Issue #39

ISSUE 39

HIGHLIGHT

MAGAZINE

T H E M E NZIN GER S – B LI T Z KI DS – JUDAH & TH E L ION – G L AS S AN IM AL S & MO R E

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editor-in-chief jenn stookey

IGHLIGH

co-founder – art director cara bahniuk co-founder – photo editor ashley osborn managing editor jessica klinner online editor nick yacovazzi copy editor courtney dondelinger digital marketing manager olivia adams co-founder – legal – finance mckenzie hughes contributing photographers

cara bahniuk, demi cambridge, jordan fischels, charlie martel, natalie montaner, 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, ally fisher, trevor figge, patrick filibin, annette hansen, jessica klinner, zoe marquedant, bridjet mendyuck, theresa pham, alyssa schmidt, catie suliga, 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 kodaline, meghan kehoe, rca records, columbia records, hi res pr, epitaph records, stunt company, red bull records, brixton agency, earshot media, tell all your friends pr, big hassle, fueled by ramen, our amazing staff of writers and photographers, and our readers!

_________________________ 06 kodaline cara bahniuk

07 glass animals aliya naumof

blitz kids nicole fara silver

judah & the lion sam polonsky

turnover demi cambridge

erik hassle charlie martel

alvvays sam polonsky

the menzingers charlie martel HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 3

may 05 this or that 08 clothing highlight 11 label highlight 12 venue highlight 14 highlighted artists 15 film highlight 16 turnover 18 erik hassle 20 the menzingers 24 blitz kids 28 judah & the lion 32 glass animals 38 kodaline 46 tour round up secrets the devil wears prada james bay marc scibilia alvvays 58 reviews

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THIS

OR

THAT

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE

33%

67%

KATE NASH

THE BLACK KEYS

33%

67%

MODEST MOUSE

100%

0%

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KODALINE 38

BLITZ KIDS 24

TURNOVER 16

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TOUR ROUND UP 46

32 GLASS ANIMALS

28 JUDAH & THE LION

18 ERIK HASSLE

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20 THE MENZINGERS

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STAFF Charlie O’Halloran (Co-Owner/Designer) & Jason Dawson (Co-Owner) LOCATION UK

BL AMELIFE. C O. U K WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND BLAME LIFE? Blame Life was founded by two friends looking to make a name in the alternative scene. With a history of playing in bands and going to gigs, we would be surrounded by crowds of people wearing printed t-shirts, beanies and hoodies. They were staples of the rock and skate scene and nothing was cooler than seeing complete strangers wearing our band’s merch. But when our rockstar dreams came to an end we wanted to continue to be part of something to be proud of. Blame Life grew from our bedrooms with just two printed t-shirts on sale, soon developing into the store you see today. Before we knew it, we were not just selling to our friends, as orders started to come in from Australia to America and everywhere in-between. The clean and modern designs perfect for the urban look have become popular within the skate and alternative rock scene across the world.

So much so we are now working alongside bands with our clothing being worn by the likes of Neck Deep, Breathe In The Silence and more. Our passion drives us to deliver bigger and better every time we release new products, so expect a lot to come from us very soon.

WHY DID YOU START YOUR BRAND? Graphic design and all kinds of visual art has always been a great passion. We were sick of seeing companies lazily plastering a brand name across a t-shirt and printing hundreds of unloved products just to make a quick buck. Not us, our passion shows strong with everything we spend our time working hard on each and every day. We have done our own photoshoots, built our own website from the ground up and even modelled the products ourselves because of our determination to create some special.

THREE PERSONAL FAVORITE DESIGNS? ARROWS T-SHIRT We’re proud of this big, bold print and it seems everyone else loved it too. Get your hands on our best seller before it is gone for good!

KEYS T-SHIRT The humble plain black t-shirt should be a feature in everyone’s wardrobe, but why not spice it up with a clean bold chest logo? This one is for those who like to keep it simple.

DIAMONDBACK T-SHIRT This is our favourite design here at Blame Life. You need to look good from the back too, right?

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE CHECK OUT YOUR BRAND? From the Blame Life label sewn into the neck, to the British printed products, we ensure quality with all that we do.

Everything we put the Blame Life name on is something we are proud to call our own and offer to the world. We provide affordable, quality urban clothing fresh off the streets of the UK. We like things unique (quality over quantity) so most of the current designs are limited edition and unlikely to be reprinted again so grab them before they’re gone for good!

We have t-shirts, beanies and big plans for the future … f /blamelife | t @blamelifeuk i @blamelife | o blamelifeofficial

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YOU MAY WANT TO LISTEN TO...

Mom + Pop is an independent label located in New York City. It was started in 2008 by industry and record label vet Michael Goldstein in partnership with Cliff Burnstein and Peter Mensch, owners of Q Prime. Since its inception, the label has grown tremendously and many successful artists have called Mom + Pop home including Metric, Neon Indian, Ingrid Michaelson, Flume and countless others.

COURTNEY BARNETT This Melbourne, Australia native has been releasing music as a singer-songwriter for the last few years and is known for her sense of humor, witty lyrics and unique vocal style. Even with her own label, Milk!, Barnett released her debut record, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, and last year’s The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas internationally through Mom + Pop.

Listen to: ”Pedestrian At Best”

FIDLAR FIDLAR, an acronym for the skate mantra “Fuck It Dog, Life’s A Risk,” are a four-piece garage punk band from Los Angeles. They released their debut self-titled record in 2013, in the U.S., U.K. and Canada, and have been touring relentlessly. FIDLAR have a heavy punk sound that has been featured in Grand Theft Auto V and shows like The Vampire Diaries and MTV’s Finding Carter.

Listen to: ”Cheap Beer”

SLEIGH BELLS Sleigh Bells are a noise-pop duo based out of the same city as the label they are signed to. The group, consisting of vocalist Alexis Krauss and guitarist Derek E. Miller had both played in other musical endeavors previously when Sleigh Bells came together in 2008. Since then, they have released three records.

Listen to: ”That Did It” (Feat. Tink)

WORDS: Jennifer Boylen

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VENUE HIGHLIGHT THE RYMAN AUDITORIUM - NASHVILLE, TN

HISTORY Elvis Presley. Charlie Chaplin. Coldplay. Harry Houdini. Aretha Franklin. Taylor Swift. Johnny Cash. Just about everyone in showbiz has performed at the Ryman Auditorium over the century that it has been open. As one of the oldest and most iconic venues in the South, often referred to as the “Carnegie Hall of the South,” this old church turned auditorium has a special home in the hearts of performers. Originally built in 1892 as a house of worship by Thomas G. Ryman, the Ryman could only stay a hidden gem for so long. Soon after its construction, touring groups began requesting the church to host performances.

