Issue #35 by Highlight Magazine

ISSUE 35

HIGHLIGHT

MAGAZINE

JUNIOR PROM – PVRIS – PANAMA WEDDING – THIS WILD LIFE – SECRETS & MORE

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editor-in-chief jenn stookey

IGHLIGH

co-founder â&#x20AC;&#x201C; art director cara bahniuk co-founder â&#x20AC;&#x201C; photographer ashley osborn managing editor jessica klinner online editor nick yacovazzi copy editor courtney dondelinger digital marketing olivia adams co-founder mckenzie hughes contributing photographers

cara bahniuk, matt burke, demi cambridge, dan deslover, brendon donahue, courtney dondelinger, tarina doolittle, jordan fischels, brad heaton, megan leetz, anjel lopez, nicole mago, charlie martel, david mullis, laura murray, ally newbold, savana ogburn, ashley osborn, heather phillips, petey place, sam polonsky, sam roenfeldt, sam san roman, kaiden seven, daniel shippey, nicole fara silver and amy willard

contributing writers (online & publication)

haley black, jennifer boylen, geoff burns, haley buske, colleen casey, madison convey, trevor figge, tamara fuentes, annette hansen, jessica klinner, catt kruger, jordyn lockwood, daisy marietta, zoe marquedant, bridjet mendyuck, theresa pham, christina santamaria, alyssa schmidt and nick yacovazzi

digital marketing team

geoff burns, tim mcgovern, megan shea and catie suliga

news posters

tegan burkhard, caroline hall, michelle loebsack, samia mirza and sarah akomanyi

_________________________ website twitter highlightmagazine.net @highlightzine facebook instagram facebook.com/highlightmagazine @highlightzine _________________________ thank you

thank you circa survive, big picture media, fearless records, shannon sullivan, then, now, always, atlantic records, tma publicity, epitaph records, earshot media, glassnote music, u music, big hassle, 8123 management, epic records, the catalyst publicity group, tragic hero records, and everyone else who made this issue possible!

_________________________ 06 circa survive heather phillips

07 junior prom heather phillips

this wild life sam polonsky

pvris charlie martel

alex clare tarina doolittle

panama wedding heather phillips

secrets elisa rodriguez

nick santino 8123 submitted

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january

05 this or that 08 clothing highlight 11 label highlight 12 venue highlight 14 highlighted artists 15 film highlight 16 industry highlight 18 new year resolutions 22 alex clare 26 junior prom 38 pvris 32 panama wedding 36 this wild life 40 secrets 44 circa survive 54 tour round up cruisr future islands the 1975 slaves 60 reviews

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THIS

BLEACHERS

INTERSTELLAR

THAT

TWENTY ONE PILOTS

12%

88%

67%

33%

50%

MOCKINGJAY PART 1

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CIRCA SURVIVE 44

THIS WILD LIFE 36

ALEX CLARE 22

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SECRETS 40

26 JUNIOR PROM

28 PVRIS

32 PANAMA WEDDING

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18 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

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STAFF: Troy and Tiffany Lano - Owners, Henri Lano - our French bulldog and brand ambassador LOCATION: Portland, OR (living out of an RV full time on the road now) WEBSITE: thennowalways.co HOW DID DROP DEAD BEGIN?

I was at a time in my life where I questioned everything about God and my faith that I grew up with and was searching. You’ve heard the phrase, “Looking for a sign”? Well, that is pretty much how this story came to be. I was on tour with an old band and saw a random poster hanging in a window. It just had this picture of Jesus hanging on a cross and simply said, “Then, Now, Always” at the bottom. It drew me in. It was so effortless and powerful. It reminded me that no matter how far I’ve gone, no matter how far off I was, that was the only message that remained true, and the God I questioned never questioned me. He just kept pursuing me and waited for me the entire time. Back in 2011, I started hustling the triangle necklaces that represent Then, Now, Always across America outside of Warped Tour to pay bills and eventually buy a ring for my future wife (who I later talked into being my business partner). Things started to pick up, and we decided to move across the country to do this full time by 2013. Since then, we have enjoyed the opportunity to become official vendors on the entire Warped Tour and even travel to Europe with the tour. We travel full time now in our RV with our dog and live on the road setting up our small shop at music festivals around the country. WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOUR BRAND REPRESENTS?

Then, Now, Always comes from Hebrews 13:8, which has turned out to be quite a life verse for us. It simply says: “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our short lives change for the better or worse but God’s love stays the same well into the next life.” So no matter how bad we have messed up or have been messed up we are still continually pursued by that unconditional love. It’s the best promise that I could tell anyone who gets to know what we are about. WHY DID YOU START YOUR BRAND?

I started the company because I could never work for anyone else. I am just programmed that way. I wanted to provide for my wife and be able to travel for work. As it turns out, we now have a bigger reason and chance to stand out and be a light for the darkness and carry a message that can transform someone’s heart and change someone’s life. THREE PERSONAL FAVORITE DESIGNS?

Be the Salt and Light shirts. The photography done by my best friend is phenomenal in the Salt Flats of Death Valley, and you’ll never see a shirt quite like it. The Give Me A New Heart tank top was hand drawn by our friend in Mexico with a great message, Ezekiel 36:26. Our Handmade wooden necklaces. Each necklace is 100% made and sourced in the U.S, and it is truly a unique piece you can’t find except through our store. WHY SHOULD PEOPLE CHECK OUT YOUR BRAND?

We sell quality items that you will want to “live in” yesterday, toda and hold onto forever. Whether it’s a favorite shirt or sweatshirt you keep coming back to or a unique necklace, we want to create products that cultivate conversation with others and get people thinking bigger. We want to make people stop and ask deeper questions and find deeper answers about their life, their purpose,and encourage others that there is a love available out there that is more powerful than anything we can imagine. f /ThenNowAlways t @thennowalways i @thennowalwaysco

MILO GREENE “THE LOS ANGELES BASED BAND PROVIDES THE RADDEST SOUNDTRACK TO YOUR LIFE, WITH ITS EASYGOING CHORUSES, STEADY PERCUSSION AND VIBRATING SYNTHS.” – NYLON

“New Album CONTROL out January 27th” Featuring ”Lie To Me”, “White Lies” and “Parents’ House” 10 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

YOU MAY WANT TO LISTEN TO...

4AD is a British independent label founded in 1979 is diverse, prolific, and most importantly hipster-friendly. The label is attracted to eclectic synth-pop driven artists such as Zomby, Blood Diamonds, Lo-Fang and Grimes, as well as more profound and haunting folk and alternative acts like Daughter, Bon Iver, Iron and Wine, Deerhunter, St. Vincent and The National. The roster also carries a significant amount of bands resembling music that has stayed consistent to that of the ’80s and ’90s including Merchandise, Atlas Sound and Ariel Pink. Previous rosters include acclaimed artists like The Pixies, Lakuna and Dead Can Dance. 4AD is insightful to exclusive musicians and sees potential in the peculiar.

FUTURE ISLANDS The Baltimore trio, made up of Samuel T. Herring (vocals), William Cashion (bass/guitar) and Gerrit Welmers (keyboard/guitar/programming), fits right into the indie-pop mold of other 4AD artists. Their most recent album, Singles, was released through 4AD, which was a follow-up to On The Water, In Evening Air and Wave Like Home. The use of stirring synthesizers and husky vocal melodies conceives a curious, unique sound. Playing music and touring city after city may seem like a vacation from the outside, but averaging close to 200 shows a year, Future Islands are considered one of the most hardworking bands in the industry. They will continue a world tour throughout early 2015 with an eerie, yet upbeat live experience.

