Issue #37

ISSUE 37

HIGHLIGHT

MAGAZINE

SIR SLY – TEAM* – VACATIONER – COPELAND – OF MONTREAL – KONGOS & MORE

HIGHLIGHT’S 3RD BIRTHDAY ISSUE

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 1

2 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

editor-in-chief jenn stookey

IGHLIGH

co-founder – art director cara bahniuk co-founder – 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, demi cambridge, jordan fischels, charlie martel, savana ogburn, ashley osborn, heather phillips, sam polonsky, sam roenfeldt, nicole fara silver and kara smarsh

contributing writers (online & publication)

haley black, jennifer boylen, geoff burns, haley buske, colleen casey, rebecca del castillo, madison convey, ally fisher, trevor figge, annette hansen, jessica klinner, catt kruger, jordyn lockwood, daisy marietta, zoe marquedant, bridjet mendyuck, theresa pham, alyssa schmidt, nick yacovazzi and bailey zeigler

digital marketing team

geoff burns, tim mcgovern, megan shea and catie suliga

news posters

caroline hall, kristen torres, michelle loebsack, samia mirza and sarah akomanyi

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

thank you to motion city soundtrack, michele stephens, epitaph records, epic records, life or death, big picture media, ivyland entertainment mgmt, interscope records, the catalyst publicity group, secret service pr, and sony music. we also want to thank everyone who has been reading our magazine for the past three years! we couldn’t have done all of this without you and hope to continue for another three more years and beyond! much love.

_________________________ 06 motion city soundtrack jordan fischels

07 sir sly heather phillips

copeland sam polonsky

kongos heather phillips

vacationer heather phillips

of montreal sam polonsky

team* jordan fischels

letlive heather phillips HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 3

march

05 this or that 08 clothing highlight 11 label highlight 12 venue highlight 14 highlighted artists 15 film highlight 16 industry highlight 20 sir sly 22 team* 28 vacationer 32 copeland 34 of montreal 40 kongos 46 motion city soundtrack 56 tour round up bad suns schematic lights colony house letlive.

66 reviews

4 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

THIS

PURITY RING

OR

57%

43%

55%

45%

38%

62%

THAT

PHANTOGRAM

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 5

MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK 46

COPELAND 32

VACATIONER 28

6 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

TEAM* 22

20 SIR SLY

40 KONGOS

34 OF MONTREAL

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 7

56 TOUR ROUND UP

SERENGETEE STAFF Ryan Westberg (Founder) LOCATION Los Angeles, CA & San Francisco, CA

SERE N G ETEE. C OM

8 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

HOW DID SERENGETEE BEGIN? The journey of what would become Serengetee started in the fall of 2011. I was studying abroad on a program called Semester at Sea, where we lived on a ship and traveled to 13 countries all over Africa, Asia and Central America.

On this program, I met my co-founder Jeff Steitz. We began collecting fabrics in each of the countries we visited, starting in Ghana. We weren’t exactly sure what we were going to do with all of the fabrics, but they were all just too amazing not to purchase.

By the end of the voyage, we had a huge collection of global fabrics, an itch to see the rest of the world and a desire to give back to each of the countries we visited. We came up with the idea to take these fabrics and make them into pockets on t-shirts, allowing customers to ‘Wear the World’ with each fabric being matched up with a cause within the country of purchase.

Two months after getting off of Semester at Sea, we launched Serengetee.com in February of 2012 without any knowledge of fashion, web design or really anything that had to do with the brand we were about to start. We were just a couple college kids trying to make something work, and that is where the adventure began three years ago.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOUR BRAND REPRESENTS? Serengetee fits perfectly with the generation we are marketing to: the generation of travelers and world changers.

WHY DID YOU START YOUR BRAND? We started Serengetee in hopes that we could give back to each of the amazing countries we had just visited and to also make a little extra money to go travel more. We had caught the travel bug and couldn’t see it going away anytime soon.

THREE PERSONAL FAVORITE DESIGNS?

years now, and from our fabric purchases, she has been able to save up enough money to follow her dream of becoming a nurse. Rosa was featured in our friend’s documentary Living on One, which is now available to watch on Netflix! This fabric is currently sold out unfortunately, but Rosa is busy making more in Guatemala and will likely have to expand her business to keep up with the overflow of orders!

Midlands

This fabric is made just for us in Zimbabwe, and I have always loved it. We were able to visit where it is all made in Zimbabwe and a woman named Ros, who has been involved with fabric making her whole life. The process of making this fabric is incredible.

Bukit

I am a big fan of this fabric because I helped design it with one of my favorite fabric makers in the world, Anis, who lives in Indonesia. He is an awesome guy and we have been doing business with him for almost two years now. It also gives back to the Bebali Foundation, an organization located in Bali, Indonesia, that supports sustainable fabric making and supporting artisans all over Indonesia, including many extremely remote places that take days to get to!

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE CHECK OUT YOUR BRAND? Every item is one of a kind and made just for you in our Los Angeles workshop. With every purchase, you are helping not only the fabric maker but also the awesome cause that the fabric supports. If you are going to buy an item, why not buy one that gives back? Wear the World. Change the World. f /serengetee t @serengetee i @serengetee

Peña Blanca

This fabric is hand made in Guatemala by a woman named Rosa. We have been buying fabric from her for over two

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 9

10 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

YOU MAY WANT TO LISTEN TO...

The music industry is so wide and expansive that it’s easy for a small label to feel like just another cog in the machine. With multitudes of DIY labels, that’s exactly what it felt like when Tiny Engines began in 2008. Industry vets Will Miller and Chuck Daley met while working at Deep Elm Records and later decided to fulfill their personal dreams to own a label. Their first release was Look Mexico’s Gasp Asp EP. That quickly changed with the Everyone Everywhere full-length, which they said was too good to pass up. Ever since, they’ve been rapidly expanding and working with rising stars in the emo/punk realm.

CAYETANA This all-girl three piece began in 2011 as friends with limited knowledge of playing music. Philadelphians Augusta Koch, Kelly Olson and Allegra Anka soon became Cayetana. While widely know in the Philly punk scene, Cayetana hopped on their biggest tour to date with The Menzingers last summer, hugely expanding their fanbase throughout the country. Their mixture of indie pop and all of the subtleties of punk shines through on their debut album, Nervous Like Me.

Listen to: “Black Hills”

SOMOS Hardly anyone had heard of Boston natives, Somos, before their Tiny Engines release, Temple of Plenty. The band tentatively began in 2009, gradually adding members. Eventually, they moved the band out to San Francisco and recorded their 2012 demo in Panda Studios. Somos draw their influences from ’90s punk and hardcore but strive to make themselves sound as modern as possible. That drove them to move back to Boston and work with acclaimed producer and mixer Jesse Cannon on Temple of Plenty. That record became a staple on many yearend lists as a top record of 2014.

Listen to: “Dead Wrong”

THE HOTELIER It was almost impossible to miss The Hotelier in 2014. Previously known as The Hotel Year, they got together with Tiny Engines and released Home Like Noplace Is There. Lead singer Christian Holden describes the theme of the album as political, although they aren’t explicitly said. Nonetheless, listeners connected with Holden as he deals with the loss of a close friend and confronts comfort over safety. Home connected with listeners so much that it was repeatedly voted the number one album of 2014.