Once the performances started, they never really stopped. The Ryman has had a long and illustrious history, capturing the hearts of musicians and audience members alike.

WHY PLAY HERE? The Ryman Auditorium is full of stories. With the footsteps of the legends still echoing in the halls, it is a special experience for everyone from the musicians to the audience members. There isn’t a bad seat in the house at the Ryman, creating incredibly intimate and unique shows. Each night captures an experience distinctly its own. Known for its incredible acoustics, it’s a tradition for an artist to perform one song completely acoustic or A capella for the audience of almost 1,300 people. Named Pollstar’s “Theatre of the Year” four times in a row, the Ryman Auditorium is a landmark for musicians touring through Nashville.

t /TheRyman f /TheRymanAuditorium

WWW

ryman.com

MAY 6TH

MAY 11TH

MAY 23RD

MAY 27TH

Lord Huron

Tame Impala

“Weird Al” Yankovic

The Tallest Man on Earth

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REVIEW: Haley Buske

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HIGHLIGHTED

ARTISTS EVA UNIVERSE

Location: Los Angeles Current Single: “Trapped” Rising pop-star Eva Universe may just take over the world.

From a young age Eva always had an unstoppable passion for dancing and performing. She joined the internationally recognized and largest touring event embracing Urban Dance and Youth Lifestyle; World of Dance. Eva performed on the 2012 fourteen market summer tour with World of Dance performing in cities like San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. Since then, she has gone on to perform with stars such as Nas, Alicia Keys, The Wanted and Havana Brown, and earned a spot at #9 on Billboard’s dance charts with her track “Body On Mine.”

SATELLITE SKY Location: Los Angeles Current Single: “Next Time” Members: Kim Kicks – Drums & Pete Kicks – Guitar Heads up! LA’s Satellite Sky is crashing to Earth, and this rock outfit’s punk riffs pack a hit. The appropriately named sibling duo of Kim and Pete Kicks is definitely on their way to some breakout hits.

POMPEYA Location: Moscow Current Single: “Liar” Members: Daniil Brod – Vocals, Denis Agafonov – Bass, Alexander Lipsky – Keyboards & Dmitry Vinnikov – Drums From one of the coldest countries on Earth, Pompeya is red hot.

Hailing all the way from Moscow, Pompeya has dazzled the pop-rock scene both at home and abroad. With catchy keys and soulful riffs, the pop outfit is reminiscent to those iconic 80’s tunes.

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WORDS: Nick Yacovazzi

HIGHLIGHTED

FILMS

MIRAGE

There have been few characters in recent television history as captivating as Don Draper. The charming, boozing, womanizing, lying but ultimately brilliant ad man, played

by Jon Hamm, sits at the helm of the AMC series, Mad Men. The show has enjoyed tremendous success since its premiere in 2007, winning amongst other things four Golden Globes and a staggering 15 Emmys.

Almost a decade after it began, the show is finally drawing to a close. To celebrate its last run, cities around the world have scheduled viewing parties, installed museum exhibits, erected statues and hosted film screenings. In honor of the show’s creator Matt Weiner, Brooklyn’s BAMcinématek ran “Mad Men at the Movies,” a series of films that inspired Weiner in his creation of Mad Men. This included How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, The Lost Weekend and Mirage.

The latter was described by the theatre as a “byzantine thriller ooz[ing] atomic-age paranoia and shadowy noir atmosphere.” By those words alone, you wouldn’t think that the 1965 drama played a key role in the roughing out of Don Draper. Even after watching the trailer, viewers may not immediately see the similarities. The movie’s main character David Stillwell, played by the dashing Gregory Peck, resembles Draper in a vague sense, but the plot and atmosphere of the film are both more feverish and disjointed than the exactitude of Mad Men. However, after seeing the film and mediating on its key characteristics, the likeness is uncanny.

Of course, the path from one to the other was not as linear as Weiner seeing Mirage one day and writing Mad Men the next. It went through different iterations first. The show that viewers now know as Mad Men began as a character in an unfinished screenplay called The Horseshoe. The idea at the core of that story was that of a man with an assumed identity.

This would grow to become the mystery that is Don Draper.

From those initial thoughts and that character, Weiner grew the microcosm that is the series. According to Weiner, he saw the film as a child while home sick from school, but didn’t realize until years later how much of a profound effect it had on him. At the BAM, Weiner elaborated on some of the more obvious parallels— the bustling shots of a busy office, the time period, the man with the mysterious past. He also drew attention to a less glaring connection between the two works— the use of stairwells.

In the film’s opening scene, Stillwell finds himself somewhere around the twentieth floor of an office building during a blackout. He descends several dozen floors in the dark with just a flashlight, eventually bumping into a young woman played by Diane Baker. The ominous, chance meeting sets off a chain of events that form the main conflict of the film. The encounter resembles the seventh episode of Mad Men’s premier season, “Red in the Face,” in which Draper along with his boss and drinking buddy Roger Sterling are forced to climb the stairs up to their office on the twenty-third floor due to elevator maintenance. Weiner explained how he channeled the sense of foreboding in that scene into the episode.

With the kernels he provided, it became increasingly clear how similar the two films are. Mirage is albeit the stranger of the two that is only matched in its erratic nature by the Mad Men episode “Mystery Date,” which Draper spends hallucinating while debilitated by a high fever. If you can acclimatize to the Hitchcockian thriller, it is an fantastic Easter egg hunt of a film for fans of the series that makes the viewer want to re-watch Mad Men and play close attention to every moment spent in a stairwell.

REVIEW: Zoe Marquedant

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HOME: Virginia Beach, Virginia NOW JAMMING: Peripheral Vision CURRENTLY: Gearing up for a tour with Fireworks 16 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

WHEN VIRGINIA’S EMO/POP

punk band Turnover released their self-titled EP in 2011, many people thought the band was just another pop punk act on the rise. A few years later in 2013 with their fulllength debut album, Magnolia, the band still kept its musical roots but began to step toward a more serious sound.