Listen to: “Seasons (Waiting on You)”

GRIMES A natural born artist, Claire Boucher, known by her stage name Grimes, is a dexterous Canadian singer-songwriter, director, producer, painter and writer. 2014 was a year of collaboration, as she released a heavy-dub single with Blood Diamonds called “Go,” and worked with Jack Antonoff of fun. on his solo project Bleachers’ debut album, Strange Desires, for the hushed and haunting track “Take Me Away.” Grimes embraces the beauty with the weird, resembling icons like Bjork with her unmatchable ingenuity. After three albums, Geidi Primes, Halfaxa and Visions, Grimes is still going strong and is currently working on her fourth LP to be released through 4AD.

Listen To: “Genesis”

PURITY RING Electro pop artists and duos are ruling the twenty-teens, and Purity Ring have arrived at just the right time. The Canadian duo, Corin Roddick and Megan James, are a DIY band in every sense of the word, from beat making and concocting aesthetic live shows, to stitching their own on-stage outfits. They are more than simply musicians – they are versatile artists. With the solid 2012 debut LP, Shrines, under their belt, the two have released a taste of what’s to come with their single “push pull,” hinting that new music is pending for the foreseeable future. Be prepared for more hard-hitting, dreamy club mixes and lulling vocals from Roddick and James in 2015.

Listen to: “She Ain’t You”

WORDS: Haley Black

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VENUE HIGHLIGHT OLD NATIONAL CENTRE - INDIANAPOLIS, IN HISTORY The Old National Centre was built in 1909 as the Murat Theatre and has been restored into a multi-room, multi-use performance space. The Murat Theatre room features 2,600 capacity theatre-style seating fit for music and theater productions. The Egyptian room, complete with Middle Eastern décor, is a 1,800 capacity concert hall. The venue also features a multi-purpose room and the “Grand Lobby” which has an original, vintage vibe to it.

WHY PLAY HERE? This venue is one of few in downtown Indianapolis and features many big name acts throughout the year. Many shows that are booked in arena-sized venues in other cities come through the general admission Egyptian Room. The lobby has tons of character and the staff is very friendly. Not to mention the tickets for Old National Centre events are very reasonably priced.

t/OldNatlCentre f/OldNationalCentre

WWW

oldnationalcentre.com

JANUARY 15TH

FEBRUARY 7TH

FEBRUARY 12TH

FEBRUARY 15TH

Jukebox the Ghost

Sleeping With Sirens/Pierce the Veil

The Expendables

Joshua Radin

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REVIEW: Jen Boylen

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HIGHLIGHTED

ARTISTS DON VEDDA Location: San Diego, CA Current Single: “Love At First Sight”

Pop artist Don Vedda is blazing his own path. The singer from San Diego, Calif., brings all genres to his music while encapsulating an original poppy sound. Don Vedda has also released a new video for his current single, “Love at First Sight.”

KANDACE SPRINGS Location: Nashville, TN Current Single: “Love Got In The Way” Pop-R&B artist Kandace Springs is warm, soulful and genuine, and her music reflects that attitude. The singer based out of Nashville released her debut self-titled EP this past fall, as well as a video for her single, “Love Got In The Way.”

UNWED TEENAGE MOTHERS Location: Oxford, MS Current Single: “Nothing Will Ever Get Any Better” Members: Colin Sneed – Guitar & Vox, Landon Boyte – Guitar, Johnny Valiant – Bass & Shane Prewitt – Drums Oxford, Miss. punk outfit, Unwed Teenage Mothers, are a hidden gem among their genre, mixing emo stylings with poppunk riffs. The band has released two 7,” their LP, Blonde Girls and will be dropping their newest record, Whose Girl Are You, on Jan. 13.

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WORDS: Nick Yacovazzi

HIGHLIGHTED

FILMS

NO SLEEP ‘TIL GAINESVILLE

Alternative Press TV (APTV) partnered with California’s No Sleep Records to bring punks and music lovers alike a first of its kind: a documentary on Fest. The annual North Florida festival has taken place in Gainesville for the past thirteen years. To mark a watershed year that saw the participation of some iconic bands and the successful integration a large outdoor venue, APTV and No Sleep released No Sleep ‘Til Gainesville. The three-part series was shot by Bryce Hall and includes interviews with band members, Fest attendees (known as Festees) and Fest founder Tony Weinbender. Through these short talking head segments, the viewer gets both the insider and outsider view of the festival, its history and its future. The first segment asked Weinbender and several bands, including several No Sleep artists and alumni, how they would define Fest, where they were during the first Fest and what their first time at Fest was like. Not many of those interviewed were old enough to attend the inaugural Fest in 2002, which hosted a mere 60 bands and spanned only four venues. Mariel Loveland of Candy Hearts was still in braces, singer-songwriter Allison Weiss had just discovered Dashboard Confessional and Scott Fitzpatrick of Living Room was still in high school, playing upstrokes in a ska band. While the younger artists were only just exploring their local punk and hardcore scenes, Fest was getting off the ground, and over a decade later, it’s still going strong. In the second installment, Fitzpatrick, Weiss and members of other bands like Into It. Over It., Touché Amoré and The Menzingers discussed their Fest experiences and what made Fest ‘13 in particular. For this year’s Fest, the Bo Diddley Plaza was added as a venue, and the lineup included bands like DESCENDENTS, Lifetime and Less Than Jake as well as Melvins and Mineral. Several musicians named these two additions as part of what made the festival’s 13th year the best yet. Evan Weiss from Into It. Over It. also noted how every year Fest becomes naturally more “streamlined” and “painless” for the bands, fans and everyone involved. The process is constantly being perfected and the older the Fest gets, the better. After such a successful year, the third segment asked what the future holds for Fest. Most of the artists polled seemed unconcerned by any looming danger that might threaten future Fests. John Marullo of Protagonist stated that as long as people “keep picking up punk records, keep starting bands and keep starting bands that are awesome, my prediction is that this is going to go for a very long time.” Marullo and many of the others that spoke in No Sleep ‘Til Gainesville seemed to have faith in the genre and in the people’s ability to both create and seek out the music they want the hear. Chris and Mark of Weak Teeth touched on how more heavier bands were being added to Fest, which perhaps marks a shift in the punkcentric festival. On this and the future of Fest, Tom May of The Menzingers said, “I think it’ll keep going along and more bands will continue to come and the type of music will change, but a lot of the staples will remain the same and it’ll continue to go on as long as Tony will keep doing it.” Weinbender admitted he’s looking forward to taking a break from making any expansions to upcoming Fests, having just in recent years extended the festival and added Bo Diddley. Launching and maintaining a festival, even as relatively small as Fest, is something of a Herculean task. Every year the question of whether Fest can be sustained is raised. Weiss touched on the occasionally fragile existence of the festival, explaining how, “Every year it’s kind of rumored that it’s going to be the last one...that it’s maybe a little too much for the city to handle and maybe a little too much for Tony to handle.” After 13 years, it’s understandable that the founder and Florida are a little fatigued. Just attending a four-day long festival is tiring, so organizing and hosting such an event must be exhausting, especially after such a long time. Despite this there seems to be an endless energy coming from those who grew up playing, attending, volunteering and making Fest happen year after year. There is an enthusiasm that No Sleep ‘Til Gainesville tapped into in its testimonials. Whether or not Fest strays away from its punk roots in the future doesn’t seem to concern these people. They seem ready to put in the effort to make future years happen regardless of who stocks the lineup. This is due it seems in part to the sense of community that Fest fosters. The comradery of Fest is a characteristic of the event that is as important to the Festees as each year’s lineup. Fans get to come from across the world to see acts that may not have the opportunity to tour large scale, as one Festee explained, but can collect in Gainesville for a few days to play their music. Weiss seemed to agree, saying that Fest is “a thing that hundreds and hundreds of people look forward to every year from all over the world. I think the future of the Fest is that it’s going to keep going strong and bands are still going to be excited to play, bands are still going to be excited to come and people are still going to be excited to make it a weekend retreat every single year.” If the future of Fest is up to those who make it, No Sleep ‘Til Gainesville proves that it’s in good hands and we’ll all be attending for years to come. REVIEW: Zoe Marquedant

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INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHT NAME: Shannon Sullivan LOCATION: Cleveland, America JOB: Art Associate at Alternative Press

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WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL STORY/WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE INDUSTRY?