Listen To: “Your Deep Rest”

WORDS: Alyssa Schmidt

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 11

VENUE HIGHLIGHT BOTTLETREE CAFE - BIRMINGHAM, AL

HISTORY Disappointed by the lack of underground music representation in the Birmingham area, Bottletree CafĂŠ owners Brian Teasley and the sibling team of Merrilee and Brad Challiss opened the venue in 2006. Since then, Bottletree has hosted bands like Vampire Weekend and TV On The Radio as well as countless indie acts. The presence of Bottletree in Birmingham has exposed the community to a diverse range of music. Besides acting as a concert venue, Bottletree is known for its famous Sunday brunches, featuring unique dishes like Catfish & Grits and Hangover Helper.

WHY PLAY HERE? Bottletree is a small, quaint venue that feels more like a home than a venue. The name itself suggests the intimate experience waiting within its walls. Over the years, Bottletree has gained a reputation of attracting unique musical acts from all over the country. It might be easy to overlook Bottletree because of its size and diverse pull of musical acts from indie rock to electronic, but playing a show at this venue will leave a huge impression. The community trusts Bottletree to bring in the best up-and-coming acts, and as a result, the Bottletree crowd is open and receptive to new and innovative music, willing to give anything a chance.

t /bottletreecafe f /bottletreecafe

WWW

bottletree.com

MARCH 5TH

MARCH 9TH

MARCH 10TH

MARCH 22ND

The Deslondes

Legion

Leon Bridges

The Districts

12 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

REVIEW: Jessica Klinner

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 13

HIGHLIGHTED

ARTISTS KIT Location: San Diego, CA Current Single: “No Mercy”

The mysterious Rock ‘N’ Roller, KIT, also known as Kit Walters, is ready to show his music to the world. The singer based out of New York City takes high energy pop styles and mixes his own rock aggression to the mix.

MAGNETS & GHOSTS Location: Venice, CA & Atlanta, GA Current Single: “Drug Money” Members: Dean Roland & Ryan Potesta Free spirited Magnets & Ghosts are a duo unlike any other.

The transient styles of Dean Roland (of Collective Soul) and Ryan Potesta create honest rock anthems matched with fantastic songwriting. The duo from Venice, CA and Atlanta, GA, released their first full length in 2011, and followed it up with their 2014 EP release, Be Born.

RACHEL LYNN Location: Nashville, TN Current Single: “Tend To The Flame” Brooklyn’s young and determined songwriter Rachel Lynn has made music apart of her life from the start. Growing up to eventually take on music in high school and in college has led her to unforgettable experiences, including two releases and shows across the U.S.

14 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

WORDS: Nick Yacovazzi

HIGHLIGHTED

FILMS

SONIC HIGHWAYS

Dave Grohl’s documentary, Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways, is a lesson in the history of American music. Over the course eight episodes, Grohl and the rest of the Foo Fighters travel the U.S., visiting iconic studios and recording with the industry’s best. The series explores the rich musical histories of cities like Chicago, Nashville, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Austin, Seattle, New York and Washington, DC. While in each location, the band recorded pieces of their newest album, Sonic Highways. This included legendary places like Virginia’s Inner Ear Studios, Austin City Limits Studio and Tennessee’s Southern Ground studio. For those viewers familiar with these sites and their stories, it’s a treat to see such a seasoned band pay homage. For anyone watching who is not as knowledgeable, Sonic Highways makes catching up on all that history as enjoyable as the resulting album itself.

Usually movies that force some sort of lesson run the risk of being sort of dry, but each episode is rich and lively. Grohl developed the idea for Sonic Highways after finishing his first documentary, 2013’s Sound City. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Grohl spoke about the series and his drive to create another similar program, saying that he “realized that the pairing of music and documentary worked so well because the stories give substance and depth to the song, which makes a stronger emotional connection to it.” For Sonic Highways, the Foo Fighters paired cities with songs (“Something from Nothing” and Chicago, “What Did I Do?/God as My Witness” and Austin, etc.), creating a connection between the pairs and telling a story. On this process, Grohl said, “If you know the story behind the artist, or the story behind the studio, or the song, it widens your appreciation for the music. The four-minute long video is a blessed thing but sometimes it can be just an image.

And these stories and these people give so much more depth to the music.” This way, the songs were colored by the personalities of the cities and the teams that worked on them.

The band works with musicians like Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh. The impact of each person and place can be heard on the Foo Fighters album even to the untrained ear. As Grohl explains in a short segment, “The environment in which you write or record an album influences the musical result,” and this holds true for the documentary. In addition to working with such stellar crews during the band’s 20th anniversary, Grohl also had the opportunity to conduct interviews with individuals from all sections of the music industry, including Rodney Bingenheimer, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Don Zientara. He even sat down with President Barack Obama.

In the end, the documentary records as much history as music. When Sound City producers Jim Rota and John Ramsay were picking out a journal and pen to give to Grohl after the completion of his first documentary, they probably couldn’t have guessed that the resulting film would be as all-encompassing and eloquent as Sonic Highways. Grohl’s intention was to write what he calls “a musical map of America” and “a love letter to the history of American music.”

The mix of biography, culture, music and creation that is Sonic Highways truly is a love letter and one written by one of the most respected musicians out there. Foo Fighters fan or not, it’s worth a watch.

REVIEW: Zoe Marquedant

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 15

TWORKOWSKI INDUSTRY

HIGHLIGHT

LOCATION: Melbourne, FL CURRENTLY: To Write Love On Her Arms movie 16 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

now available, “If You Feel Too Much” by Jamie Tworkowski out May 19

GROWING UP IN FLORIDA, TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS’ FOUND ER JAMIE TWORKOWSKI WAS IN LOVE WITH THE OCEAN. Most young boys dream of being pro athletes, and Tworkowski had a similar plan. From ages 18 to 22, he was an assistant sales rep for Quicksilver before transferring to Hurley to become the sales rep for the entire state of Florida.

Dropping out of college, he pursued his dream career, but another dream had taken wings four years later, after the success of the “original story.”

Most people familiar with TWLOHA are aware of its extraordinary beginning. Tworkowski and a couple other friends befriended Renee Yohe, a young woman navigating the struggles of depression and addiction. This community became the foundation for her recovery, getting her the help she needed and supporting her as she went into rehab. This experience sparked the idea for a brief story written by Tworkowski, which caught wind of publications and essentially started a non-profit organization completely by accident. With no plans or official platform mapped out, the unknown was daunting, but the most important aspect was already present. People were listening.

“We were so unique in that we had an audience and we had money coming in before we knew what we were doing. I didn’t even mean to start a non-profit. It was such an unlikely beginning and so much of that was amazing and exciting, and so much of that I’m thankful for, but there were challenges; there were growing pains. I think early on just navigating so many questions of ‘What are we doing?

How do we do it?’” Tworkowski said.