“Some of the songs that are on Magnolia we started writing those when we were in high school,” bassist Danny Dempsey said. “We were all in this crazy place and a lot of changes happened to our band. Two of our guitar players got kicked out of the band and we were trying out new guitarists. Now I think it’s more established where we’re more mature and all in our 20s and not kids anymore.”

And a more established sound is exactly what Turnover strived for with their recently released second album, Peripheral Vision. The songs for the album were written before the band’s EP, Blue Dream, was released in 2014, which made the wait for the album’s release that much more painful.

“The songs were there for so long, it was like everything was at a halt and it sucked,” Dempsey said. “It paid in the long run because we spent so much time and effort writing this record and I think it shows that we’re more mature and we weren’t just going into the studio with the first draft a song and working it out there. Everything was completely done a month before the studio. We knew what we wanted to sound like and that was a big change for us.”

“If you listen to our band you kind of know that we don’t write toward what we think we’re supposed to do,” Dempsey said. “Every record sounds different. There was definitely a thing that we’re like, ‘Ok, people that like our EP with fast pop punk songs probably aren’t going to like this’ and that sucks, but that doesn’t matter because we play for what makes us happy and just hope that people are happy with us.”

After recently finishing a tour with New Found Glory, the band has plans of embarking on a tour with Fireworks later this month. Dempsey explained that the band wants to tour out of the realm from what they’re used to because of the indie rock vibe from the record and how it is so different from their previous releases.

“I know for myself I feel it means that this record is something new for us and something we’ve waned to do for a long time,” Dempsey said. “It’s always been there for us but it was never something we were going for 100 percent, but now it’s like we don’t care. From our EP, it’s a million miles away and even Magnolia it’s pretty different. That vision has always been there, but it’s never been the main focus and now it is.”

PHOTO: Demi Cambridge INTERVIEW & STORY: Geoff Burns

But the 1980s sound and indie rock path Peripheral Vision takes is something the guys in Turnover have wanted to do for the past several years. The group wanted to create something that was similar to the soundings of bands such as The Cure, Bloc Party, Real Estate and The National and wanted to stray away from the stage diving element Turnover grew up in.

Turnover also has a bigger following now than they once had. Dempsey said his own personal feelings toward the band have changed throughout the years by not taking it for granted.

“Now we know we have a voice and we know that we have a following and we want to do something that will make us and our families really proud,” Dempsey said. “It’s not a thing where it’s like, ‘Ok, let’s just do this.’ It’s more like we want to do this and we’re really happy.”

Dempsey prides himself on the fact that Turnover has always released music that is different from each of their previous EPs and full-length. However, during the making of each release, the band just wanted to create something that made them happy.

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FA I RY TA L E S , D R E A M S & MOMENTS WITH ERIK HASSLE PHOTO: Cara Bahniuk INTERVIEWER: Jenn Stookey WORDS: Jessica Klinner

HOME: Stockholm, Sweden NOW JAMMING: “No Words” CURRENTLY: Preparing for a hometown show in Stockholm

ONCE UPON A TIME IN A LAND

far, far away, a Swedish boy began a journey to achieve his dreams of being a popular artist. Later on, this boy would grow up to move all the way from Stockholm, Sweden to Los Angeles, tour with The Broods and Twin Shadows and even dance around a kitchen for a music video. Erik Hassle has made some major strides from humble beginnings, but his ever-present drive and passion for his work makes him all the more deserving of his achievements.

Hassle is originally from a small village two hours away from Stockholm. “We lived in a small village with only six people,” Hassle said. Despite the small town start Hassle’s family has always been passionate about entertainment. In fact, his mom was a professional theatre actress, and they had their own music venue.

“We had a wood barn, kind of, that wasn’t used for anything. They made that wood barn into a venue and had the village come down every week into the summer and that was what we wanted, to start playing music as well. To be able make some extra money down there,” Hassle said.

Despite the difference, Hassle has always loved and been influenced by aspects of American culture. “Creedence Clearwater Revival was the first ever soul music or rock music that I fell instantly in love with,” Hassle recalled.

“We found a Creedence album and started playing it… and then we started playing music after that. We were 12 or something.” He also mentioned that they didn’t limit themselves to just that style of music, “We also found some Motown stuff in there.”

From there, he worked on defining his writing process only to find that there wasn’t really one specific way to do it. “I kind of follow pretty much wherever my inspiration goes, but I don’t really have a specific formula when I’m writing.”

Allowing himself to have that creative freedom really worked, especially considering that he wrote Shakira’s song, “Can’t Remember to Forget You,” which featured Rihanna on the track. “When a song is done, you usually say it’s about this or this, or good with a certain person or artist’s voice or whatever.” Not to say that he wasn’t excited when the two recorded the song seeing as how Hassle would love to work with Jay-Z’s protégé. When asked who his dream collaborators would be, Rihanna was his first answer.

Whether he’s writing his own material or someone else’s, Hassle said he’s learned to enjoy writing more and more over time. He’s worked with various co-writers and moved to Los Angeles to expand his talents meanwhile enjoying

other benefits of the trade. “I’m like, ‘Wow!’ All these songs were about me, without me really knowing this. It turned into something very natural to create and almost therapeutic in a way, to get things off your chest.” He added, “From there on, it feels like I’m just there, loving music and I’m needed and I love being around music most of the time.”

This theme carries over into his touring, which seems to be his favorite part about being a musician. “It’s like being in a fairytale in touring in America. I haven’t toured that much actually in the last three years. I’ve been writing mostly, so this is my second tour…I like this life a lot, just constantly moving actually.”

He continued to tell his touring tales.

“I think it’s good for me to move around a lot. I stay focused better. I love it and then touring America, for everybody that is invested in American culture in any way, for us growing up in Sweden, we just eased into American culture, in television shows and film and music. It’s kind of magic for us, for me.”

He explained that he was most excited to visit New Orleans and Detroit. “It’s like all my childhood soul stars came out of there, so I just want to go there and see what the magic is.”

Hassle is one of the lucky people who truly loves everything about his job. When asked about the highlight of his career, he had a simple answer: “I would say right now, actually.

I really feel like I’ve got my feet on the ground and know what I’m doing and I’m really enjoying it. All parts of it. I’ve met so many great people and I still have the same great people around me that I’ve had all the time but I’m on a good track right now, and it’s a special time for all of us.”

With a funky and fun new single on the airwaves and a bright future in sunny Los Angeles, Erik is living his life and his dreams on his terms. He has the passion and drive for his work that makes people reach huge levels of success so it’s only a matter of time before we see him take over the world.