I couldn’t have planned it like this if I tried: I dropped out of college with a 0.4 GPA and joined a hardcore band with a guy who worked at AP. Years later, he’d go on to tell me, “If you can do this job better than any of my guys, you’re hired.” So I left a myriad of part-time jobs and went to the nearest college, Kent State. Originally, I wanted to [study] commercial photography, but after enrolling in classes, I discovered what I had signed up for was actually Photo-Illustration, which as Kent defines it, is essentially the cross section of photography and graphic design. It was about making photographs, not taking them. So through this crossover curriculum of design and photography, I was exposed to the real world of graphic design, commercial art and music business. Five frustrating years later, I was finally able to tell my old friend that I could do the job better than his guys. Of course, they weren’t hiring at the time so I got some other job. About 10 months after that, an art associate from AP took a job as creative director at the company I was working for. I got the heads up that a position was open, and I jumped at the chance. WHAT DOES THE DAILY LIFE OF AN ART ASSOCIATE AT A MAGAZINE LOOK LIKE?

Probably something like a Mondrian painting, only in three dimensions and upside down. Something I think is special about AP is that we’re independently owned, so I doubt I can speak for the designers at another magazine. I do a lot more emailing than I thought I ever would, but I’ve made some great connections that I can take with me throughout my career. When I started here, I was just designing layouts and marketing assets, but as the shape of the modern media company grows and evolves, my responsibilities have as well. My background in photography technically qualified me to generate video content, and that evolved into our newest content vertical APTV. Not long after that I found myself acting as segment producer at our first ever award show (the APMA’s). My daily life is whatever I want it to be and it rules. AS SOMEONE WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE PHYSICAL DISPLAY OF ART AND MUSIC, WHY/WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT COMBINING THE TWO?

I’ve played in a LOT of bands. I’ve also done a lot of artwork for bands. You usually immerse yourself in their music, their style, to make something that represents this band/artist/whomever. Designing a layout for an article about a band is an entirely different – it’s not fan art. We have a policy where we stick to design solutions that feels like rather than looks like the bands style, persona, etc. Another big part is the connection to our advertisers. By finding ways to create content that benefits our advertisers and engages our viewers, we basically turn ad sales (boo/hiss) into patronage of the arts (hooray). That’s a really understated side of the industry that I think deserves more focus. WHAT ARE THREE OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE CAREER MOMENTS?

1. This year we were contacted by an author of a textbook on design and typography who wanted to include two of my layouts in her next textbook. I’m looking forward to pointing that out whenever I need to vindicate a design decision. 2. Seeing Ice T’s Body Count at the APMA’s. 3. Realizing that upwards of 60 thousand people are stoked as hell to snatch up my fresh design styles and wallpaper their bedrooms with our book. I’ll never forget connecting with our readership in that way. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH?

I want to design a super shocking cover that gets pulled from stores. Bonus points if people try to burn it. We did have an issue removed from prisons once, but it was because of an ad. And also I’d like to kick it with the guys in Green Day.

dribble.com/ITCsullivan

t @ITCsullivan

WWW

altpress.com/APTV

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new yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolutions

farewell, my love

dance gavin dance

My New Year's resolution is to team up with more organizations who have a positive agenda. I want to do whatever I can to help make 2015 a happier and more productive year for as many people as possible.

My New Year’s resolution is to stop worrying and love the bomb.

- Chad Kowal

sad robot Our New Year’s resolution is to not be held down by limitations. Anything you want, you can achieve in this coming year.

- Will Swan

kingdom of giants Our resolution is to play more shows in one year than we ever have!

night riots Our New Year’s resolution is to work at being as tall as Taylor Swift. As a bonus, this will make it easier for Mikel to kiss her. - Rico Rodriguez

oh honey My New Year’s resolutions are to keep up with working out and eating healthy on tour, and to do one thing every single day that truly makes me happy, whether it's ordering that Starbucks chestnut praline latte or watching an episode of How I Met Your Mother. A little happiness goes a long way!

night terrors

- Danielle

Get into some new and exciting ways of keeping in shape - maybe yoga or something. Also, get proficient in Ableton and Pro Tools.

Eat less chicken nuggets and stop being Ryan Gosling’s body double.

- Jarrod Gorbel

- Mitchy

magnets & ghosts Our New Year’s resolution is to continue to speak freely and appreciate more.

dalal For the new year, I vow to take better care of myself! To reduce the unnecesSCARY stress level to the necessary one and to be less hard on myself. Yes, just a little less hard. Just a tiny bit less and finish up my Rosetta Stone French course...oh mon dieu.

shayna leigh Live the impossible. This coming year I want to do my best to live my life like anything's possible, to remember how to dream with the expectation that my dreams can come true. Also, I want this same thing for everyone I know :)

these knees Listen to and follow my instincts, be adventurous, eat less crap, write my best songs yet, stop using load-ins/outs as an excuse to not exercise [and] do more good deeds.

vinyl theatre Our New Year’s resolution, as a band, is to venture to other countries to spread our music, continue pushing ourselves with new demos, work on coming up with new ways to make our live show new and exciting and to find time to listen to all of the awesome new music coming out.

jacquie lee

- Stephanie Trivison

My New Year’s resolution is to find what makes me happy.

jack be nimble

joey sturgis

The older we get, the more responsibilities we take on. As far as a New Year’s resolutions go, we want to be able to continue writing and playing the music we love for as long as life allows.

My New Year’s resolution is to invest my time wisely into people and projects that I firmly believe will benefit the music community and music history most.

nick santino I never make these things cause I don't like to be disappointed. I'd rather be surprised. I suppose I could hit you with some clichés that I know I will never follow through with like I want to actually save my money, or I want a killer beach bod before summer, or I'm gonna eat healthy. But knowing me, I'll be blowing all my money on Taco Bell 10 times a week, so there goes all three of those resolutions. But if we're being serious, I guess I would have to say I want to just do better than last year. At everything. I want to be a better songwriter. I want to be a better musician. I want to be a better businessman. It's such a satisfying feeling when you actually notice yourself improving at something, and it makes you want to do more of it. So yeah, that's mine. I want to do better.

holiday mountain My New Year’s resolution is to love more, forgive more and write a badass song that makes everyone happy to be exactly who they are. - Laura Patiño

september mourning I truly believe the only limitations we have in this world are the ones we make for ourselves. My only resolution this year, as it has been in every previous year, is to break down any remaining walls I have made for myself in my life. To keep putting all my emotion and energy into my dreams rather than into fighting fears, and encourage everyone that hears us to do the same.

dark waves Read more. The more books I read, the better lyrics I write. Exercise more. Feeling physically strong makes me feel stronger in all areas of my life. Don't stress over little things/seize the day. It's easy to spin out over small shit sometimes, and it can be hard to trust the process. All I can do is try my absolute hardest, and only I can hold myself accountable to that. I heard once that only mediocre people do their best work all the time. I think this is true and important to remember. Creating art or anything takes work. You can't sit around waiting for inspiration to strike. You have to make shit happen on your own. If you want it, make it. - Nick Long

erica glyn 2014 has been a year of tremendous learning for me and has brought me to resolve to be more appreciative of all the little gifts life affords us on a daily basis in 2015!

fictionist In 2015, I have a few simple aspirations like taking over the world, crushing all enemies and giving [my]self more "me" time, in no particular order. I'm looking forward to getting started. - Brandon Kitterman

clean bandit I will endeavour to feel less shame. Not yet sure if this entails behaving less shamefully or becoming more proud of the way I behave. I’ll let you know. - Neil

jocelyn ardnt

penny serf

I want to make this year the most rocking one yet! My resolution for this year is to sing like I’ve never sung before. I want to give the audience the best shows that I can. After all, music is all about the audience’s connection with the performer. With that in mind, I’d also like to share my music with as many people as I can. I think that’s the most important thing a musician can do. You can write the best songs of your life, but if no one ever hears them, you miss out on that special audience connection. Above all though, I want to make people happy with my songs. That’s always been most important to me. If you’re tapping your foot, I’m smiling.

