s voice is just one of the unique things about him as a person and musician, and his voice stands out amongst other musicians for me today in general. “You Have To Believe It Will Happen” ends the album on a positive note, boasting hopeful lyrics coupled with intricate sounds and the positive sentiment of “Nothing happens when you’d expect it to… everything you want you have.” If you’ve ever been of a fan of anything Anthony Green has done, I think you’ll surely enjoy his new record, Young Legs. His first solo album was written for his wife, the second for his children, and this album seems to be more of a projection of emotion and possibly written for the sake of himself and the music. This album has a good variety of sound, instruments, and moods the songs can put you in, and I honestly can’t pick out a single track I didn’t like. The album touches upon human perspective & emotions, and he does a good job of enlightening the listener without making concepts too complicated. REVIEW: Anjel Lopez
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Artist: Lady Gaga Album: ARTPOP The 15-song compilation, ARTPOP, has been long awaited. Lady Gaga is one of those love it or hate it artists; if you’re a fan she’s epically brilliant, if not this record seems like absolute insanity. That being said, no one can discount her talent as a vocalist and as an artist. I was very pleased with the diversity on this record as well as the shock factor of some of the tracks, like the lyrics in “Sexxx Dreams” and the terrifying laughing in “Aura,” but I wouldn’t expect anything less from Gaga. I will admit the title track was a bit lack luster and the majority of the tracks are quite long. Regardless, Gaga is fearless; she’s not afraid to sing about sex, drugs, fame, fashion and even her appearance. She is also totally confident in mixing a ’80s throw back vibe, a ballad and hip hop elements on one record; resulting in a catchy, pop masterpiece.
recommended tracks: “MANiCURE,” “Swine” & “Gypsy” review: Jennifer Boylen
Artist: Polar Bear Club Album: Death Chorus New York based punk rock band, Polar Bear Club has cracked the recipe for success. As Polar Bear Club’s fifth full-length and first release on Rise Record, these pop-punk heroes have created even more universally appealing punk-spirited tunes. The album is refreshing, keeps the listener on their toes and flows extremely well. Death Chorus opens up with upbeat tunes such as lead single “Blood Balloon” and “Graph Paper Glory Days,” but takes a turn shortly after. Polar Bear Club is not afraid to wind down and take things slow. “Siouxsie Jeanne” is the perfect example of a romantic punk ballad. It is hands down one of my favorite songs on the album. The trance-like, easy nature of the song combined with the sweet and heart wrenching lyrics are contradictory yet perfectly complement one another. The album closes with “Upstate Mosquito” and leaves the listener wanting more. Death Chorus is reflective, energizing, intelligent, anthem-driven and invigorating.
recommended tracks: “Siouxsie Jeanne,” “Upstate Mosquito” & “Graph Paper Glory Days” review: Theresa Pham
Artist: Various Artists Album: Punk Goes Christmas For over a decade, the Punk Goes… series has brought fans killer compilations of rock, metal, acoustic, and pop renditions by some of the biggest bands in the scene. Now the holidays have come early with the first ever Punk Goes Christmas, which features brilliantly done covers and originals by some of the best, including Man Overboard, Issues, The Ready Set and more. Helping to kick off the album are the always entertaining golden boys, All Time Low, and their festive song, “Fool’s Holiday.” The Summer Set continue the celebration and let their spirit show, giving their signature touch in a cheerful cover of “This Christmas.” Bringing the album to a close is William Beckett’s enchanting pop rendition of a classic, “Do You Hear What I Hear,” which is my personal highlight from the album. Beckett flawlessly executes a modern and enjoyable remix while maintaining all the magic of the original Christmas song. Though Punk Goes Christmas is a bit of a letdown for many fans who were wanting and expecting an album filled to the brim with classic holiday covers, it doesn’t fail to welcome the spirit of the holiday season, and the originals do an equally excellent job of entertaining. Overall, if you’re looking for a Christmas album to spread holiday cheer, Punk Goes Christmas will get the job done.
recommended tracks: “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” & “Do You Hear What I Hear” review: Rebecca Del Castillo