PHOTOS: Charlie Martel INTERVIEW & STORY: Bailey Zeigler

Since this interivew, Erik and his team were involved in a bus accident - luckily no one was hurt. Glad you’re okay!

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HOME: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOW JAMMING: “Where Your Heartache Exists” CURRENTLY: Preparing for tour later this month Pennsylvania punk rockers The Menzingers have been working towards building their musical career for the last eight years. Recently, it seems their hard work is beginning to pay off. Since debuting on Epitaph Records with their 2012 album, On the Impossible Past, the band has been met with critical acclaim and numerous ravings from punk rock fans. We got the chance to talk with co-vocalist and guitarist Tom May about the band’s experience in the music industry and what they’ve learned from their journey.

You guys are a band that has been around since at least 2007 and has seen the rise and fall and rise again of punk/emo music in the alternative scene. How did you push through the ups and downs of the music industry, and how has that shift affected you personally as musicians?

I wouldn’t say that between now and then there was a quantifiable “rise and fall and rise again” of punk and emo music in the alternative scene. That isn’t to say that trends and micro trends don’t come and go. Seeing these things come and go has taught us at least two important things: Enjoy the ride while it lasts ‘cause any minute people could stop giving a fuck, and don’t frame your songwriting and aesthetic with frivolous trends just because they are popular. The latter is usually a no-brainer in any truly rewarding creative endeavor, but it has really been driven home watching the rise and fall of some bands. Luckily for us, we’ve had a nice even rise in popularity, gaining the type of fans that seem to generally identify with us and enjoy what we do.

How much do you feel like the industry has changed since starting out? What are some of the positive and negatives that you’ve seen?

How have they helped or hurt you as a band?

It has changed a lot. We watched the sun gradually set on musicians relying on record sales as their primary source of income. People don’t buy records. They download them for free. People subscribe to streaming services, and those don’t pay well for your average independent musician. Luckily, we came about during and after the decline of record sales so we never relied on it. We did however witness how it affected bands that have been around longer.

Really technological advancements have been the largest force for driving change in our experience. New instruments, more accessible recording technology, social media and the internet for promotion and contacting, illegal downloading, legal downloading, and countless other applications have drastically changed the industry since we started this whacky journey. Social media, that actually 22 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

might be the biggest change-maker. It goes back to your first question about trends. Bands can blow up overnight, literally overnight—in 12 hours.

You guys have also talked about how you have noticed a change in your mindset when it comes to how you see the music industry as you have gotten older. How do you see it now verses how you saw when you were first starting out?

How has this different view point affected your approach of your career in the music industry?

Well, it was all so magical and mysterious and surprising when we started out. As we are getting older, it has become more and more of a reality— an existence almost. My friends all work in the music industry. Our entire lives are devoted to our music. It’s essentially our job. While it still holds a lot of the spectacular wonder that brought us to it in the first place, there are parts that are more like a job. But at the end of the day you are still working for yourself and that’s the best fucking party. Do it yourself.

Now that it has been nearly a year since you released Rented World, do you feel like you guys have changed even more in the last year?

We have— we’ve grown older. We’ve loved and lost and become wiser. I think we are really starting to find ourselves, our place in the world and how we affect the world. I personally am having the best time of my life.

As a band that is a bit more seasoned than several of the bigger names in the punk scene, where do you feel like you guys stand amongst the other bands that are part of the growing emo/punk revival? Do even think there is much of a revival happening?

No, I don’t think there is a revival happening. I think there is a younger and more vocal generation discovering themselves and music in ways that people always have been. They just have new vehicles to project themselves and

their interests and even socialize. The internet/social media often times create and distort things that don’t exist outside of social media and music journalism. I’m not taking a jab or even complaining. It’s an observation.

There is something more mature to your sound than I think most of us are used to hearing from current punk music. What do you attribute this maturity to? Was there a goal to sound more mature, or did you just find yourselves moving in that direction naturally?

Aw shucks! Well we’re older than a lot of current punk bands. We’ve seen a lot of the world. I think we have been able to keep our eyes and ears open and exist without building lame barriers around what we can and can’t do.

How do you hope to continue to evolve as a band? Do you ever want to experiment with a different sound outside the punk genre?

I love making electronic music in my own time. It’s so much fun. Just genuine no strings attached and rewarding fun.

Greg [Barnett] also writes some folk and americana music.

Joe [Godino] and Eric [Keen] have a wide-ranging spectrum of influences as well. I think that all of us coming together starts a curious fire. We’ll always be a punk band, we’ll always sound like a punk band, but that’s not to say we can’t have our fun.

on other people, or that absolute worst scape goat: a lack of my own ability or understanding. I was wallowing in my own nothingness. I wasn’t going anywhere. When I finally realized a lot of my problems were my own doing, everything changed. I feel our culture can be too coddling.

In reality, the world doesn’t owe you anything. In reality, the world doesn’t care. When you learn to help yourself, you gain the confidence and understanding to improve your life. People are also a lot more willing to help someone who helps themselves and I certainly noticed that.

What is the ‘highlight’ of your career so far?

There are so many. Probably headlining Webster Hall in NYC in front of a buttload of fans, family and friends.

What is the one dream the moment at which point either personally or collectively you would be able to say yes I’ve achieved this, I’m living my dreams?

Probably when our record label paid for us to fly to L.A. That was ridiculous.

PHOTOS: Jessica Flynn INTERVIEW & STORY: Annette Hansen

What would you say has been the most difficult part of your career for you all personally and collectively?

When we first started out as a band, we had no idea what we were getting into by trying to go for it. That first part of our career when we had no money, lived in a terrible neighborhood, and had a completely uncertain future was very difficult. However, it didn’t lack in romanticism and fun. It was kind of a blessing in disguise. I look back at that time as some of the best in my life. Personally, I had some issues with mental illness when I was about 20. It was a very trying time, and it was the worst time of my life.

How did you, or do you continue to, overcome these struggles?

I overcame and continue to overcome those issues by straight up trying, every day. Practicing mindfulness and meditation and cutting bad people out of my life have been so instrumental. I think there are two instrumental aspects of themselves that people often overlook on their paths to a positive and fulfilling life. One of those things is diet and hydration. Eating better and drinking a lot of water both have revolutionized my life. The other important aspect is personal responsibility. I used to feel sorry for myself and blame my problems on things that were out of my control, HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 23

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HOME: Nantwich, England NOW JAMMING: “Keep Swinging” CURRENTLY: On tour with Young Guns

AFTER TWO MEMBERS LEFT THE band in 2012, singer Joey James didn’t think Blitz Kids were going to make it. After releasing their EP, Never Die, the group went on a headlining tour for what James thought was their last hoorah.