Not let the roadblocks of daily life hinder me from the pursuit of my dreams. - Andrew I hope to be less cynical and smile more than a few times. - Mike I want to quit smoking, and be more like the person I see myself as. - Stus Keep in better contact with

seamlessR Actually answer all of my email.

family and friends. - Kyle

j.o.s My New Year’s resolutions: [My] New Year’s resolution was giving up smoking in 2011. I gave up in 2014. So basically, I don't do New Year's resolutions because they always end up being 3 years late. :) - Anna Thomas I don't do New Year’s resolutions as I believe in neither abstinence or self improvement. :) - John O'Shea

lion in the mane We could not be more excited for 2015. As we are releasing our album, The Noise War, in February, our biggest resolution for the year is to promote it the best way we know how: on the road. We want to spend as much time as possible touring on this record. We've never toured the west coast, so that is absolutely at the top of our list as well as international touring if possible. The most important thing for us as band has always been connecting with our fans, so we want to meet as many of them across the world as we can. We believe in our record, and we're confident that there is something for everyone to enjoy about it. So to that end, in 2015 we want to do everything we can to really make an impact with our music.

straight jacket legends To do our best at making people happy with our music and to have fun with everyone along the way in 2015! And also to take more Twinkies on the road with us.

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions! If I want to change something, I don’t wait until [the] new year! - Rosie Botterill My New Year’s resolution: ‘Say less, do more and spend more time with family.’ - Richy Nix

heart to heart I'm sure everyone says this every year, but I'm gonna try and make a few New Year’s resolutions and try and actually stick to them. I haven't thought about it yet so I thought I'd do that will all of you. First off, I'd love to quit smoking cigarettes once and for all. It's time. It's a waste of money and doesn't do much for me anyways. I'd love to have my first pro wrestling match this year. So maybe start training a little more and finally get in the ring. Dead serious. Then probably work out a lot more. Those are my resolutions. Let's see if I can stick to this. Here's to 2015! - Nick

HOME: London, England NOW JAMMING: “War Rages On” CURRENTLY: New Album - Three Hearts

FROM RAGS TO RICHES, THEN RICHES TO RAGS, three years ago Alex Clare found himself on a plane to Israel with a shattered dream and uncertainty about the future. His first album flopped. His label dropped him. He went from five star hotel rooms to sharing an apartment with a stray cat and some neighborhood ants in Jerusalem, never knowing where his check would come from next. A few months later, his life drastically changed yet again with an email from Microsoft asking to use his song, “Too Close,” in an international ad campaign. The commercial was a resounding hit, and everybody wanted to know the man behind the song that drove the campaign. Suddenly, Clare went from musical obscurity to musical acclaim when “Too Close” hit No. 1 in Germany, No. 4 in the U.K. and No. 7 in the U.S. His career was back on track. Fastforward to the present, and he’s selling out shows with the recent release of his sophomore album, Three Hearts. Clare’s staple sound is acoustic pop rock, mixed with heavy synths—a unique combo stemming from the dance music he grew up around in London. “A lot of the U.K. dance music came from the neighborhood I grew up in. I also played in a lot of bands, so I just kind of wanted to smush the two together,” Clare explained. His music also heavily emphasizes a beat that accentuates his soulful voice. As a kid, he found his dad’s old record collection of jazz classics from John Coltrane to Duke Ellington. These records gave him a strong appreciation for the finesse of syncopated beats and polyrhythms. His signature sound was born out of this love of rhythm and his one-man-band solo act that involved computerized beats and his acoustic guitar. A self-taught vocalist, Clare captures the attention of his audiences as his voice sweeps them up in his songs. His vocal style, reminiscent of a bygone era, is a distinctive aspect of Clare’s sound. He learned from, in his opinion, the best of the soul singers: Otis Redding. His smooth, rich tone and acoustic pop rock, beat-based instrumentation uniquely blend together in his sophomore album. Three Hearts marks the start of a new chapter in Clare’s life, both musically and relationally. Recorded between

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London and Los Angeles it features a star-studded team of producers including Semisonic lead singer Dan Wilson, former Pulp member Antony Genn, John Newman producer Steve Booker and Kanye West collaborator Ben Hudson. In the trusted hands of this talented, hit-driven team, Clare has reimagined his sound with a few more classic elements, embracing a live horn section and string section. After his debut album’s eventual success with the Microsoft commercial, Clare began to notice his favored half-time drum beats and acoustic-synth sounds popping up in charttopping songs. It was time for a change. Three Hearts is his foray into a more organic, classic sounding recording. In comparison with his first album, In the Lateness of the Hour, his new album Three Hearts comes from a much more optimistic, peaceful place. “The first album was like catharsis, trying to get a lot of stuff off my chest and out of my head. The second album is definitely a lot of gratitude. It’s much nicer to write happy songs, it makes you feel more positive,” Clare said. A once self-proclaimed wild child and tabloid-favored ex of Amy Winehouse, Clare now finds his center in his family and his faith—the foundation of his new album. In the midst of his previous setbacks Clare discovered the power of joy in his wife and young daughter, inspiring the album title. With songs such as soft power ballad “Holding On” and bluesy love song “Three Hearts,” he soulfully sings his innermost thoughts and thanksgivings, creating a heartfelt album. With the release of his sophomore album three years after the original, Clare took his time to fine tune the new sound and take advantage of his re-entrance into the music scene. This allowed him to create an emotionally charged album. “I think you have to be in an emotionally negative or positive state to write music. Being in the middle and just balanced doesn’t really work. You have to have a strong emotional feeling to create music. For me anyway, it can’t come from neutrality. You have to be able to feel to make music,” Clare mused. Currently, Clare is promoting his new album on tour, but at the end of the night, he won’t be found at an after party surrounded by groupies. Instead, he will be tucked away at the back of a tour bus reading traditional Hebrew scripts. The observance of Judaism has never been the path of least resistance for Clare. In fact, his careful observance of his faith is what cost him his first record deal after he turned

down a spot to open for Adele and a performance on BBC in respect of Shabbat. “My faith requires that you analyze what you do, which isn’t always so easy and tends to backfire in a truly tremendous way occasionally. But that’s just the nature of it,” Clare stated. Clare’s observance of his faith is somewhat of an anomaly in the music industry. It is unheard of for a new artist to turn down so many opportunities, but he views it as a positive career move. In the long run, his faith lead to a preserving attitude that helped him find his way back to his music. It’s an intriguing rub. He lost everything to stay true to his core

and, in turn, his music. Now, he has a relatively steady income, a loving family, and the ability to pursue music without compromising his beliefs. For Clare, his faith has brought him closer to the music, and inevitably his success. Staying true to himself and staying optimistic was a game changer for him. As he puts it, “To be positive, and to be happy, and to be grateful for what you have is a big part of it.” PHOTOS: Tarina Doolittle INTERVIEW & STORY: Haley Buske

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HOME: New York, NY NOW JAMMING: “Sheila Put The Knife Down” CURRENTLY: In the studio

IT’S BEEN A GREAT YEAR FOR THE

duo, Mark Solomich and Erik Ratensperger, behind the indie pop outfit Junior Prom. With a newly signed record deal and an EP so catchy it could make Taylor Swift’s head turn, it’s hard to imagine what could possibly get better, except maybe a full-length album. According to Ratensperger, Junior Prom is already back in the studio just 10 months after the release of their self-titled EP. “We’re actually going into the studio today,” Ratensperger said. “We’ve been working on a full-length for the past nine to ten months. We’re on the tail end of finishing, and we will probably have it done by the end of [2014].” Backtrack to 2014, the duo have been on the road this past year with the likes of Andrew McMahon, Bear Hands and Panic! At The Disco as well as having their song “Big Timer” featured on MTV’s Faking It and Awkward. Recently, their EP has been buzzing around the indie pop circuit. Their song “Cheap Thrills” even snagged a spot on iTunes “Best of 2014 Alternative” radio playlist. While the two have been busy to say the least, they were able to take some time off for some much needed R&R. Ratensperger said after touring with Andrew McMahon last fall, he’s glad to finally catch his breath. “After two months of being on the road with Andrew, it’s nice to be home,” Ratensperger said. “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind; kind of a blur. I can’t believe we’ve been on the road for as much as we were.” Even though the duo enjoys making music in the studio, Ratensperger explained that nothing beats being able to play in front of a different crowd every night. He said seeing the fans reaction to their songs as the show progresses is his favorite part of being in Junior Prom. Rightfully so, their poppy tunes are infectious. Yet, the lyrics from their songs scratch more than just the surface of an average pop track.