HONESTY HAS A WAY OF BEING CONTAGIOUS. Throughout nine years, the organization has had many victories, including winning the first American Giving Awards, which granted them $1 million. Interns and full-time staff work tirelessly and are constantly coming up with new and creative tactics to spread hope to those in the darkness.

The organization is present at many music festivals, has campaigns for high school and college students, 5Ks, the Fears vs. Dreams campaign, and Heavy and Light, a yearly concert filled with music, poetry, community and helpful resources. Their online presence is essential in a digital

age, which they take advantage of with daily blog posts and inspiring quotes. Fresh opportunities to shed light on the universal struggles of being human are constantly being pursued with two very special milestones occurring within the span of a couple months.

Nearly three years in the making and several name changes later, Renee’s story and the organization’s beginning has been adapted into a film named after the organization, which is available as a digital copy and DVD on March 3. For a non-profit that is passionate about storytelling and encouraging individuals to be courageous with their stories, they have found yet another influential way to share their own.

“My friend David McKenna had a lot to do with that, he was actually the friend I was living with when I met Renee and he was sort of a big brother and actually served as her manager for a long time, and had a dream of making movies. So he was the one who kind of got it off the ground.

Initially the plan wasn’t for it to be called To Write Love On Her Arms, but as it started to get legs and get funding, then we were able to get involved. I was able to speak into the script a little bit; our team was able to speak into things.

Our interns at the time actually played the interns in the movie,” Tworkowski said.

With Kat Dennings as Renee and Chad Michael Murray as Tworkowski, the familiar cast captures the hopeful spirit of the real-life events. Of course, a movie adaptation based on a true story can be somewhat of a loose term, but people who actually lived it were the ones taking care of the production. McKenna and Tworkowski made sure that the heart of Renee’s story was genuine and palpable.

“Overall, the movie felt the way that experience felt for my friends and I, and I think more than anything it’s about broken people trying to care about broken people. And it’s about this group of friends trying to live life together at a really unique moment in time,” Tworkowski said.

TWLOHA uses various outlets to reach those who are struggling, most of which involve some form of art, including designing positive merchandise and sharing music, poetry, writing, and now a film. The movie is preceding the release of Tworkowski’s book, “If You Feel Too Much”, hitting shelves May 19. The 10-year-old project is a collection of short memoirs that Tworkowski has finally found a home for, with a foreword by his close friend and fellow author, HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 17

Miller. With so many people familiar with Renee’s story and not necessarily his own, it has been a vulnerable and liberating process to share his life experiences.

“I think a lot of times it might be scary to write something, but if and when its met with a good response and is able to be a good encouragement to someone else, as a writer it feels really good at that point because you feel like something good could come out of your honesty. Honesty has a way of being contagious. So hopefully if I can write in a way that is honest and authentic, and encourages other people to know they can be sincere and they can be vulnerable with their story,” Tworkowski said.

Tworkowski’s blog posts are a pleasant glimpse of what his book will entail. As a public speaker and author, his words will surely speak life into the broken people that he is so dedicated to loving. “If You Feel Too Much” will more than likely present Tworkowski with more powerful and endearing stories of recovery because of the work he and the organization do.

18 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

“The best thing I ever get to experience, the best conversation or comment is when I get to meet someone who says that they’re still alive because of the organization; when someone who says that they may not otherwise still be on this planet except that they encountered something with To Write Love On Her Arms that encouraged them to keep going, encouraged them to get help, maybe even literally encouraged them to stay alive,” Tworkowski said. “That to me is the best thing in the world. Its hard to imagine hearing something better from a stranger.”

Going on a decade, the non-profit has been a godsend for many, transforming and even saving lives. Tworkowski and his team’s dedication to connecting with people is truly astounding, and we appreciate their tenacity when it comes to lowering the suicide rate, spreading awareness and offering immeasurable empathy.

INTERVIEW & STORY: Haley Black

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 19

20 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

HOME: Los Angeles, California NOW JAMMING: “You Haunt Me” CURRENTLY: On tour with KONGOS and Colony House

LANDON JACOBS, JASON SUWITO

and Hayden Coplen stood on the dim stage. The crowd sat before them, a sea of silhouettes. Sir Sly was used to playing shows, but this was something else entirely. The silhouettes were not their only audience. But now was not the time to freeze up. “Please welcome Sir Sly,” Conan O’Brien said.

They began playing the title track of their new album, You Haunt Me. “I think we did a good job, I was proud of us,” lead singer, Jacobs said. “The feelings are so fleeting. It’s a long day but you play for three minutes and if you play well you get to feel good about it.”

Their song ended and the crowd cheered. Andy Richter and O’Brien walked over and began to congratulate the band on their performance. Richter approached Coplen, his hand outstretched for a handshake. Coplen looked in a different direction, completely unaware of Richter and his hand. Richter brushed it off and moved down to shake the hands of Jacobs and Suwito. He eventually came back to Coplen, but once again, he stood oblivious. Richter tapped him on the chest, finally gaining his attention.

“That’s Hayden in a nutshell for you,” Jacobs said. “Not to throw him under the bus, but I will always remember him just spacing out when they were coming over to say nice things to us.”

Sir Sly began about two and half years ago, soon after Jacobs dropped out of college. Jacobs originally got involved in music through his church. He grew up around a multitude of musical influences from gospel and AC/DC to Blondie and pop-punk.

“I started singing in church,” Jacobs said. “Then I taught myself how to play piano and guitar when I was like 14 and started writing songs. Then I stopped playing at church because I realized that writing songs was what I actually wanted to do.”

Jacobs and keyboardist Suwito soon connected. Suwito already had experience not only in bands but also recording and producing albums. They began writing together and Suwito recorded them. “I think the more you write songs it seems like you figure it out a little bit better— how to say the things you want to say or how to articulate all of those feels or sort through and process the things that are happening in life,” Jacobs explained.

The two members along with drummer Coplen developed what they call “sly-fy.” Originally, Jacobs said they just couldn’t definitively define what genre they were. When journalists asked them to describe their sound in interviews, he said it just became easier to simply call it “sly-fy.”

You Haunt Me is Sir Sly’s first full-length album. Not only did the band write all of their own songs, but Suwito also recorded, produced and mixed all of the songs themselves.

Jacobs said that the whole process flowed naturally. He said at one point they sent a song off to a different mixer.

While it sounded great, Suwito understood exactly what they were going for. It just made sense to keep doing it in house.

“Jason is actually really funny. He says he loves mixing,” Jacobs said. “There’s something about the way that his brain works that he just loves putting things in the right place and making sure that everything sounds good. I don’t think he ever got tired of mixing it.”

Jacobs described the album as a series of extremely personal moments. The song “Sludge” is about his wife’s mother passing away while he also grappled with his understanding of God. “Helpless” describes his experience of his mother also dying of cancer. However, Jacobs said that he does not make these experiences explicit in his lyrics. A lot of what comes across as romantic on the album is actually dealing with the loss of loved ones. “I’ve noticed people take songs as they can understand them, so whatever is happening in their life that’s what relates most,” Jacobs said. “I think people relate to my experience into their own experience and I think that’s one of the most beautiful things about music.”

Sir Sly is now supporting KONGOS on a nationwide tour.