“We didn’t have a record label. We didn’t have any backing or support,” James says. “We were ready to give up, but we went on one last headlining tour. We played a few shows, and the fans that came out were so passionate.

They loved our music so much. We felt like we owed it to them to give them one last release, one last shot.”

The EP’s single, “Never Die,” is derived from the band’s signature saying: “Blitz Kids never die.”

“It was our belief that no matter what happens in the band, our only goal was to make music that made a mark on the world— to leave something that we would be remembered for,” James explains. The quote stands true as the band is far from dead. Their latest album, The Good Youth, was released in 2014, and the group has been busy to say the least. After playing countless shows and festivals in the U.K., Europe and America, James says the band is resting before their upcoming tour with Young Guns.

“Last year we did 100 shows, which is quite a lot,” James says. “We’ve been a band now for four or five years, and we’ve just toured constantly.”

To top off a stellar year, the band is heading back into the studio soon to follow up their sophomore album, but this time it’s going to be more mature. While James says he got “quite personal with the last record,” he has bigger issues he wants to share lyrically. The record will still have a positive outlook, but it will feature less angsty heartbreaks and more important issues.

“I can’t believe we have sexism and homophobia and racism,” James says. “I can’t believe in this day and age it’s still at the forefront in the news and media. [The record is] not going to be a [blast] towards the government. The things that worry me are more serious issues.”

Blitz Kids’ last single off The Good Youth was “Keep Swinging,” which James said is one of the most meaningful songs off the record. In a day and age where music is essentially free, it takes a really good record to have fans hand over their cash to support a band. The constant struggle to make a living in a band is tough, but “Keep Swinging” is a “sort of therapy” for James.

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“I’m still struggling; I’m still growing,” James says. “We relate it to [our band] as no matter how down we get or how exhausted we get, we keep touring relentlessly. When it feels like it’s not worth it or we want to give up, we have this song that we’ve written that keeps us going. I want people to resonate with that. You don’t fail until you give up.”

If that’s not a PSA on its own, the band’s song “Sometimes,” off The Good Youth, will be featured on the upcoming Guitar Hero video game, which was James’ dream. Yet, even with all of their success and charisma, James stays humble when it comes to moving forward.

“We’re going through a difficult time right now,” James explains. “Once an album is finished and it’s out there, we’ve got to follow-up with [another] album and make sure what we do next is great.”

Keeping that in mind, James says he, as well as the rest of the band, has written over 20 songs. The group is heading into the studio later this summer and aims to have the album released sometime next January. The Good Youth drew musical influences from all members, which “naturally comes through” when the group write together. Throwing in pop, metal and pop punk into the swing of making the album, the band made the record a variety of genres.

“I’ll be writing a song and I’ll follow where the melody takes me [or] where the lyrics take me,” James says. “When I was writing the chorus for ‘Keep Swinging’, the melody and lyrics didn’t really suit it because of the heavy instruments; it’s a more vocally charged song. When we were writing ‘Stole My Soul,’ it was apparent from the get-go that the chorus had to be massive. It had to sound like five or six different guitars fighting for the limelight.”

Thus far in their career, Blitz Kids show no sign of slowing down. James says the highlight of the band’s career was when the group was able to live out their dreams of playing on the second stage at the 2014 Download Festival in England. The members had been going to the festival for years and being able to play there was a dream come true.

“We opened that stage for the first time in our careers and that stage is massive,” James says. “Our families came down and it was a really special moment for us because we’ve been going to that festival for years. There were thousands of people there to see us play; it was really cool.

I’m glad we didn’t give up.”

PHOTOS: Nicole Fara Silver INTERVIEW & STORY: Bridjet Mendyuk

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HOME: Nashville, Tennessee NOW JAMMING: “Kickin’ da Leaves” CURRENTLY: On tour nationally & recording a new album

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“THIS IS THE SEASON WE’RE IN, and we’re just happy to be here,” explained Nate Zuercher, the bearded banjo player from Judah and the Lion.

Judah and the Lion, a folk-pop band from Nashville, Tenn., never presumed to be anything more than a casual jam band.

They were just three guys from very different backgrounds who happened to have a lot to say and a penchant for bluegrass.

However, when they started playing their music—it just spoke to people. It moved them. When music speaks, the audience can’t help but listen.

Four years ago Zuercher glanced down to see an unknown number flash across his cell phone screen. On the other end of the line lead singer Judah Akers quipped, “Hey, you probably don’t know me. I’m just a baseball playing jock on campus.”

Akers continued on to ask Zuercher if he wanted to bring his banjo over to jam for a bit on some songs Akers was writing at the time. It was the phone call that started it all.

Zuercher, a human teddy bear, felt the connection from the beginning when he, Akers and mandolin player Brian Macdonald first started casually jamming together in 2011.

“It’s really like a band of brothers who are all very different, who all have different opinions, but at the end of the day we really do care about each other. We have so much fun doing what we do, but we really do enjoy being around each other,” smiled Zeurcher.

Now, with two successful EPs, First Fruits and Sweet Tennessee, that broke onto the Billboard charts (No. 2 on “Bluegrass,” No. 9 on “Heatseekers” and No. 15 on “Folk”), a killer album called Kids These Days and two national tours under their belts—they still thrive off of the love of people and music that has driven them so far.

If there was only one characteristic allowed to describe Judah and the Lion, it would be passionate. They thrive off passion.

They pursue passion. They inspire a passionate life.

“If it isn’t fun, then why the heck are we doing it?” stated Zuercher, “We want to create an environment where people can leave their fears at the door, be themselves and let go of whatever reputation they’re trying to maintain.”

Judah and the Lion tears down borders and walls with their raw energy. Their concerts are essentially one big party with foot-stomping, knee-slapping and crazy dancing. As performers, they throw themselves whole-heartedly into their music. The band brings an infectious energy to the stage and invites the audience to join them in what can only be described as a celebration of life. This energy stems from a deeply personal, optimistic connection to the pursuit of truth in their lyrics, creating a certain level of sincerity in their music.

After each concert, the guys won’t be found hanging out backstage or packing up early. Instead at the end of the show, they are the ones who close down the venue. They immerse themselves in the lives and stories of their fans, creating longlasting relationships.