“‘Sheila Put The Knife Down’ is about two flawed people

that essentially deserve each other,” Ratensperger said. “It definitely comes from real life experience. I think Mark’s writing comes from a genuine place; it’s definitely obscure.” Even with their recent success, everything wasn’t so easy in the beginning for the band. Breaking off their former bands and coming together to make their current EP in a kitchen, the two had limited resources. Ratensperger explained having to figure out how to mix and record the music on his own before their current label, Elektra Records, remastered the sound.

“Neither of us have mixed a record or produced a record before,” Ratensperger confessed. “It really was running on the fly and figuring [stuff] out as we went along. Working with limited resources you get creative, and you sometimes get surprised by [the result], and that’s what became the EP.” Both Solomich and Ratensperger grew up as musicians; it’s all they’ve ever known. Drawing from their influences growing up and as an indie pop band, the two didn’t get an exact answer of how they wanted Junior Prom to sound until the end of recording their EP. Ratensperger called this period “a year of fine tuning.” In relation to their former selves, Ratensperger said their new album is going to be a “huge progression” from their EP. “We’ve both been playing music since we were super young,” Ratensperger said. “We’ve been in all different kinds of bands and have done all different tours and here we are as a twosome. It’s crazy to think we’re still doing this; it’s awesome. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.” From just barely keeping their head above water to being able to put food on the table doing something they love, Ratensperger said he’s excited for fans to hear their new material. Putting their new music “through the ringer” and pushing themselves to do better, the two are ready to take on the new year. “The songs are a lot more robust in the sense of production and songwriting,” Ratensperger explained. “It’s a crazy rollercoaster ride, no one song is alike from another; it’s a mixed bag. You don’t want to do the same thing twice if you can help it. We really pushed ourselves on this one.” One thing’s for certain, Junior Prom shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. With the impending release of their debut record just around the corner, the two seem too busy to be doing anything else. And that’s just the way they like it. “One of the most important things to do as an artist is to never quit,” Ratensperger said. “You’ve got to keep pushing yourself, you’ve got to believe in it.” PHOTOS: Heather Phillips INTERVIEW & STORY: Bridjet Mendyuk

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HOME: Lowell, MA NOW JAMMING: White Noise CURRENTLY: Preparing for tour with Pierce the Veil and Sleeping With Sirens

THE THREE-PIECE ALTERNATIVE ROCK

band from Lowell, Mass., PVRIS (pronounced Paris) have the right to breathe easy with the new year. 2014 was full of giant leaps for the band as they were the first female-fronted band to sign to Rise/Velocity Records, played select dates on the Vans Warped Tour and were support on tours with bands such as Tonight Alive, Emarosa and State Champs. But perhaps the most important part of last year was finally releasing their debut full-length album, White Noise. A much anticipated release, the band already had secured a cult following before the album was finished throughout the year. Maybe it was because of their acoustic EP released early last year or simply because of the rich darkness PVRIS brings to the table. But why the “V” in their name? It’s not only because of copyright issues.

Before PVRIS put out an EP, they would incorporate electronic sounds into their live shows through small interludes in between songs. Gunnulfsen was heavily attracted to one day releasing music that would contain these elements, and it finally happened with White Noise. When Gunnulfsen thought about the actual meaning behind “white noise,” she brought up two things: electronics and the paranormal. She said the production of the record relates to the electronic aspect of “white noise.” She references paranormal elements like ghosts and spirits lyrically throughout the album, ultimately contributing to the record’s vibe. But Gunnulfsen added something else into the record.

“We came up with the name when I was in art class one day,” said vocalist and guitarist Lyndsey Gunnulfsen. “One of our old friends was sitting with me, we were trying to think of band names and he wrote down on a piece of paper the name ‘Paris’ and we all were hooked immediately. I think the name oddly fits though. When I think of the city Paris, I think of beauty, mystery and a hint of darkness for some reason, and I think that’s a very suiting vibe that fits the sound, as well as the aesthetic, of our band.”

“When I was writing for the record I was going through a really bad time mentally,” Gunnulfsen said. “I don’t like calling it depression because I truly don’t know what was wrong with me, but it was definitely one of the hardest times of my life. It was something I couldn’t talk about with anyone and when I did try and express it to others, no one understood or could actually help me. I had to do it all alone in my head and it was up against things that weren’t physical or tangible. In a way it was like dealing with ghosts/poltergeists, while feeling like one at the same time.”

Just trying to make money, all of the members worked fulltime jobs before they signed to Rise/Velocity. Sometimes that included having to leave work early just to make it on time to play a show, even if that meant changing out of their work clothes backstage only minutes before a set. While things have changed, the decision to actually sign with their label was literally a last-minute decision.

While this year will include heavy touring and lots of writing, the band just wants to be the best they can be. PVRIS will be acting as a support for Sleeping With Sirens and Pierce The Veil’s World Tour that starts later this month and are performing at the Self Help Festival in San Bernardino, Calif., in March. If you didn’t hear about the band last year, you certainly will throughout this year.

“We had been in talks with another label for quite a while before Rise came about and literally the day we were supposed to sign our contracts, we found out we had an offer from Rise on the way,” Gunnulfsen said. “They had always been our top pick for a label, so immediately when we found out that we had an offer from them, our decision was made.”

“I know a lot of bands say they stand for certain things or want to convey a certain message with their music, we just want people to capture anything they wish from the music, whether it’s just enjoyment from the music itself or messages from the lyrics,” Gunnulfsen said. “As long as they’re listening to it and enjoying it and taking something from it, no matter what it might be, that’s all that matters to us.”

While listening to PVRIS, it would almost be impossible to think of them without their electronic rock sound. Believe it or not, the members grew up playing in local metal bands in the New Hampshire music scene. While the scene taught the members a lot about what it takes to make a band work and how to write songs, their sound began to develop more naturally as the years passed.

PHOTO: Charlie Martel INTERVIEW & STORY: Geoff Burns

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HOME: New York, NY NOW JAMMING: Parallel Play CURRENTLY: Planning for 2015

PANAMA WEDDING BEGAN AS A

one-man side project in New York City but soon turned into a full-band, full-time endeavor. After playing CMJ festival in the fall of 2013 and releasing their debut EP Parallel Plays last spring, Panama Wedding has continued to command the music scene. Front man and mastermind behind the band, Peter Kirk continued to play music on the side while working a nine to five to support himself financially but has since adopted the career title of a musician. As a classically trained pianist from Long Island, Kirk and Panama Wedding found a home in New York City. “There’s just a lot of kinetic energy in New York City,” Kirk said. “People moving around and traffic and the speed of the city, and maybe that on some sort of subconscious level plays into the music and the aesthetic. But…on another 34 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

level I think NYC just has so many outlets. There [are] so many people here and it’s just a place to find like-minded individuals who do what you do as well and link up with them and collaborate. Musically it felt like the possibilities were endless.” After gaining some momentum online, Kirk found himself in the spotlight of Glassnote Records, which also represents inspirations for Panama Wedding such as Phoenix and CHVRCHES. Kirk said that having a team around his work has been extremely advantageous to the success of Panama Wedding. Although it is cool to have an independent, DIY mentality, Glassnote has definitely pushed his music farther than he could have gotten on his own, Kirk said. “It’s cool to have creative control but at the end of the day, it wasn’t until I switched my thinking from being this solo artist to actually building a team around me, did things start to really happen,” Kirk admitted.