Their first since the release of You Haunt Me. Between the tour and the opportunity to perform on Conan, Jacobs said there hasn’t been much to complain about. He believes the key is to keep the self-doubt in check. “I think the hardest thing really is the interpersonal struggle,” Jacobs said. “Just inside of yourself, struggling with feelings of inadequacy and wondering what’s the next step. And you don’t really overcome it I think, you just come to terms and make your peace with it.”

PHOTOS: Heather Phillips INTERVIEW & STORY: Alyssa Schmidt

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 21

22 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

HOME: Dallas, Texas NOW JAMMING: “I Like It” CURRENTLY: Getting ready for a spring tour with Cartel

“THE DEFINITION OF TEAM IS A

group of people who work together to achieve a common goal,” says Rico Andradi, co-founder and drummer of indie rock unit, TEAM*. “And I feel like that’s what Caleb [Turman] and I have been doing.”

It’s a beautiful day at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas.

Andradi competes with the blaring sirens of an ambulance and other outside nuisances to answer a few questions before TEAM* take the stage on their final night opening for Motion City Soundtrack on the “Commit This To Memory 10 Year Anniversary Tour.” They’re one of several bands that have circulated through a rotation of opening bands during the course of this special anniversary tour.

24 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

Although TEAM* is a fairly new band, the sole members, Andradi and lead singer Turman, are no strangers to the world of touring. Both of them spent time playing in the band, Forever The Sickest Kids. In fact, it can be said that TEAM* began in the back lounge of FTSK’s tour bus. On off-days, Andradi and Turman would play music together, not knowing that their jam sessions would eventually lead to a new musical endeavor.

However, the transition from FTSK to TEAM* was not simple. Turman and Andradi didn’t want there to be any false perceptions of what their music should sound like as TEAM*. The two founders wanted TEAM* to be a completely separate entity from FTSK, and to accomplish this, they remained anonymous when launching their new project.

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 25

“We’re not ashamed of anything we’ve ever done,” Andradi says. “It’s just unfortunate that a lot of times when you try to do something new…you’re haunted by the ghost of your past. When I first started touring with [FTSK], I was like 22 and Caleb was like 19. I’m turning 30 this year and Caleb is 27. A lot has changed since then.”

Now, the cat is out of the bag, and everyone knows who is behind the catchy tunes of TEAM*, a fitting name for such a tight-knit group of collaborators. In the 40-minute conversation with Andradi, he brings up TEAM*’s cofounder and friend a countless number of times, speaking to Turman’s brilliance as a songwriter and his drive to constantly better himself.

“One thing that I will say about him is that he’s always a guy who’s trying to get better,” Andradi says. “He’s always working on his craft. Any chance he gets, he’s always trying to write, practice or better himself somehow as a writer.”

It’s this constant stream of songwriting that has allowed TEAM* to release two EPs since December 2013.

“We love the EP idea because we like coming up with new stuff all the time,” Andradi says. “With Caleb, it’s never really a shortage of writing. He’s constantly writing and constantly has a bunch of ideas… that’s kind of the whole point when you’re in a band—to release as much art as you can. A lot of people try to follow all these rules, but there really aren’t any rules. It’s just about trying to get as music out there as possible while you can.”

Even though TEAM* just re-released their second EP, Good Morning Bad Day, on their label, South x Sea, they have enough material to release a third EP. But just because they have the means and drive to record more music doesn’t necessarily mean that they should. After all, they are just getting started and have a lot of ground to cover to get their music out there. Because of this, they’ve decided to hold off recording new music for a little while and concentrate on reaching new crowds with their available discography.

“It’s very important for a band in its embryonic stages to stay out there and keep trying to play shows and keep trying to get in front of people,” Andradi comments. “We have these two records and we’re ready to record something new, but at the same time, we have to keep ourselves in check… we don’t want to shove them on the back burner. We have to give these records a chance. We’re ready to do a third one.

We’re absolutely ready, but it’s been kind of finding a nice healthy balance.”

26 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

With each release, TEAM* has captured a moment in time—a glimpse of where they were at that exact moment in their career. While it’s easy for Andradi to pinpoint the significance of each song, there’s something about TEAM* he can’t seem to put a finger on—the genre. TEAM* straddles the line between indie pop and alternative rock.

They’re myriad of influences from Bob Dylan to The Beach Boys to Queen show just how broad a spectrum their music has the potential to cover. In past musical projects, Turman was held down as a songwriter, unable to reach his full potential. With TEAM*, the possibilities are endless.

“A lot of bands are unfortunately pigeonholed,” Andradi says. “…Some bands can’t tour with other bands just because of a completely different fan base. I really, really want to push the envelope and have a further spread. [I] hope that we can be accepted by those other fans in other genres that maybe at first glance people wouldn’t think that we fit in, but we’re there and it kind of works out…It’s just nice being able to crossover and do more. Why would you want to limit yourself?”

Since the inception of TEAM*, Andradi and Turman have been constants. Other members have floated in and out of the touring band, but none have stuck around, whether for personal reasons or a lack of commitment to the project.

From the outside, it might look like Andradi and Turman are rock star types and difficult to work with, but that isn’t the case. They’ve just had a hard time finding other people who are as dedicated to the project as them.

“We’re just trying to find the right fit, the right puzzle piece, instead of [trying to] cram a square peg through a round hole,” Andradi says. “I’m going to always be doing TEAM* regardless. And I know Caleb will. We do whatever we can to make this band work.”

PHOTOS: Jordan Fischels INTERVIEW & STORY: Jessica Klinner

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 27

28 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 29

HOME: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOW JAMMING: “Paradise Waiting” CURRENTLY: Touring this spring with Rubblebucket

THIS INDIE-ELECTRONIC BAND IS

nowhere near as incognito as a group like Gorillaz, but the East Coast outfit kept their identity at the dawn of their project very much under wraps. A melting pot of musicians, Vacationer includes members of Body Language, Person L and The Starting Line, establishing the “nu-hula” band.

Kenny Vasoli wanted to make sure that the diverse group of musicians in Vacationer would not be associated with his pop-punk past upon their inauguration in 2010. Coming from the emo era of the early 2000s, The Starting Line became affiliated with beloved bands like Saves The Day and early Fall Out Boy, all of which have distinct sounds that the fans who grew up with them are very attached to.

After a heart-breaking hiatus and short reunion tour, The Starting Line called it quits and went their separate ways.

Many former fans had no idea that Vasoli had even started Vacationer, which was his intention. He wanted to dodge any possibility of criticism and closed-mindedness from previous audiences expecting a particular sound. Starting over seemed like the best option to recreate himself. Whether fans of Vacationer were apart of The Starting Line fan club or not, new listeners have flocked with eager enthusiasm.

“Right from the beginning, I went into the first record without my name attached to it and even the first couple of singles there was no picture or no information about the band.

Luckily it caught on with people and we managed to get a record deal and an agent and were able to hit the ground running with this music,” Vasoli said. “I’m glad that we got that foundation. And now that the cat is very much out of the bag, it’s nice that it’s this far a long because the people that are coming out to the shows for the majority aren’t coming out to ask me to play TSL songs, this has taken on an identity all it’s own.”