“At the core, we are about loving people well and taking care of each other,” stated Zuercher.

For them, the music is about connecting with people, sharing an experience and creating a memory. Often times, especially in the beginning of their touring career, they would stay with friends they made at their early shows. It’s a family affair.

While the young band has experienced incredible amounts of success in such a short time, the road they chose has never been the path of least resistance.

As somewhat of an anomaly in the music industry, Judah and the Lion is a band whose faith speaks without any emphasis on their faith. They aren’t a Christian band: They just happen to be Christians in a band. “It’s been a process. It really tests who you are. It’s weird trying to be yourself, yet appeal to someone who can get you a record deal,” mused Zuercher.

A few months back, they were denied a couple of gigs after promoters heard a set where they played a few more of their Christian-oriented songs. However, while frustrating, these setbacks have only made strengthened the band and helped them to stay true to their music.

“It’s taught us to let go of control, but to be very intentional,” said Zuercher.

As a young band in an overly saturated folk-pop music scene, Judah and the Lion is not even close to calling their sound a finished product or even the Judah and the Lion sound. After being compared often to Mumford and Sons in the early days, they began experimenting more with their sound. This is especially prevalent on their new album Kids These Days as a more electronic sound begins to emerge at the request of their new producer Dave Cobb.

“We weren’t really sure about it at first, but it really breathed new life into what we’re doing,” admitted Zuercher.

After the release of Kids These Days, the guys found new inspiration and are running with it. Currently on a small break from tour, they’ve already got a new album in the works. Their first, successful dabble in a more beat-driven sound promises to further define the band’s direction. Exactly how that will look is still up in the air. They are just taking it all in for now.

As Judah and the Lion continues to just breathe in the season that they’re in, a season of youth and spontaneous living, they find themselves in a unique position of knowing that where they are now is where they need to be. They aren’t too concerned about the future. They are a band that lives fully in the present.

As Zuercher put it best, “What we’re doing—this is why we’re here.”

PHOTOS: Sam Polonsky INTERVIEW & STORY: Haley Buske

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HOME: Oxford, England NOW JAMMING: Zaba CURRENTLY: Preparing for a US summer tour

ENTER ZABA, AN ALBUM

created by indie rock band Glass Animals; an album that consists of an unknown world waiting to be discovered; an album that none of the members thought would be possible just a few years ago, and yet they managed to make their television debut on the Late Show with David Letterman in February.

The four-piece band met while in school around the age of 13 in their hometown of Oxford, England. The only element of music mentality between the friends was heading out to a local show and just watching a band perform. The simple hint of an idea in starting a band happened after high school and in the midst of college when creating music seemed like it could become a reality. Sure, band members Drew MacFarlane and Edmund Irwin-Singer grew up playing piano and singing, and Dave Bayley played his guitar from time to time. But drummer Joe Seaward’s father bought him a drum kit when the musician was younger, and it was only played for about a year before it started to collect dust. The band started one day when Bayley asked his friends if they wanted to start a band.

“Dave started writing music in the middle of the night at school for just something to do because he was finding it difficult to sleep,” Seaward said. “To pass the time he started writing music. He came home one holiday and said to Drew and me that he had written these songs but didn’t know what to do with them. He asked if we wanted to be in a band and we said yes, not really thinking anything of it. It was not a very serious proposition really. That’s how it started really.”

After being away from music for a long period of time, the friends needed to get back into the routine of practicing and really getting to know their instruments.

After creating two songs, the band posted them on Myspace and the attraction from thousands of people started.

“Our inbox had been flooded by different kinds of music industry people that said, ‘Hey come play a show and we can check you out,’ and we were like ‘No! We don’t know who you are or your job.’ There were two songs on the Internet and we didn’t have a live show or artwork,” Seaward said.

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to create a world in which the music lived and the artwork that existed around it.”

In the moments leading up to writing their debut album, Zaba, none of the band members knew what they wanted the release to sound like. However, Seaward explained that they did have the idea of wanting to create a world in which the listener could jump into and enter an alternate universe that they could exist in while riding on the bus or walking to work.

Bayley was reading a lot of books like Apocalypse Now and Heart Of Darkness, which are about finding new places and exploring new landscapes.

Eventually, the persuasion from people won the battle, and Glass Animals ended up performing their first show at the Jericho Tavern in Oxford, which is the same venue where Radiohead played their first show as a band too.

“We played one show and then realized we might have to spend a lot more time getting better,” Seaward said.

Each of the friends went back and received college degrees, which then gave the songwriters the time they needed to start taking music serious. That time was spent writing songs and learning to play the instruments better. The idea of what they wanted to create was starting to become clearer.

“We wanted to try to create a world around the music and think about what it looked like to us and how to convey that to other listeners,” Seaward said. “We wanted

“[The album] was specifically supposed to be about how we were exploring this new world in trying to be in a band and coming across new problems all the time and different environments that we had to exist in, and the record is a reflection of that,” Seaward said. “Each song on the record is supposed to be a different chapter of this book, which is living inside of this world, known as Zaba. When we play it live, the idea is to try and bring some of that with us.”

The group prides itself on setting up palm trees on stage during their live set. If they can cause the listener to feel like they’ve entered into a new world at their show, then they have done their job.

“When you walk in the room we want you to feel like you’re not necessarily in the same music venue that you were last week,” Seaward said. “We try to slightly change the atmosphere so it feels like you’re in our world. It’s not a revolutionary idea, bringing some trees into a room, but hopefully it’s enough to make it feel slightly different.”

And now here they are, touring all of the way in the U.S. from the U.K., which already included a spot at Coachella.

For a band that didn’t even know how to play their own instruments just several years ago, they’re taking elements of story and music and blending both into what they now call Glass Animals.

“I feel very strongly that there are few forms of art that can change my mood and allow me to feel different things,” Seaward said. “One is music and the other are books. I feel like books add to the way I think and behave because they exist with me. They can take me places. I can be transported back to the place I first heard the song or a feeling I had when I first heard it. I feel like if anything we do can bring a feeling of excitement or happiness or escape or anything in the same way another artist has allowed me to feel, then that’s a really good and exciting thing.”