The band’s first release with Glassnote, Parallel Plays, had more than a million plays online and even landed them a gig on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Kirk said the reaction those tracks have gotten is something that is always unpredictable, but he was excited about them before they were even released so it is great to see it get such monumental traction. The lead single off the EP, “All of the People,” has a very optimistic feel-good vibe to it, but the rest of the release is very diverse. While working on Parallel Plays, Kirk and producer Andrew Maury spent a lot of time trying to find a direction for the music. They even recorded some tracks 14 or 15 times until it was perfect. “It was that period of trying to find a groove with myself and Andrew,” Kirk recalled. “I think what people should really know about Panama Wedding is just the amount of hard work that goes into each and every song. Just so many hours of going over the songs and finding them and

perfecting them and always questioning whether they’re good enough was the most hard part of this past year.” This year, Panama Wedding hopes to play more shows, do a headlining tour and release a full-length record. The ultimate goal is to put out a record that reels in a substantial fan base that loves what Panama Wedding is about. Loyalty and longevity in their following is key for an artist. “To be able to continue and keep making music and ultimately financially sustain yourself is the goal, that would be the dream. That’s really all I want, not to have to go back to my old day job,” Kirk joked. Currently, Panama Wedding does not have any shows announced, but stay tuned for festivals and other shows throughout North America. PHOTO: Heather Phillips INTERVIEW & STORY: Jennifer Boylen HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 35

HOME: Long Beach, CA NOW JAMMING: “Concrete” CURRENTLY: On tour with Sleeping With Sirens and Pierce The Veil 36 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

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IT WAS A STEADY EVOLUTION

in the beginning for the acoustic duo, This Wild Life, who began years ago as a couple of angsty pop-punk California teens, who later switched genres almost to the opposite end of the musical spectrum. What started as a more traditional four-piece group with a full band, later dwindled down to just two: Kevin Jordan and Anthony DelGrosso. Both previously drummers, the musicians traded in their sticks for a couple of acoustic guitars and discovered a new province that fit Jordan’s fluid vocals. “When we first started the band we didn’t have any foresight that we would become a two-piece acoustic band. It just kind of happened organically,” said Jordan. “We did an acoustic version of one of our full band songs, we liked it, people liked it, and we did one acoustic cover that we threw up on YouTube that did really well. Then Anthony started writing some songs on guitar, he was originally the drummer, and it just started clicking with the two of us writing together as opposed to the full four-piece. We just kind of had more fun writing those songs and people seem to enjoy them more. They felt a little more special than the pop-punk stuff did.” After finding an expedient niche for their new project, This Wild Life was not fully committed to leaving the scene that they grew up in. Though instrumentally their style is different, much of their lyrical content is still as audacious and strongwilled as ever before. Their debut album, Clouded, released through Epitaph Records in summer of 2014, is a mixture of emotional ballads and brassy breakup anthems.

“I’ve noticed that I have more balls when I write songs than I do in real life. I’m very non-confrontational with people and in my songs I vent a little,” expressed Jordan. Even DelGrosso agreed in response to Jordan that he is “tougher in our sad songs.” Although the duo have “unplugged,” the pop-punk influence is still very evident, which explains why they have played alongside heavier acts such as Emery, Being As An Ocean, Secrets, and most recently Sleeping With Sirens and Pierce The Veil on their co-headlining World Tour. Their set is much more mellow compared to the hardcore headliners, but they hold their own amongst the sea of moshing and crowd surfing. Warming up the crowd before fellow openers, Beartooth, may seem like a daunting task, but Jordan and DelGrosso have been pleased by the response from the audience every night during the first leg of the tour, explaining that they are “young and eager to listen to new music.” “I think it would be different if we were going out and touring with a band who had been in the scene for 15 years or something that has an older fan base. Because people as they get older are a little less likely to check out new music, but this is a new fan base and they’re all likely receptive to checking out new music and open-minded so these shows have been great,” said Jordan. “I mean, you have to think we’re going on stage as a two-piece acoustic playing a really mellow set and then Beartooth comes on stage and it’s like absolutely chaos. And the same kid that’s in the front row swaying around singing along to our songs is banging their head and screaming at the top of their lungs to Beartooth. It’s the same crowd; they’re really open minded.”

After signing to Epitaph, releasing a praised debut LP, being inaugurated into Warped Tour culture last summer, being on the bill with a prestigious group of bands and a slightly awkward appearance on The Bachelorette, it seems as if This Wild Life have experienced an avalanche of success, but there has been a lot of self-doubt if music was even a touchable career during the band’s four year lifespan. “You get to this point and go, ‘Are we even a good band?’ You write a song and of course you think it’s good because you wrote it, but are we so close to it that we have no perspective and that we actually are terrible and we have no clue? Because in the beginning you’re trying to get somebody to believe in something that’s intangible and have them believe in something that only you believe in. And when no one does for years, you have to really be positive and believe in yourself and if you do that then an opportunity will come along if you stick at it long enough,” Jordan said. In terms of overcoming struggles, perseverance, positivity and believing in your art are essential to survival in the music industry. If DelGrosso and Jordan had not continually acted out those three key components, they would have never experienced all of the insurmountable victories that occurred for them in 2014. DelGrosso recalled his most notable moment from this past year as being the day he got to hold Clouded in his hands. “Everything happened and it was all very surreal when we kept getting offers, Warped Tour, Epitaph, even our management, but when I got our case of CDs and I opened the case and it said ‘This Wild Life, Epitaph Records,’

that was the craziest thing that has ever happened to me. When I got to actually see it and hold it, it kind of kicked in because I was holding a product that I made and I had never had a CD. I had never been in a band enough that had a CD that was pressed and had a label on it so to me that was the craziest thing.” Jordan’s most epic moment of 2014 was the euphoria he experienced on day one of the Vans Warped Tour: “When you’re failing for so long and it seems like something great is about to happen, you’re almost always just like, this is going to fall through. Yeah we think we’re signed, we thing we’re going on these tours, but you always think it’s going to fall through. So I think actually stepping foot on Warped Tour and being like holy shit, we just walked on stage on Warped Tour for the first day.” After such a phenomenal year, it will be hard for This Wild Life to outplay, but they already have an impressive agenda for the new year with Soundwave in Australia next month, a spring tour opening for New Found Glory and have hinted at a summer tour. After generating such a lasting impression, who knows, maybe it’s Warped Tour round two? Whether acoustic is your niche or not, This Wild Life is like a chameleon with the ability to please rock, pop, alternative and punk fans alike with their rare mesh of genres and lyrical content. With non-stop touring in the future, there will be many opportunities to catch the breakout duo on the road that you shouldn’t dare miss. PHOTO: Sam Polonsky INTERVIEW: Haley Black/Jenn Stookey STORY: Haley Black

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HOME: Melbourne, Australia NOW JAMMING: Dream Your Life Away Full-Length, Atlantic CURRENTLY: On US Tour

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THE PAST YEAR HAS TRULY BEEN A

whirlwind for the guys in SECRETS. Although it’s been over a year since Fragile Figures was released, the band has been anything but bored. They have been going from one tour to the next, with very little downtime. During the summer, they were on Warped Tour, where fans around the country got to see new vocalist Aaron Mezler truly dominate the stage. After Warped, it was on to the next, from the Welcome to the Resistance Tour to an international tour with Asking Alexandria, The Ghost Inside, and Crown The Empire. Although it may seem incredibly glamorous to outsiders, Mezler shared his feelings about tour being a lot simpler than it may seem.

being on the road that long and it definitely puts strains on your relationships back home, but we have so much technology these days that even when we’re gone, it doesn’t feel like [it]. That definitely helps keep me in check while I’m on the road,” Mezler explained. Now that the guys are back home, they’re taking some new material that they’ve written and going into the studio to work on their next album. Although Mezler was involved in the writing process of Fragile Figures, he had just joined the band, replacing vocalist Xander Bourgeois, about two weeks before flying out to work on the record. It felt very rushed to everyone involved, since he was just starting to get to know the other guys while going into the studio.