While singing in Vacationer, Vasoli hardly sounds like the same front man. The environment for his lyrics has transferred to a mellower genre, which has been a much better fit for him personally. Belting for a rowdy group of angsty teenagers on tour with The Staring Line and Person L took a toll on his vocals, which he realized was no longer worth the detrimental circle he was facing every night.

“Touring with those bands, I was destroying my voice every time I tried to sing. I was playing this game where I would have to just lose my voice enough to be able to not talk that night and get eight hours of sleep, and really have to pamper my voice the next day to be able to get through the show. It was a miserable cycle that I was in with always

30 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

losing my voice and I wanted something that I could be a little more relaxed with and not at the top of my lungs and also not fighting to compete with instruments that were turned up to 11 and crashing symbols,” Vasoli said.

Even before his days as a pop-punk artist had outlasted its lifespan, he began exploring other outlets of music to test his creativity, which altered his career several years later.

Inspired by artists like Beach House, Washed Out and Neon Indian, his views on electronic music changed and the idea of creating it became very appealing and the possibilities seemed more tangible. Using old skills and acquiring new ones was an adventure.

“I had been wanting to do an electronic project for quite a while. Around 2005 to 2006 I started to really weave into exploring electronic music,” Vasoli said. “It dawned on me that electronic music didn’t have to 100% be computer noises, for lack of a better term. I liked the idea of taking organic and angelic sounds and putting that into electronic music or at least an electronic pallet. The deeper I got into that, the more I wanted to see what it entailed making that kind of music.”

Being a part of bands in the past, he wanted to collaborate with other musicians, specifically ones that were already proficient electronic composers. His friend Matt Watts, the band’s current manager, sent him links of several artists that he was acquainted with in Brooklyn who he could potentially work with. Once introduced to the brilliance of Body Language, Vasoli contacted Grant Wheeler and Matthew Young for a collaboration session. “I became an instant fan of that band, and I loved the production and thought it was really deep and thoughtful,” Vasoli said.

When Young and Wheeler aren’t making beats with Body Language, they now work with Vacationer. Their pasts looked nothing alike, which was what made the newfound friendship an interesting arrangement.

“We ended up hitting it off right away. We were able to hold a conversation with each other and also able to pass ideas along with each other within the first hour of being together. It’s cool getting to know those guys and getting to work with them because their background is really on the other side of the coin from mine,” Vasoli said. “Matt, I still don’t think has ever heard Starting Line.”

Each of the seasoned musicians originated from completely contrasting genres, which is why the three are able to offer their own array of unique influences. Young growing up

as a metal kid in Tulsa, met Wheeler in college to form an electric project with a jazz-fusion. Vasoli created pop-punk for a decade and was ready to try anything outside of his comfort zone. The possibilities were thrilling.

even travelled to Hawaii and Costa Rica to shoot music videos. Unlike the generic electronic music genre, they created their own abstract identifier, classifying themselves as “nu-hula.”

“For us to come together and be in this sort of groove and garage band mentality of how to write songs, and them with this jazz and can play Bach on the piano kind of cooling, and we all had a common love for electronic music. It was a stimulating collaboration right from the beginning,” Vasoli said.

“It was read on the precedent of these bands that were coining their own genre names like ‘chill wave’ and ‘lo fi’ and ‘’70s roller skate.’ There was a bunch of really ridiculous genre names happening at that time, so we just sort of hopped on board and came up with nu-hula,” Vasoli said.

With a distinguished allure, Vacationer remains consistent with their whimsical, beachy vibe in every aspect of their craft. To create a relaxed spirit, which can directly be noted in the band name itself, the names of albums and individual tracks are all very laid back. Relief and Gone, their two full-length LPs, contain track names like “Paradise Waiting,” “Trip,” “In the Grass” and “Summer End.” The guys have

Vacationer will be showcasing nu-hula and spreading calm, carefree vibes all over North America on a spring tour supporting Rubblebucket, and appearing at BottleRock music festival in Napa Valley and Treefort in Boise this May. PHOTO: Heather Phillips INTERVIEW: Haley Black & Jenn Stookey STORY: Haley Black

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 31

HOME: Lakeland, Florida NOW JAMMING: “Ordinary” CURRENTLY: Supporting Paramore on the “Writing The Future” tour this spring

YEARS HAD PASSED WITHOUT

a peep after Copeland completed its farewell tour. Fans thought there was no hope when out of the woodworks came an announcement on April Fool’s, the worst day for a serious matter such as this. The band was back for a second run, reuniting and making a fifth record after six years apart.

“I had always wanted to do another Copeland record. The other guys in the band had started another band [States] so they were more focused on that than doing another record, and we did our farewell tour, so it wasn’t really on anyone’s radar to do a record,” lead vocalist Aaron Marsh explained.

But it had been six years since the band had made any music together. Was the feeling of returning to the home court worth the wait? For the band, it was.

“It was really, really natural. This was our fifth record, and I would say it was the smoothest record,” guitarist Bryan Laurenson explained. “...The things we usually fight about, which are very few, like track sequence, we didn’t. It took the longest but it was probably the easiest… I feel like we were just refreshed after spending so much time away and it was exciting and fun.”

Spending time away to work on other projects certainly played a role in the creative process of Ixora. “I think we all came up with new tricks and new ways of writing and instruments we were playing with,” Laurenson said.

Agreeing with his brother, Stephen Laurenson chimed in, “Coming in with a whole new bag of goodies to play with on our fingertips, I think brought Ixora more to life.”

Marsh too agreed, stating that every record offers the experience to learn a little more about making records.

“The fact that we had other projects in the works in that downtime, we had the benefit of that experience,” Marsh illustrated.

After such a long break from touring and, now, a successful fifth record to add to its resume, the members of Copeland are chomping at the bit to get back out there and start playing shows again. Before their breakup, they had been quite frustrated with how difficult it was to get on tours supporting bigger bands, which would give them the opportunity to build their fan base. Instead, they found themselves headlining a lot.

“That was something that was extremely enticing to us and super cool that Paramore would invite us out on their tour, and we get to play with their fans. We’re just really looking forward to having the chance to play for some new people,” Marsh said.

Having die-hard Paramore fans at their upcoming shows will be an excellent opportunity for the band, which they are not taking for granted.

Speaking of the upcoming shows with Paramore, die-hard Copeland fans might be disappointed because the boys may have a prank up their sleeves as to what songs they’ll be playing on tour.

“We might write a whole new record,” Bryan Laurenson laughed.

“I think we’re going to try and do all Paramore covers and then just see what they do. Like what would they play if we played all their songs?” Marsh joked. “No, we will probably play a little something from every record.”

Although this latest release and tour marks a new beginning for Copeland, it sadly doesn’t mean that the band will be touring constantly. Another tour may be in the works, but due to having different lives, with families, wives and kids, they’re not about to jump back in full-speed. But don’t be scared! Copeland are not playing with your heart strings, they are here to stay.