PHOTOS: Aliya Naumoff & Liam Cushing INTERVIEW & STORY: Geoff Burns

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HOME: Dublin, Ireland NOW JAMMING: “Honest” CURRENTLY: Headlining the Ones to Watch North American Tour presented by Skype

Just two years ago, Dublin alt-rock outfit, Kodaline, released their successful debut album, In a Perfect World, with hit singles “All I Want” and “Brand New Day.” “All I Want” landed a notable feature on The Fault In Our Stars movie soundtrack alongside big names like Charli XCX, Jake Bugg and Grouplove. The quartet made up of Stephen Garrigan (vocals), Mark Prendergast (guitar), Vinny May Jr. (drums) and Jason Boland (bass) released their sophomore full-length, Coming Up For Air in February.

When a debut album is so successful, it can be intimidating to come back with a follow up that will live up to the hype. The second time around, the writing process occurred so naturally for the band that initially they didn’t even realize that a second album was in the making.

“We kind of went into the second album in a really good place. It kind of crept up on us that we were even recording for an album. We were just having fun with it so we kind of avoided the pressure part,” said Garrigan. “We kind of felt more prepared making this record, I think. It was definitely a more exciting and more creative process this time around.”

Within eight weeks, Coming Up For Air was finished right before the New Year. A lot of songs on the new album are ones that had already been written and made a lasting impression, such as “Everything Works Out in the End” and “Human Again,” which resurfaced, were polished up and now have a home on the new record. There was a lot more free range for experimentation when creating this album compared to the last. “Autopilot” was written in a hotel room, where the band used makeshift instruments like cups and coins to create unique sounds.

The writing and recording process opened up several opportunities for collaboration with well-known celebrities and producers Jacknife Lee, Johnny McDaid of Snow Patrol, Courteney Cox, Jim Elliot and a brief demo session with Harry Styles.

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“We have only ever made recordings with the same two people for years and years. We started working with different people to see if there was any connection there,” Boland explained. “Jacknife kind of kick-started the album sessions because once we came back from the first Jacknife session we had two finished tracks.

Once you hear finished tracks and not demos, it just gets exciting.

We kicked into album mode then. Johnny was just a great person to work with; he’s a really incredibly talented writer and also Irish.

We managed to find all the Irish people in LA.” McDaid and his fiancé, Cox, have since become close friends with the band and have even invited them into their home, where the guys tried their best not to slip up any Friends jokes. Cox proposed the idea to direct their next music video, which will be at the couple’s home on the beach with the band and their girlfriends sometime this summer.

A short session with Harry Styles also took place while in LA. Styles attended one of their shows and wrote and recorded a demo with the band during one of their days off. “It’s basically the only time musicians get to have time off, is in the studio or away from people,” May said. “I think he has a free day coming up in like three years. It’s penciled in,” Boland joked. The demo with Styles was not used on the new album, but they are not opposed to working with him again in the future. However, they are interested in collaborating with artists outside of their genre such as Daft Punk, Jay Z and Action Bronson.

The lads are not ones to dwell on perfection and choose to let their creative energies flow authentically. In fact, a couple of songs appearing on Coming Up For Air were penned practically overnight. While in a tiny piano room in the studio, Garrigan wrote “Ready,” which will be the next single in the United States.

“He kind of disappeared and a half an hour later he came out with a song. We recorded it the next morning and it took about an hour and a half, so I think the whole life of the song is about 12 hours. It happens a lot and its cool,” Boland said.

“The One” was the result of severe procrastination after Garrigan waited until the night before friend and sound engineer Philip McGee’s wedding to write a song that was to be played at the ceremony, teaching it to Prendergast on guitar the next morning.

Despite the nerve-wracking experience of writing such an important song at the last minute, the band has proven that they work well under pressure because it has now become a single and is another one of the band’s prominent love ballads.

“The One” has been a charming element in the love story of another lucky couple. After partnering with a video company in the United Kingdom and recording vines for fans, an idea was conceived to contact fans and one couple in particular stuck out. A man who had met his girlfriend at a Kodaline show was going to be proposing, so the band partnered with Periscope

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to live-stream the event, which took place in a pub with them performing the ballad for the couple as apart of the man’s grand proposal. The super fans that received the private performance, Richie and Lizzie, even named their son Kodie after their favorite band. “It was an amazing experience to be apart of because we were as nervous as they were,” Boland recalled. The video was immediately covered by major broadcast stations in the U.K. and has since gone viral.

Kodaline has received a great deal of praise, but also fair amounts of criticism on Coming Up For Air with trivial complaints such as sounding too much like Coldplay. They admit that they do not like to dwell on album critiques, but do take the time to receive the constructive criticism of concert reviews, especially on their current Ones to Watch North American Tour presented by Skype.

“We look at live reviews because that’s something we do take very seriously. When it comes to critical reviews, it’s a piece of art that we’ve created, we believe in it and we think its great. Obviously not everybody is going to think that. I don’t think you have to beat yourself up by going through that,” Garrigan said.

“It’s one person’s opinion and you don’t know if they’ve had a bad day and we’re the last album of 50 that they’ve heard and they’re just like, ‘what is this nonsense?’ or they just don’t like us,” May added. “We’re not hurt. We don’t cry ourselves to sleep.”

Feedback on social media from fans who actually go out and buy their records are the only opinions that matter to them when it comes to responses after releasing new music.

They are the ones that make Kodaline’s career possible after all.

The guys recalled the most difficult period of their music careers as the several years leading up to getting signed.

“We kept getting our hopes up. We’d be like, ‘Oh we’re getting signed, we’re getting signed,’ [and] then we wouldn’t get signed. Whatever it was just kept us going and kept us driven to keep doing it,” Garrigan said. May chimed in that the hardest part of being a struggling musician was being “stuck working a shit job,” which for him was at a computer store. After graduating college and watching friends get 44 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

jobs, they also faced doubts from people when they told them their plans to become musicians and were not taken seriously.

Kodaline also had their fair share of playing in the bar scene several years ago before moving up to more respectable venues. “For me it was playing gigs in bars and people just shouting at you to play ‘Sweet Home Alabama.’ We were playing some of the songs on the first album, and they had never heard them and just completely ignored them,” Garrigan said. “We did that for about a year and a half. It was fun but it was really frustrating. It was a big eye opener for me.” Since getting signed, the band have not endured the same challenges as before and feel lucky to have had the fortuity to tour and play festivals.