“You get on the road and you really don’t have to worry about anything else other than showing up and performing,” Mezler said. “...Every time we leave, I get to do what I love for a month or two at a time, and it doesn’t feel like work, even though it technically is and we’re working our asses off every day.”

Since then, the whole process has evolved greatly. They’ve had plenty of time to write and will have a good chunk of time to really feel out the recording to make sure everything sounds exactly the way they imagined it. Mezler elaborated on the benefits of having more time.

It certainly has a different feel than a nine-to-five desk job to be touring the world and getting to do what you love, performing for hundreds and thousands of people.

“It’s a drawn out process in a good way. It gives us time to actually sit down and hammer this album out. I’m really excited to actually take some time and write the record rather than rushing through,” he said.

Their most recent tour was a unique experience, having grown up hearing about and listening to Dance Gavin Dance, It was truly incredible for SECRETS to go on tour with such an experienced, well-known band, as well as the talented musicians from Alive Like Me. In addition, the band’s label owner, Rise Records’ Craig Ericson, plays guitar in Defeat The Low, who was on the tour. Although touring is exciting, there are certainly downsides, and routines that help keep everything manageable, especially with wives or serious girlfriends at home, are a must. “Lots of phone calls home. You start to go a little stir crazy 42 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

Since releasing Fragile Figures, Mezler stated that the band has grown up, so their music has naturally evolved too. By going into the studio with a specific goal in mind, they can better dedicate themselves to staying true to their goal. Although, as he pointed out, “The beauty of being an artist is you can kind of change things last minute and put your own spin on things.” And being that he is so involved in the writing process, lyrics are constantly coming to him, anywhere and everywhere he goes. Whether it’s on the road or in the shower, he finds himself getting into that zone and just writing whatever comes to mind.

In addition to his talents as a vocalist, Aaron has also proven over the past two years that he has a good head on his shoulders. Filling someone else’s shoes is never easy, and in the beginning, fans were a little timid. Hearing people come up and comment that they liked Bourgeois better was certainly not easy to hear, but Mezler aims to take it in stride. “I’ll still see it and it’s something I don’t think I’ll ever truly get past, but I just keep doing what I do. I know that I’m in the right place and where I need to be and I’m enjoying myself. Everyone has an opinion and I don’t hate them for it.” Of course, ignoring criticism is the easiest way to move on from it. “When you fight back, it fuels the fire, and a lot of times all people are looking for is attention, so you’re kind of letting them.” No matter what the critics and unsupportive fans say, Mezler and the rest of SECRETS are going to continue being true to their art. They’ve got nothing to hide.

DELUXE VERSION AVAILABLE NOW PHOTO: Elisa Rodriguez INTERVIEW & STORY: Daisy Marietta HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 43

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HOME: Doylestown, PA NOW JAMMING: Descensus

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IT’S NEW YEAR’S EVE AND GUITARIST Colin Frangicetto of Circa Survive is on the phone talking about how the year has made his band stronger than it has ever been. There is a sense of accomplishment in his voice, but that’s the way it should sound considering everything the band went through in 2014. While it might sound stereotypical to think Frangicetto should be drinking excessively and partying like the rock band Circa Survive is to bring in the new year, he is far from it. After the band went through a near-death experience, almost calling it quits and producing a new album all in one year, to say Frangicetto feels accomplished is a total understatement.

The guitarist starts talking about the period between the end of Circa Survive’s touring cycle for their album Violent Waves in 2013 and before they hit the studio to record their newest album, Descensus, in May of 2014. Everyone in the band went their separate ways for a while after the tour and started going on a downward slope. Frangicetto went through a divorce and later found out bassist Nick

Beard was going through the same thing. Destined to start a new life, Frangicetto moved out to California and started a new relationship. “I was over the hump as far as any of the bad stuff to what was going on with me,” Frangicetto remembers. “I felt pretty optimistic at the time until I actually found out what was going out with Anthony.” The guitarist received a call from vocalist Anthony Green in early 2014 telling Frangicetto he had been addicted to heroin for the past couple of years and that he was going to get help. Green had been hiding it from everyone and had finally hit rock bottom. “It definitely shook me pretty hard because I was like ‘Holy shit,’” says Frangicetto in a serious tone. “For many years of my life I’ve spent a lot of time worrying about Anthony and always trying to check up on him. Once he started having kids he always seemed so together and very like,

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‘Ok I don’t really need to worry about him anymore’ is kind of how I felt.” When Frangicetto finally saw Green before he went into treatment, it was obvious the addiction had taken over the musician’s life. Throughout Frangicetto and Green’s time knowing each other, they have always taken turns trying to make each other better artists and even better people. The guitarist has always looked at Green as a remarkable and awe-inspiring person and to see the vocalist as broken down as he was left Frangicetto and the rest of the band heartbroken. “I could literally feel his exhaustion of how he wanted to say this for so long and hid it for so long,” Frangicetto says. “I could just see him deflating before he went into treatment, just almost like someone who had held their breath for like the most ridiculous amount of time ever. It was very crazy. He was not himself at all. I felt so horrible for the weight that he must have felt trying to keep it together for so long.” When Green finally checked himself into treatment, it left the band with many more issues to resolve. Frangicetto starts talking about the time after it was open that Green was using and in treatment. It was great that Green was getting help, but what about all of the trust that was lost between everyone? What about the fact of barely making any new music? How could they let the communication between each person become so numb? All of these emotions were filling up Frangicetto’s mind. He didn’t have to stay and deal with this problem. It would’ve been so much easier if he just walked away and called it quits with Circa Survive. But there was just one major element that was much stronger than all of the negative emotions running through his body: Love. Green wasn’t just a person Frangicetto played music with; more importantly, he was his friend. He couldn’t just abandon Green in his time of need. “You’re going to go through a period where you’re mad at them or a period where you have to rebuild because your trust is kind of completely demolished,” Frangicetto says. “It was a trigger response thing that would happen after he got out where I find myself in disbelief of what he was saying to me, but I had to be honest with him and also be forgiving. It’s odd with a band mate because it’s not a family member or a romantic partner or a child. You’re not bound to them for life. You can just peace out. You can say you can’t handle the stress from this. But that’s really the weird part of the relationship that we all have with each other and it was really brought to light during all of this because it would’ve been a lot easier to just kind of crumble and walk away from it. It would have truly been easier to have done that. You just stick it out because at the end of the day the most important thing to us [is] that we all walk away from the band alive and in one piece.” 48 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

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The conversation with Frangicetto transitions into the subject of their new album, Descensus, which was released in November. After everything that was happening at the time when Green was finishing treatment, it would seem like writing an album would be impossible. But it was music that pulled everything back together. During the last week of April 2014, everyone in the band went into the studio with as little as half a song written. In the time leading up to record, the band hit a wall creatively. They would try to send each other ideas through email, but guitarist Brendan Ekstrom was the only person in the band who could actually stay focused in creating new material. “We didn’t have any songs,” Frangicetto says. “Everything we did was together and on the fly but I would say this is our most in studio record to date and it was extremely remarkable. The record wouldn’t be what it is without the really strong ideas that Brendan brought in. He was really 50 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

the only one to work when all of us were broken down. It was pretty amazing to just go in the studio every day not knowing what was going to happen and then walk out and say, ‘Shit!’” The album was the fastest written and finalized record the band has ever made. It was written and tracked in five weeks. But this record was different. Everyone in the band had a clear mind. Instead of walking away from everything after all of their hardship, they had a finished product. They didn’t think about what other people would think of the album. They went in and created music that they loved and were thankful to still be standing. After the record was finished, they decided to sign a one-record contract with Sumerian Records and get the album out to the public. “It was pure collaborating and creation and things that came really easily in the moment,” Frangicetto remembers. “For

as hard as the time period leading up to the record was, the actual making of the record was seamless and really smooth and we were just working really well together. Who knows what kind of album would’ve been made without all of the struggle but at the same time I think the thing that really makes it such an accomplishment for us is that it comes along with a lot of different stuff. Being able to just say the fact that it exists is insane.” On the very last day of 2014, Frangicetto is breathing easy on the phone. The worst is in the past for Circa Survive, and 2015 will be the strongest the band has been in their entire career. He said they will be touring all year to support Descensus, while tinkering with new ideas for future music. But right now, he’s talking about his band Circa Survive still existing. No one walked away during the hard times and that brought everyone closer.