PHOTO: Sam Polonsky INTERVIEW & STORY: Daisy Marietta HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 33

34 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 35

HOME: Athens, Georgia NOW JAMMING: Aureate Gloom (Full-Length) CURRENTLY: On a full US tour with Yonatan Gat, Deerhoof and Yip Deceiver

IT IS QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT

for an artist to be able to continuously make music for almost twenty years. Almost two decades after its inception, of Montreal is about to release their thirteenth album, Aureate Gloom.

The psychedelic pop outfit, fronted by Kevin Barnes, is based in Athens, Georgia, a city that is not very typical for breeding successful musicians. However, Barnes doesn’t view it as a hindrance. He said that being in Athens allowed of Montreal to create their own inspiration because the town itself is very mellow.

36 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

“It creates this little bubble, a creative bubble, to live inside of and block out the outside world. It’s easy to do that here,” Barnes said.

Although of Montreal has been making music since 1996, it was not always easy. Barnes admitted that the hardest part of his musical career was continuing to create while it took of Montreal almost eight years to make any money from their craft. “We had to believe in ourselves when it didn’t seem like the world really wanted us to be doing it,” he shared.

In the ’90s, of Montreal was also a part of the Elephant 6 collective, a group of artists whose members also included bands like Neutral Milk Hotel. Barnes said being included in that group gave of Montreal a leg up when the band was starting out. People paid attention to the collective just as much as the individual bands, so it empowered everyone involved, he said.

Even though the early days were tough, Barnes said that making music for the right reasons and the fulfillment they got from being involved in their projects was enough for the band. Even if no one came to their shows or a record did not sell well, it was not discouraging because they were excited about the work they were doing. Now, on the cusp of album thirteen, of Montreal continues to make work they believe in.

“With each record, one record might be more successful than another and one tour might be more successful than another, so you can never stop working. You have to keep

thinking about what your next move is going to be,” Barnes said. “It’s a never ending pursuit which is something that you can’t really hold on to.” of Montreal has consistently been able to stay fresh by transforming their sound with each record. Although Barnes says he never worries about staying relevant or trendy, he does hope that his excitement for the music he makes translates through his work. Barnes has a vey eclectic taste in music, so he enjoys being able to explore that with each release.

“I’m always kind of searching for something new. With each record the goal is for it to kind of feel like a new band every time so it never gets formulaic and predictable,” Barnes said.

For the band’s last release, Lousy With Sylvianbriar, Barnes went on a writing retreat in San Francisco and took a similar approach for the upcoming Aureate Gloom. Barnes spent HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 37

time in New York working on the record – putting himself in a new place allows for him to absorb the energies of a new place but also put himself in a new mindset.

“It’s good to be able to get out of my comfort zone and be somewhere kind of exotic and have experiences that I can write about and just make my life a little bit more interesting for a couple of weeks,” he said.

This record, in particular, has pulled lots of inspiration from Barnes’ personal life, particularly the split with his wife of 11 years. While every one of his works have reflected his life in some way, Aureate Gloom trumps them all and feels even more connected to his life than any of its predecessors.

“I think this album is very much like an open journal,” he shared. “Lyrically, it’s all about what I was going through in my personal life over the last year. I tend to pull inspiration from my personal life anyway but this one feels even more confessional and autobiographical.”

The first single, and opening track for the record, “Bassam Sabry,” named after Egyptian blogger and civil rights activist who died last year, has been received very well by listeners. That being said, Barnes says the record as a whole is more important than the single. He said the single is always the common song that everyone listens to and he always tried to connect with a song on his own.

“The playlist way of listening to music is cool but it kills the album,” he admitted. “Growing up I always listened to albums in their entirety and I never would care what the single was.”

Accompanying the release of Aureate Gloom, of Montreal will be going on a full U.S. tour throughout the month of March followed by touring in Europe in April and Japan in May. of Montreal is notorious for very theatrical live performances. Barnes said the highlight of his career was when he rode a horse on stage. Complete with costumes, a light show, and video projection, Barnes said this translation of their music just adds another layer to what they are already doing.

“Just going on stage and playing the songs is fun, but it’s more fun when it’s a circus all around you,” he said. “It’s sort of an art collective within ourselves. Its just more interesting and I think it helps the music.”

No matter where you are in the world, of Montreal will be staying very busy this year. Be sure to give Aureate Gloom a listen after its release this month and catch their one of kind live show when they come to your town.

PHOTO: Sam Polonsky INTERVIEW & STORY: Jennifer Boylen

38 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 39

40 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 41

HOME: Johannesburg, South Africa NOW JAMMING: “I’m Only Joking” CURRENTLY: On tour with Sir Sly and Colony House

STEP ONE: MIX IN FOUR BROTHERS,

a heavy helping of a musical upbringing, a splash of South African culture and a spoonful of perseverance. Step two: stir in a platinum hit single. The end result? The Billboard chart topping band KONGOS. With more than 22 million views on YouTube and over a million downloads for their single “Come With Me Now” off their Epic Records debut album, Lunatic, bassist Dylan Kongos recalled the single’s success as unexpected.

Kongos said living in a heavily populated Greek community as kids impacted the band in a unique way that has helped the group succeed.

“The culture down there and the city that we grew up in is incredibly vibrant,” Kongos said. “There are so many different styles of music: traditional, indie rock, hip-hop; the culture down there is so diverse and that [has] influenced us so much.”

“We wanted some little, local markets to pick up the song so we could get interest of record labels for our next album,” Kongos said. “It just [got] bigger than we could’ve ever imagined. It’s really cool to have a platinum song.”

With the release of their 2014 record Lunatic, the brothers have learned to be brutally honest with each other and their ideas for new songs. Kongos said being a family and trying to be a band at the same time can be difficult, but when a song connects to someone, it’s the most rewarding feeling.

Fusing together their childhood influences of growing up with a singer-songwriter father and the stimulating lifestyle in South Africa, the band always knew they would become musicians. Their father brought them up “playing music for the joy of it.” Eventually, the progression from playing as a hobby to molding a career was natural for the family.

“Even if you see a small group of people reacting to [the music] in a positive way, then you realize there are people that will connect with your music and you just need to reach them,” he explained. “We felt that way for a long time.

We saw that our [music] connected with people on a large

42 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

level, so even though we were completely discouraged when we came [back home] for a year and a half, it was a matter of timing, luck and having the right ears to hear it.”

While the band have achieved more than most indie rock outfits can say, Kongos said they’re ready to move onto the next adventure. Coming into 2015 on their first headlining tour with Sir Sly and Colony House, KONGOS are ready to get back into the studio after their 35-show tour. With four divergent “stories to tell” on their next album, Kongos said he’s making sure people “will get up and dance” to the new record.

“Once this tour is done, unless something life changing or huge [comes up], we want to get in the studio to record the next album,” Kongos explained. “We’ve been sitting on this album for a long time and it’s really exciting to have it reach this new audience and [to] get to play it [for] excited, new fans.”

Even with all their success, Kongos have gone through their own share of defeat. After releasing Lunatic in 2012 independently, it wasn’t until two years later that the band signed with Epic Records to re-release the album in America.

“No one really gets into a band to play [shows] in a bar or to four people and lose money for many years,” Kongos said. “It’s a difficult artistic pursuit. When you’re trying to pursue that and you don’t constantly have that feedback, you feel demotivated. We went through some difficult times like that.”