On their current spring tour, they have gained a sense of appreciation in starting from the bottom, despite normal inconveniences such as having to change buses twice within the first couple weeks of being on the road. When revisiting venues, they often recognize some of the staff and are able to return with a sense of accomplishment being the headlining band. “It’s such a rewarding thing to walk back into a venue and recognize someone. We recognize some of the crew and it feels like it’s all going well,” Garrigan said.

“Before you’re the insignificant support band trying to stay out of their way. It’s that whole thing – be nice to the people on the way up because you’ll probably meet them on the way down as well,” Boland added.

Although they haven’t had any staggering moments where they have had the ability to say that they’ve “made it,” Kodaline hope that their following in North America will continue to flourish so that they can eventually return and play arena tours.

“We’re ambitious guys, but anything that could be success is just being able to do this for as long as possible,” Boland expressed. “If we can still have an interview with you ten years down the line, that would be a massive success.”

PHOTOS: Cara Bahniuk INTERVIEW & STORY: Haley Black

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TOUR ROUND UP

PHOTO: Charlie Martel

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P

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PHOTO: Charlie Martel

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PHOTO: Cara Bahniuk

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marc scibilia

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PHOTO: Cara Bahniuk

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PHOTO: Sam Polonsky

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album

reviews ARTIST

Mumford & Sons ALBUM

Wilder Mind RATING

SOUNDS LIKE Bon Iver The Lumineers Noah and the Whale RECOMMENDED TRACKS “Believe” “Wilder Mind”

TRACKS 1

Tompkins Square Park

2

Believe

3

The Wolf

4

Wilder Mind

5

Just Smoke

6

Monster

7

Snake Eyes

8

Broad-Shouldered Beasts

9

Cold Arms

10

Ditmas

11

Only Love

12

Hot Gates

RELEASE DATE May 4th, 2015

WEBSITE mumfordandsons.com

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It’s been a long wait for the return of Mumford and Sons. So long, in fact, they’ve changed their style of music almost completely with their third studio album, Wilder Mind.

It’s a little baffling to see this new, more modern side to the group. Though the direction is completely different from their previous to albums, does it still meet the same standards as Sigh No More and Babel?

This album was going to get flack for either changing the sound too much or not changing it enough. After creating so much success, it’s safe to say that Mumford and Sons have earned the right to do what they want musically. The dynamic shifts and the guitar solo in “Believe” are a solid indicator that their new approach with this release suits them.

Mumford and Sons have a reputation for being gifted performers, so having a more rock edge shows off their talents in areas where accordions can’t. Lead singer Marcus Mumford also has a great voice and lyrics to be successful in these areas. They are branching out like any good artist with a real passion for their work would do.

Older fans of the group can rejoice that one thing hasn’t changed: the lyrics and emotion of their songs. Though they backed off on some harmonies and Mumford isn’t screaming his heart out in the same way, you still feel the same intense energy throughout the album.

The lyrics are similar, but they could easily be replaced with names from the phone book, and I would still be captivated by the emotions of each word.

Overall, this band has made a return for the ages. They are really pushing themselves to show the world all they can do. Instead of sticking with the style that people parody so much that it made it feel gimmicky, they took a break and made an exciting return. What makes it even better is that they kept moving forward, instead of looking back, to reclaim their spots at the top.

REVIEW: Bailey Zeigler

ARTIST The

Early November ALBUM Imbue The Early November have survived 17 years in the music industry, and after recovering from a six-year hiatus, they managed to return more tightly knit than when they began. With every album, The Early November challenges and surpasses the success of the last, which has proved to be an impressive feat since the release of their highly praised debut album.

Deriving from Latin, “imbue” means to instill or inspire. Imbue proves to be a continuation of The Early November’s post-hiatus success as a follow-up to 2012’s In Currents. Mighty opening tracks “Narrow Mind” and “Better This Way” immediately establish what the album is all about, which is nothing short of hard-hitting rock-and-roll that avoids gimmicks and encompasses authenticity until the final track, “Nothing Lasts Forever.” Witty lyrics flow throughout, notably in “I Don’t Care,” with the brilliant line, “Hoping to wade through this emotional pesticide,” continuing with a striking chorus, “I don’t care about the scars I wear about so proud.” Each individual track is unyielding and momentous, creating a boisterous and lively spirit that will undoubtedly be a treat to hear in a live setting.

RECOMMENDED TRACKS “Better This Way” & “Magnolia” REVIEW Haley BLack

ARTIST Turnover ALBUM Peripheral

Vision It’s been a few years since Virginia’s Turnover released their debut album, Magnolia. Letting that album breathe was one of the band’s better decisions as they’ve become more established in their sound with their second release, Peripheral Vision, via Run For Cover Records.

The 11-song album abandons a few aspects of the band’s unique style of emo that Magnolia contained in favor of an ’80s-inspired sonic mentality, making the record that much more enjoyable.

Peripheral Vision sparks a new level of maturity and creativity for the band. The lyrics, like “It was always a dream just to know you/ Sometimes I find I can hardly speak your name,” in their track “Diazepam,” and “I know that I can make it out/ With you I know I’ll make it out alive,” in their track “Humming,” demonstrate the band’s professionally poetic lyrical charisma.

Turnover have come a long way since their 2011 pop-punk infused self-titled EP to Peripheral Vision, and it’s clear they have the talent and intelligence necessary to only continue to progress in their career.

RECOMMENDED TRACKS “Dizzy On The Comedown,” “Diazepam,” & “I Would Hate You If I Could” REVIEW Geoff Burns

ARTIST twenty

one pilots ALBUM Blurryface twenty one pilots’ new album, Blurryface, is an exhilarating rollercoaster for your ears and heart. The Columbus, Ohio based duo consisting of vocalist/keyboardist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun have done it again and further perfected their sweet blend of genres and raw unfiltered emotion.

The standout track on Blurryface is the final song on the album, “Goner.” The track opens with a melancholy piano line and Joseph repeatedly singing, “I’m a goner/ Somebody catch my breath/ I want to be known by you.” The song builds organically, exploding with one of Joseph’s distinct screams as the catalyst to a stunning cacophony of emotion. “Tear In My Heart” is also a favorite that is reminiscent of their 2013 release, Vessel.

Overall, Blurryface is polished, controlled and irresistible. The songs are robust and an eccentric marriage of innovation and ingenuity. Many of the songs on the album are much slower and more dramatic than previous releases, but the ever-changing nature of their music will satisfy any listener.

RECOMMENDED TRACKS “Tear In My Heart,” “The Judge” & “Goner” REVIEW Theresa Pham HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 57

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