“I think we’re just going through a period right now where the band is just kind of somewhat unstoppable and has a feeling of relentless energy, which is really knowing what we have and just giving it the respect it deserves and just treating ourselves better,” says Frangicetto with a confident tone. “I do feel like a lot of the trust has been repaired in a lot of things and you feel so much better, but it’s because of the hard work and the very humbling nature of the way Anthony went about the whole thing, not just coming out publically about it, but with us. He was very humbled and honest and just didn’t give up and has really put up with a lot of distrust and things of that nature because he knows that for all of us to stay together you have to.” PHOTOS: Heather Phillips INTERVIEW & WORDS: Geoff Burns

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TOUR ROUND UP

PHOTO: Savana Ogburn

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PHOTO: Kara Smarsh

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PHOTO: Savana Ogburn

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PHOTO: Charlie Martel

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album

reviews ARTIST

Enter Shikari ALBUM

The Mindsweep RATING

SOUNDS LIKE Senses Fail Alexisonfire Chiodos RECOMMENDED TRACKS “The Appeal & the Mindsweep 1” “The One True Colour” “Dear Future Historians...”

TRACKS 1

The Appeal & the Mindsweep 1

The One True Colour

Anaesthetist

The Last Garrison

Never Let Go Of The Microscope

Myopia

Torn Apart

Interlude

The Bank of England

There’s a Price On Your Head

Dear Future Historians...

The Appeal & the Mindsweep 2

Slipshod

RELEASE DATE January 20th, 2015

WEBSITE entershikari.com

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Enter Shikari has done it again – they have created an album that is so diverse it leaves me speechless. Pumping synth lines and heavy guitar parts drive The Mindsweep. Its gapless nature pulls you in and encompasses you in a musical journey that could only be likened to that of an opera. When you start the album, it draws you in with the first two tracks hitting incredibly hard, showing that Enter Shikari is nothing if not influenced by both post-hardcore and EDM. Every song flows seamlessly into one another all the while being different from the last. The band has once again made a name for themselves by putting out an album so ahead of its time that all we can do is watch as other bands grasp desperately onto what they have to try and compete with them. The Mindsweep is a musical masterpiece. Enter Shikari departs from A Flash Flood Of Colour and its dubstep influenced songs into a more synth and effect driven electronic sound. The Mindsweep has significantly more electric guitars and is a fair amount ‘heavier’ than their last release, but that does not mean they have departed ways with their EDM roots. If you’re seeking more electronically driven songs, it is delivered with songs like “Torn Apart” and “Anaesthetist.” But, you will not find any song like “Gandhi Mate, Gandhi” on this album; rather, you will find electronic rock operas like “The One True Colour” and “Dear Future Historians.” “Dear Future Historians” is a moving, inspirational cry for conservation and quite possibly the most dynamic, outstanding song on this album. It is hard to find one song on their albums that stands out more than the rest, however, “Dear Future Historians” does just that, building throughout the course of the song until it reaches a breaking point and everything opens up into a rock opera. This is one of the first albums of the year, and it is simply a perfect first album. From its gapless, seamless structure to its dynamic songs that range from post-hardcore anthems to dance-driven masterpieces to heartfelt piano ballads, The Mindsweep is a well put together post-hardcore album that paints a colorful, dynamic picture. REVIEW: Trevor Figge

ARTIST A

Skylit Drive ALBUM Rise: Ascension After vocalist Michael Jagmin and guitarist Nick Miller released acoustic videos of songs from A Skylit Drive’s previous full-length, Rise, to a positive response, they decided they wanted more. The threepiece rock act from Lodi, Calif., is back with a full-length acoustic album, Rise: Ascension, courtesy of Tragic Hero Records. Every track on the 12-song album is an acoustic cover from Rise but reworked professionally. An acoustic album filled with songs reworked from aggressively toned outlets to soft tracks combining piano, cello and bass is a first for the band, but it works. While we see the same kind of power in Jagmin’s voice on the album, the band portrays a different feeling with the tracks. The trio gives a whole new meaning to each track and demonstrates a nice, polished mixture into what was an already successful album. As a band that has been in the scene for almost 10 years, it’s nice to see a different creative side from A Skylit Drive. If the trio continues to make new songs using this same technique, it will only make their next release that much greater.

RECOMMENDED TRACKS “Save Me Tragedy,” “Crash Down” and “Just Stay” REVIEW Geoff Burns

ARTIST Meghan

Trainor ALBUM Title Seemingly overnight, Meghan Trainor has transformed from a small-town girl with a passion for songwriting into an internationally known pop star. Arguably the most successful breakout artist of 2014, Trainor has had two top five singles, with “All About That Bass” topping the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive eight weeks. In addition to “Bass” and her follow-up single, “Lips Are Movin’,” Title hosts a variety of infectiously catchy songs. Further tackling self-image issues, “Close Your Eyes” urges the importance of inner beauty and self-confidence. Being relatable to her audience is one of Trainor’s most irresistible traits, and she gives us more cheeky responses to young love and relationships in songs like “Title” and “Walkashame.” Amidst the dance-friendly sing-alongs though is perhaps the album’s most stunning track, “Like I’m Gonna Lose You.” Featuring John Legend, this ballad shows a different side to Trainor’s personality and songwriting and is a refreshing contrast to her usual style. Debut albums have potential to be awkward and inconsistent as artists are trying to fine-tune their sound, but this is not the case for Meghan Trainor. Both her impressive vocal abilities and strong songwriting skills are shown throughout the record. Trainor has earned her place in the pop charts, and Title shows that she plans on sticking around.

RECOMMENDED TRACKS “Title,” “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” & “Walkashame” REVIEW Christina Santamaria

ARTIST Nick

Santino ALBUM Savannah EP Nick Santino has created magic again. As his third EP since becoming a solo artist, Savannah shows the world Santino’s talent and pure passion. The EP opens with “Rio,” a gorgeous narrative full of robust personality. Savannah then moves to my three favorite songs, “How To Live With A Ghost,” “I Just Wanted You To Know” and “That Old Corolla.” Santino tackles some heavy themes in both songs but delivers them with an enchanting optimistic lightness. The nostalgia filled stories are not told through rose-colored glass, but desperately, vulnerably and with a broken heart. The overall acoustic-session feel to the EP gives Savannah a grounding rawness and genuine humility. In addition to the striking and poetic lyrics, Santino wears his heart on his sleeve throughout the album. Throughout Savannah, it seems as if Santino is lovingly serenading the listener with his soothing voice and his woes of heartbreak. Savannah is a brilliant piece of art full of sweet, charming and tender love songs.

RECOMMENDED TRACKS “How To Live With A Ghost,” “I Just Wanted You To Know” & “That Old Corolla” REVIEW Theresa Pham HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 61

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