While the group went through the industry ringer, hearing “no” more times than “yes,” their hard work eventually paid off ten-fold. In just a few short months after their U.S. radio premiere, KONGOS had the fastest-rising #1 debut single since Lorde’s “Royals” the previous year and Evanescence’s “Bring Me To Life” in 2003. Kongos said the outcome of “Come With Me Now” has definitely been the highlight of the band’s career thus far.

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 43

“All of those things you feel are milestones [like] writing a good song,” Kongos said. “That one song that comes along every few years that you feel really good about, whether or not it does well commercially.”

Signing on to play a plethora of music festivals in 2014, Kongos said the brothers saw the festival lineups year after year growing up, but “having the opportunity to go and play it was surreal.” Feeling “very comfortable” playing in front of a huge crowd more often than not, Kongos said the band doesn’t get stage fright anymore, but there are still those slim chances.

“There are other cold moments where we’re opening for a band [where] most of the fans don’t know who we are,” Kongos explained. “There are those once-in-a-while shows

44 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

that make us shake in our boots. For whatever reason; [maybe] there’s a massive crowd or it’s a legendary band that will make us think twice.”

While Kongos said opening up for renowned bands has been nerve-racking in the past, it’s likely that the acts opening up for KONGOS feel the same way. One thing is certain: the group isn’t stopping any time soon to become a household name.

PHOTOS: Heather Phillips INTERVIEW: Bridjet Mendyuk & Jessica Klinner STORY: Bridjet Mendyuk

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 45

46 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 47

48 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

HOME: Minneapolis, Minnesota NOW JAMMING: Commit This To Memory CURRENTLY: Gearing up for Warped Tour 2015

“ALL WE ARE, ARE MEMORIES,” is the single phrase Justin Pierre was thinking about when Motion City Soundtrack was creating its second full-length album, Commit This To Memory. The 2005 album became a major career stepping stone for the band and has become one of the most influential albums to musicians and fans throughout the world.

“It was huge,” said Pierre during a phone interview. The vocalist/guitarist was on vocal rest on an off-day during the “Commit This To Memory 10-Year Anniversary Tour” and only had an hour to speak. “It was all a giant step toward something and it just kind of snowballed. A lot of wonderful things happened.”

At the time before the album was even started, Motion City Soundtrack had released its debut album, I Am the Movie, independently, and it wasn’t until about a year later when Epitaph Records signed the band to their label. As if signing to an extremely well-known record label was a boost for the band’s career, another extraordinary thing happened.

The band had a friend who worked at Atticus Clothing way back when Blink-182’s bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus still co-owned the company. One day, their friend gave Hoppus a copy of I Am The Movie and told the musician he should give the album a listen. After about a year of the record sitting in his car, Hoppus finally took the time to listen to it, and immediately became hooked. Actually so hooked, that he wanted Motion City Soundtrack to tour with Blink-182 on their 2004 European tour.

“We got an email through management that said, ‘Blink-182 wants you to play with them in Europe’ and we were like, ‘Fuck yeah,’ so that’s how that came about,” Pierre said.

“Literally someone handing him a record and him liking it.”

And so it became a reality. Motion City Soundtrack started performing with Blink-182 and quickly became friends with the trio. Pierre remembered Blink-182 was always listening to different kinds of music in their dressing room that his band loved and grew up on. There was a special bond between them from the beginning.

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 49

At the end of the tour, guitarist Josh Cain walked into Blink182’s dressing room and asked Hoppus about producers because Motion City Soundtrack was setting out to make another album (Commit This To Memory). Hoppus started talking about working with producer Jerry Finn for Blink’s self-titled 2003 album and how he had so much gear left over after the album was finished. Cain brought the idea up to Hoppus about him possibly producing Motion City Soundtrack’s next album, and the bassist agreed to pursue the endeavor.

At the time, Hoppus had never produced an album before, and it would be his first time taking on a project like this.

“It just made sense at the time,” Pierre said. “Like, ‘Yeah, why don’t we just do this? We’re all into the same shit.’

It just seemed more of a punk rock way of doing things.

Mark pretty much had everything riding on the line for him so he put everything into that. We just didn’t think about it.

It wasn’t until Even If It Kills Me when we started thinking about producers.”

Pierre said Hoppus was more about finding what it was that made Motion City Soundtrack who they were and bringing that out, rather than putting his own Hoppus-standpoint on things. He also brought in creative ideas.

50 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

“We had this crazy song that was all over the place, like super bonkers,” Pierre said. “Then we had this other really cool song that had a drum part with a recycled guitar part of Josh’s from an old 7-inch that we had. Mark was like, ‘Hey, why don’t you just vary these two ideas together and then just add this pretty thing to it.’ We did that and that song ended up becoming ‘Time Turned Fragile.’ That was just one of the many cool things he did.”

Before the band entered the studio and embarked on the European tour with Blink, they were writing songs for Commit This To Memory in their hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an extremely cold winter in 2004. It was also during this time that Pierre was struggling with an alcohol problem. The album consists of songs Pierre wrote lyrically while intoxicated and also when he became sober.

The musician knew he had to get help.

“It was more like, I was a mess when we were writing songs and then at some point it got to be overwhelming and something needed to be done,” Pierre said. “I flew to California and stayed with the owners of Epitaph and they helped me through it for a couple weeks and then I was pretty much sober for nine months, but that was the first time where I tried to get it sorted out. I was just going to an Alcoholic’s Anonymous meeting each day and at that point

E R A E R A U O Y L “AL T A H T S G N I H T THE ” R E B M E M E R U YO

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 51

it was very helpful just to be surrounded by other [people] who were going through the same shit. I think I got more out of it by just hanging out or having dinner or having conversations about anything other than being sober with good people that I met. It was just something that I was going through.”

After the album was completed, the band still needed artwork and the line, “All we are, are memories,” was still floating in Pierre’s mind. While it’s a lyric in the song, “Time Turned Fragile,” it served another in-depth purpose.

“Once we had the album and had the songs, I think we did a good job for the most part in thinking about what it represented,” Pierre said. “It’s the ideas in your head. All you are are the things that you remember and when you die that’s what people will have of you. All of the things going on in their brain, we just liked that. If you looked at all of the artwork from us, it’s where we were at the time.”

Now, ten years after its release and the addition of drummer Claudio Rivera, Motion City Soundtrack is performing the album in its entirety to fans across the U.S. Pierre said he’s surprised about the amount of people attending the shows.

“There’s a lot of people coming out to these shows and we’ve had a lot of sold out shows which is really nice,” Pierre said.

“We typically go into shows expecting nothing and then are pleasantly surprised. It’s a weird thing. It just feels good.

52 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

I’m just the type of person that likes to set my expectations incredibly low so it’s always a positive outcome. It’s great.

We hoped that people would be interested and hoped that they would come, and so far they have.”

Motion City Soundtrack has released five full-length albums throughout its career, and has a new album expected to be released later this year. While the band continues to keep creating music, Commit This To Memory stands as the most defining moment in its career. Pierre understands the purpose and influence the album has on people’s lives, but he tries to make them understand another aspect.

“All of the messages that we get from people saying that we’ve helped them and I try to write back and tell them that we really had nothing to do with it,” Pierre said. “The important thing is that our music happened to be a catalyst of things, like the right place at the right time. They were there and open to something we said and then they went and did something. It’s important for me to let them know that and I understand what they’re saying. It feels really good that our music has helped many people but it’s important to me that they know they did it all themselves.”

PHOTOS: Jordan Fischels INTERVIEW & STORY: Geoff Burns

FUN FACTS ABOUT

1 2

The album stands as the very first record Mark Hoppus ever produced.

The album was the first time the same band members fully contributed from scratch, even though it was the band’s second full-length album. I Am The Movie took several years with several different people contributing.

3 The album was leaked before its release date in the winter of 2005. album is widely perceived as a winter album. It could be from the “Hold Me Down” music video and 4 The the New Year’s themes throughout the album.

5

During the recording of the album, the band rented a house in California to stay and record in over a span of six weeks. One night, the neighbors called the cops on the band and Mark Hoppus for being too loud late at night. The band was testing a drum piece outside to make a distorted clash sound.

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 53

54 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 55

TOUR ROUND UP

56 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

P PHOTO: Sam Polonsky

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 57

58 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

PHOTO: Sam Polonsky

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 59

60 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

PHOTO: Savana Ogburn

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 61

PHOTO: Heather Phillips

62 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 63

64 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

PHOTO: Heather Phillips

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 65

album

reviews ARTIST

Sleeping With Sirens ALBUM

Madness RATING

SOUNDS LIKE Pierce The Veil Woe, Is Me RECOMMENDED TRACKS “November” “The Strays”

TRACKS 1

Kick Me

2

Go Go Go

3

Gold

4

Save Me A Spark

5

Fly

6

The Strays

7

Left Alone

8

Better Off Dead

9

We Like It Loud

10

Heroine

11

November

12

Madness

13

Don’t Say Anything

RELEASE DATE March 17th, 2015

WEBSITE sleepingwithsirens.net

Sleeping With Sirens are well-versed with handling album releases, seeing as Madness, which releases on St. Patrick’s Day, is the band’s fourth studio album. The quintet, who conquered their fan’s hearts with their last record, Feel, have signed to Epitaph Records for the new album cycle and created something fresh and unique that truly marks a new generation of Sleeping With Sirens.

“Go Go Go,” “We Like It Loud” and “Kick Me” have already done their job of building up fan excitement, making Madness one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year so far. The album carries on with the likes of “Gold,” which takes a more gentle approach compared to the band’s usual style. “Fly” is the kind of track that will have listeners busting out moves on the dance floor!

“Better Off Dead” marks the midway point of the album with a surge of an almost pop punk style, followed by intricate and beautifully written tracks, “Heroine” and “November,” which start to lead toward the end of the record. Sleeping With Sirens’ versatility is what allows them to put out an album that can only be described as ‘face-melting,’ and the next minute release the softest of performances. It really is commendable.

As a whole, Madness presents a sound unlike anything we’ve heard from the band before. They’ve matured as musicians, taking what worked on Feel and Let’s Cheers To This and experimenting to create an album that they deem worthy of their new label debut — and what they’ve come up with is incredible. Each and every song has thoughtful lyrics, an impressive performance and a high level of production that makes it truly difficult to fault anything.

66 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

REVIEW: Madison Convey

ARTIST Bayside ALBUM Cult

(White Edition) Last year the band Bayside released their latest album, Cult. This year the band is re-releasing the album with four new tracks as Cult White Edition in honor of their 15th anniversary as a band. The album shows off the band’s ability to make music that is both melodically and lyrically intriguing.

Now with a few new tracks and coloration, the album expansion makes for a delightful treat for fans.

The four new songs on the album include recently released “Dancing Like an Idiot,” “Indiana,” a cover of the ’80s classic “Call Me” and an acoustic rendition of “Transitive Property.” “Dancing Like an Idiot” calls out music and pop culture’s role in dumbing down society over an aggressive melody to push along the songs blunt message. “Indiana” is probably least intriguing of the four extra tracks, but it features a catchy and melodic guitar lick that should encourage multiple replays. Bayside gives their signature twist to Blondie’s “Call Me.” The song makes for a fitting cover for the group. The band finishes off the extended album with a stripped down version of their track “Transitive Property.”

Originally a track that didn’t quite stand out, this version shows of the song’s softer and romantic melodies that make for a sweet finale.

RECOMMENDED TRACKS “Dancing Like an Idiot” & “Transitive Property (Park Slope Version)” REVIEW Annette Hansen

ARTIST James

Bay ALBUM Chaos And The Calm James Bay’s new album, Chaos And The Calm makes you want to jump in the car and just drive.

Crank up the volume, feel the thrum of the engine as the chorus swells, and let the music wash over you. No matter where the road takes you, you just can’t help but go.

Chaos And The Calm starts off strong with “Craving,” a song where you get the first glimpse of Bay’s rare, raspy voice and his bluesy, rock sound. The album, characterized by Bay’s killer vocals and his melodic, electric guitar riffs, is incredibly simple, but undeniably powerful in its simplicity.

The guy knows how to write a stellar hook. You’ll have any number of his choruses stuck in your head for a week after you listen through the album. While Chaos And The Calm has its upbeat anthems like “Get Out While You Can” and “Collide,” some of its best moments are the ballads.

Every true artist has his niche—something he can do better than anyone else. Bay can write a ballad that every other ballad can only aspire to be. There’s something about the way his melodies ebb and flow with lyrics like, “You’ll have to hurt for now, but next time there’s not doubt.”

Bay ends the album with a hauntingly hopeful song called “Incomplete,” where he lays his voice down bare with a hint of guitar to guide him. However, the album is anything but incomplete.

RECOMMENDED TRACKS “Let It Go” & “Collide” REVIEW Haley Buske

ARTIST Olly

Murs ALBUM Never Been Better British pop sensation Olly Murs has returned with another sugary-sweet album. Never Been Better is the fourth album by Murs, but unfortunately, it’s not much different than his last one, Right Place, Right Time. For the majority of the album, Murs plays it safe by sticking with his trademark piano-pop sound over strong synths, but songs such as “Ready for Love” and “Up” showcase an acoustic indiepop sound that make the listener nostalgic for summer road trips and warm weather.

Besides the album’s lack of creative evolution, it does a great job of being a well-rounded and fun pop album. Never Been Better offers a sound for everyone listening. The opening track, “Did You Miss Me,” is reminiscent of an ’80s pop song with heavy synths and a prominent keyboard line that will make the listener feel like they’re in an episode of “Saved by the Bell” while “Beautiful to Me” has a summertime country-esque hint to it. Murs also hits the nail on head on tracks “Wrapped Up” and “Up,” featuring artists such as Travie McCoy and Demi Lovato. Overall, Never Been Better is a fantastically fun album and one that you will be playing all summer long, belting out the lyrics in the car with the windows down.

RECOMMENDED TRACKS “Ready For Love” & “Up” REVIEW Ally Fisher

HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 67

68 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET