KILLIN' IT ISSUE
1
//
 OCTOBER
2018
NOAH CYRUS EMILY
WEISBAND,
R.LUM.R, &
MORE
DANIELLA
MASON
Killin' It Mag ACACIA EVANS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF + HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Production Assistant Contributing Writer Contributing Writer Contributing Writer Contributing Photographer Contributing Photographer Contributing Photographer
KYLE SAMARITANO HAYLEY AUGUSTUS CLAUDIA CHRISTENSEN AMANDA JONES HUNTER BERRY REBECCA JOHNSON ALI MILLER
www.killinitmag.com @killinitmag
MAILING // CONTACT 501 5th Avenue South #207 Nashville, TN 37203 (615)788-0637 | acacia@killinitmag.com
Table of Contents KALIE SHORR
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#3
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7
DANIELLA MASON
NOAH CYRUS
EMILY WEISBAND
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23
15
R.LUM.R
REPUTATION TOUR/GALLERI ES
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23
KALIE SHORR
Words by Amanda Jones Photos by Ali Miller
Kalie Shorr is not your
Performing her very first
stereotypical country
single “Fight Like a Girl”
artist: getting her start at
at the Listening Room Cafe
13 when she formed a Nirvana
in Nashville, a girl in the
cover band, she embodies
audience heard the song and
power, strength and overall
knew it was something
badassery in a time where
special. This audience
women are often pushed to
member happened to be an
the backburner in her genre
intern at Serius XM The
(and in the music industry
Highway - bringing
overall). Rocking a slick
up Shorr’s song in one of
leather jacket, purple
her very first ever pitch
lipstick and a sharp winged
meetings. Before she knew
eyeliner, Shorr carries
it, her manager was getting
herself like a seasoned
a call asking if they could
veteran in the music
play the song on the radio
industry. Like
- changing Shorr’s life
Nirvana, Shorr tells story
forever and showing the
through song - something she
country world that she is
is very proud of and that is
here to stay. The powerful
important to her. Songs with
tune amassed her a strong,
meaning or that storytell
supportive following, that
can be hard to come by in a
would often share their
time where many songs on the
stories of how they “Fight
radio are filled with
like a Girl” - including
shallow lyrics and weak
the stories of cancer
backstories - Shorr stands
survivors, abuse survivors,
apart.
and more.
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“I knew my story, but it was a longer process trying to find what I wanted my story to sound like” - Shorr on her first EP Slingshot in 2016 - compared to her latest effort Alive - an EP that is 100% her and who she has wanted to be as an artist. Alive was such a special EP to her, that even if no one liked it (which they did - leading to a touring gig opening for Sara Evans and Raelynn), Shorr knew that she personally liked the EP and was proud of it, and at the end of the day that was all that mattered She would remain proud of it, no matter what. Shorr loves to sing about love and revenge but also about being a strong woman. Advocating for feminism, animal rights and gay rights, she’s using her platform to make an incredibly positive impact. Her new single is getting ready to drop and our pop/country hearts are exploding with excitement. Stay tuned to Shorr’s social media for the latest news/ single announcement coming soon.
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EMILY WEISBAND Words by Hayley Augustus Photos by Acacia Evans
“You can be a doctor who writes songs, but you can’t be a songwriter who’s a doctor.” - words from the father of Emily Weisband, pop songwriter who veered from her original plans of being a doctor, to become a professional (and hit) songwriter. Painting pictures with her songs, she tells stories through captivating lyrics and melodies that tug at the depths of your soul - a skill that is hard to come by in an industry often painted in shallow lyrics and beats that fade into the background. Bringing home various instruments one year at Christmas, Weisband’s father enchanted the then 10-year-old with a guitar, getting excited every time she learned a new chord. Fast forward to the end of high school, Weisband was accepted into the songwriting program at Belmont University in Nashville, TN - it was official: the pursuits of being a doctor were history, and it was time to develop her passion and talent for songwriting. Weisband was noticed by a publisher at a Belmont showcase (that a close friend had submitted her for) and was told to keep working and to come back around in a year. In that moment, a lightbulb went off for Weisband, “Oh, I can do this professionally,” she thought. She worked for the next year on her writing - that same publisher remembered Weisband, and asked her to come in and play some songs. Deciding that she wasn’t quite ready for a deal, she was set up with a songwriting internship with Belmont for school credit, and treated her as a staff writer.
From the time she first performed for the publisher, Weisband progressed with her writing skills, ultimately landing her the internship and eventually signing her deal with THiS Music Publishing during her junior year. The fit was so right and organic that she never even took a meeting with any other company. “I had been writing more, so they were tighter. They were just a little more well-written. I mean writing is just one of those things where the only way to get better at it is to do it. I just honed it in a little more.”
"I HAD BEEN WRITING MORE, SO THEY WERE TIGHTER. THEY WERE JUST A LITTLE MORE WELL-WRITTEN."
Weisband then began writing seriously for other artists to help communicate their stories. She looks at writing as a service industry - something that separates Weisband from the rest of the industry and that has put her on top (and the top of the charts, literally). Her strong faith in God has also led her to where she is now. Humble, talented, and filled to the brim with passion, Weisband has landed cuts with Keith Urban (her first ‘this is real’ type of moment - a song called “Getting In The Way” written about her parents), Lady Antebellum, Danielle Bradbery, and pop artists Camila Cabello and Noah Cyrus, just to name a few. “I have no idea how I’m here. I’m just going to show up, and I’m going to work hard. I’m going to treat people with integrity, and be kind. If I mess up, then I’m going to admit it and try to fix it the best I can. All I can do is point up,” she said. “My main thing is that I just want to write a great idea. You can’t go wrong with a great, human, idea… people can spot a faker from a mile away. I really want to connect with an artist as a human.” The idea of being an artist herself wasn’t something that was necessarily in the front of her mind, but after hearing one of Weisband’s demos, Mike Elizondo, A&R for Warner in LA/ writer and producer with top artists across every genre, blindly called up Weisband on a gut feeling and asked her to make a record with him in LA. He called her publishing company, and just a month later she was on a flight to the City of Angels, knocking on a stranger’s door with the protection of God.
Elizondo believed in her writing, and didn’t want to push the artist route on her if it wasn’t working. On and off for around eight or nine months, Emily wrote songs for herself, but nothing was jumping out as an ‘Emily song’. Nothing seemed to be authentic to who she was, thinking, “Any girl could sing this, I don’t want to do this for the wrong reasons,” on the songs she had been completing. Weisband returned to Nashville, still unsure of what she wanted to be do about potentially being an artist. This was during a time she calls her “dark year.” Weisband was making some poor decisions in the sexual/relationship department in combination with a little too much alcohol. She would wake up in the morning feeling ashamed and disgusted with herself. One morning she crawled into bed with her sister Anna and apologized for her behavior. “The only reason I am where I am right now is because I keep putting myself here. I don’t have to keep doing this to myself. I get to make the decision to not do this to myself anymore,” she thought. After that, Weisband called her friend Hannah and asked her to meet her at the publishing house so she could vocalize how she was feeling, the best form of therapy for her. They wrote the song “Things I’m Over.” She didn’t think anyone would cut it, so she stuck the voice memo in her email and went about her day.
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The next day, her sister Anna found the voice memo and had a moment of enlightenment. She knew this was the perfect song for Weisband’s artist career. Anna sent the song to Mike, and he too thought it was the perfect song for Emily. “No one’s ever going to cut it except for you. That’s an Emily song, Em,” she said. “Just keep going back to that place.” During Weisband’s dark year, she was paired in a write with Nicolle Gaylon and Amy Wadge after a rough night out. She got to the write and was literally asking God to help her find an excuse to leave. She heard the words “be a writer” and knew she had to stay. In tears, she presented the idea “loving you had consequences” that she had written down in her phone the night before. After writing the song, she demoed it on piano with her then boyfriend. Shortly after, she received a call from Wadge, telling her that she had played the song for her friend Ed Sheeran and that he thought it would be perfect for his friend Camila Cabello. That song is now “Consequences” off Cabello’s debut album Camila and her next radio single. “Nothing is ever about your shame. Nothing is ever about your brokenness. It’s about billions of other people who are experiencing it that can’t write about it,” said Weisband. With tons of hit songs under her belt in all genres and ones that she finally loves for herself, Weisband signed to Warner Music Group in LA to begin her artist journey. 2019 is going to be the year of Emily Weisband. Get ready.
NOAH CYRUS
Words + Photos by Acacia Evans
Being an 18-year-old is not easy. It’s
Good Cry is comprised of songs Cyrus
usually a time of heartbreak, self-
has written over the last year or so,
discovery, and mental breakdowns that a
stemming primarily from the break up
lot of people don’t talk openly about.
of a two year relationship where she
Singer Noah Cyrus is a bit different,
had lived with her now ex. She also
though. Following the success of her her
makes a powerful effort to normalize
hit singles “Make Me Cry,” “Stay
and humanize feelings of anxiety and
Together,” “My Way,” and now “Mad at
depression. Through this EP, Cyrus
You,” Cyrus just released her EP Good Cry
wanted her fans to have real insight
and started her first headlining tour of
into her life. “I’m a very open book,
the same name. She opened up for Katy Perry on her Witness Tour and has performed at several award shows, but it’s finally time for Cyrus to have things her way. “It feels like such an accomplishment to go from putting “Make Me Cry” out to having my own tour, and it’s really really surreal,” she said.
and I’m not a good communicator with talking. It sounds cliche, but I really do communicate through my songs a lot better than I do by talking. I think it’s important to talk about these things so people know they’re not abnormal for feeling a certain way,” said Cyrus.
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"It sounds cliche, but I really do communicate through my songs a lot better than I do by talking."
Cyrus has several popular songs where
Aside from mental health, Cyrus is
she has collaborated lyrically and
also a huge advocate for so many
vocally with artists who inspire her
other issues and causes. PETA is one
including MAX, Labrinth, Marshmello,
of the main organizations Cyrus has
and more. Good Cry features two
worked with where she fights against
collabs, one with Gallant on her
Seaworld, elephant abuse at the
current single “Mad at You” and the
circus, and the unethical dissection
second with singer/songwriter LP.
of animals in the classroom. She also
These collaborations typically come
stands up for women’s rights, gun
naturally, where either Cyrus will
violence, and the belief in climate
reach out to a friend who's an
change. “Gun violence is a huge huge
artist or her management will show
huge one. Women sticking up for women
her random music. Cyrus’ newest
is huge for me. I think a lot of
collaboration with LP came about via
girls are against girls and that
Facetime. She Facetimed LP while she
sucks. There’s so many men in ties
was driving and told her to listen to
telling us what to do all the time
the song, that is now “Punches,” and
and it’s just time for us to stick
LP was immediately down to record it.
together and stop slut shaming each other and calling each other out for
Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, Ben
shit,” said Cyrus.
Howard, Kanye West, and her family are also huge influences for Cyrus’
This is just the beginning for young
music. Though they might not all be
Noah Cyrus. She is prepping to
the same genre, it’s been
release the upcoming music video for
consistently clear throughout her
her latest single “Mad at You” that
releases that her sound isn’t solely
was just filmed along with
inspired by just one type of music.
collaborating with more brands,
“I look up to my dad so much as a
similarly to the exclusive 48 hour
musical influence, he’s my biggest
merchandise line she did with
inspiration whenever it comes to
PizzaSlime. Also make sure to catch
music. My family has inspired me so
her on the rest of The Good Cry Tour.
much and I’ve learned from all of them just because of my mom being my manager, my dad, Miley, Braison, everything like that. It’s a lot.”
R.LUM.R Words + Photos by Acacia Evans
Reggie Williams, also known as R.LUM.R, was raised listening to icons such as Anita Baker, Shaday, and George Benson. Benson is actually the reason he realized it was possible to sing and play guitar at the same time. Not only is he influenced by jazz and contemporary R&B, but he’s also inspired by bands like Bayside and Coheed and Cambria - Coheed being the band that made him want to pick up a guitar in the first place. Williams moved to Nashville, TN on December 1, 2015 after feeling that Florida wasn’t cutting it for him anymore.
He had been writing and producing for other artists under an alias, not really thinking he was going to be making anymore music for himself at that time. When he sent off what he had been working on to the artist it was intended for, they told Williams he should keep the songs for himself. They thought it sounded the most organic for him. He decided to take their advice and release his first single “Show Me” under the name R.LUM.R. His plan was to keep writing and releasing, playing it by ear and steadily putting more music out.
That didn’t go quite as planned. Williams was receiving calls from people everywhere, asking him if he had a manager, booking agent, label, etc. Everyone wanted a hand in what Williams had to offer. He ended up recording his next singles “Be Honest,” “Nothing New,” and “Tell Me” while signing a record deal. With this deal, he then released his first EP AFTERIMAGE followed by more stripped down editions in his next EP ALTERIMAGE, leaning back more on his classical roots.
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“The same guy who is getting the great Rolling Stone reviews is also a person who deals with ‘Am I Good enough?’ all the the time.”
Williams picked up more and more traction after the release of his single “Frustrated” in 2016 that landed him a Jimmy Kimmel Live performance and a spot on SiriusXM The Heat’s top 35 songs with some of the biggest R&B/Pop artists out there right now. Along with this came a growing popularity in the festival circuit, playing those highly sought-after night slots at festivals like “Bonnaroo” where Rolling Stone named him the “Most Grown-and-Sexy OpeningNight Act.” He specifically recalls opening up for Alessia Cara at Summerfest in Milwaukee in the summer of 2017. He looked out at the crowd of 6000-7000 people, realizing only one side of the crowd was interested in him while the other half couldn’t have cared less. It occurred to him right then and there that he needed to step up his performance game. He needed to figure out ways to appeal to a full audience when he wasn’t the primary person they were there to see. “You have to learn to play bigger,” said Williams.
Back in August, Williams released two singles, “Right Here” and “I Need To Know,” to speak about communication and identity. There are a lot of crazy things going on in the world right now in terms of social issues and acceptance that easily make a lot of people feel anxious, out of place and unwelcomed. He believes it’s important to create calm for yourself in those times, by consistently practicing empathy and routine. “The same guy who is getting the great Rolling Stone reviews is also a person who deals with ‘Am I Good enough?’ all the the time.” Williams wants to speak out about the theme of acceptance and awareness for people from all walks of life. Perspective and opinions are something he believes are usually formed by the way someone was raised, and that they are reversible as people grow older.
"Humans should be able to coexist and welcome other cultures without having to participate. I feel like I can draw easy parallels between LGBT issues with fair treatment and being accepted as being black in America. That even has parallels with being a woman. The number one thing we need to learn and a be a part of is empathy,” he said. Williams is currently working on new music to follow his latest single “With My Words” that dropped October 5th. He’s making a steady effort to be as raw as possible, rather than hide behind metaphors and complexity - something he may have learned during his times of learning classical music. Be sure to catch him on tour with Louis the Child, beginning on November 7th in Toronto.
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DANIELLA MASON Words + Photos by Acacia Evans
Pop singer and songwriter Daniella Mason always had the feeling she was capable of being an artist as a full time career, but struggled to find validity regarding whether or not she would be making a big enough impact. Mason grew up travelling the world because her parents were missionaries. She has memories before the age of 10 of living in vans, mountains, and even the jungles of Veracruz. She had been to at least 20 countries, but it wasn’t until her trip to Haiti where she felt that being an artist could actually be her truth. Mason and her family were working with very recent orphans. She was feeling inadequate and that she had nothing to offer, until the person running the orphanage found out she had a good singing voice and asked her to sing for the children. “Their faces just changed immediately and they became so joyful,” said Mason.
She then began writing songs at age 13, playing shows in her hometown of Dallas at 15, and made the move to Nashville at 18, where she was initially a theater major at Belmont University. Mason decided to change her major to Commercial Voice after realizing the community, networking circle, and fanbase she had created in Tennessee. Things really began picking up in 2013, though, with the release of her single “All I Want.” Mason had struggled in the past with finding a producer who was able to understand her fully, and wanted to ensure that this single was produced in a way that felt authentic to her. She sent it off to her friend who had never even produced before, and he sent back exactly what she was searching for.
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As Mason was finally releasing music that felt the most genuine to her, other artists started picking up on it and wanted her to help them communicate their stories more genuinely as well. The first artist to give her a shot at writing with them was her friend Nick Jonas. After hearing “All I Want,” Jonas had a feeling that Mason might be the one to guide him through his emotions musically and help him process through songwriting. Mason, along with her husband and producer, then went into a session with Jonas. “A lot of the songs I have with him end up being the most emotional ones I think because we are friends. I quickly realized I am a support beam,” said Mason in regards to Jonas. She was also asked to fly out to a writer retreat in Florida to write an album with Sarah Reeves, a Christian artist wanting to dive into pop.
"I WAS ABLE TO FACE MY FEAR HEADON" Mason is now working on releasing a huge series in conjunction with her most recent singles “Human” and “Public Places.” The project is called State of Mine, which will be a compilation of 4 EPs titled Emotional State, Mental State, Physical State, and Spiritual State. These EPs all seem to be representative of the human experience. Mason’s mother passed away of cancer when she was 19-years-old, contributing to deep wounds and anxiety that put her in “survival mode” for what it seems to be a majority of her 20s. She felt as though she was living a robot-like existence but didn’t want to open herself up too much in fear of losing power and hurting too deeply. A day came where Mason wasn’t able to distract herself from her emotions anymore, and she kept spirling down until she hit rock bottom. She realized that discovering the root of her anxiety would allow her to truly grow. “I was able to face my fear head-on,” said Mason. On top of working on her State of Mine series, Mason also takes the time to help mentor and develop young female musicians in the industry. She incorporates the trial and error she experienced herself in attempt to speed up the process for others. Don’t miss out on catching Mason’s Emotional State EP out on all platforms today
Noah Cyrus | by acacia evans
Daughtry | by Hunter Berry
G-eazy | by acacia Evans
cupcakke | by acacia Evans
taylor swift | by acacia evans
taylor swift | by acacia evans
The Reputation Tour By Claudia Christensen
On September 18th, Taylor Swift played in St. Louis for her Reputation Stadium Tour. Opening the 7 o’clock show, Charli XCX sported a sheer track suit and got the audience ready with her dynamic energy, playing some of her top hits, like "Boom Clap," "Fancy," and "Boys." The only time she stopped dancing across the stage, she took a moment to thank Swift for having her on the tour, noting how special it is for three, strong women to be on tour together. After closing her set, the room was filled with anticipation as Camila Cabello prepared to come on stage. Camila’s set began with a stunning performance of "Never Be the Same." Throughout the set, she had interspersed dance numbers where both she and her dancers performed together. She also paid her respects to Prince and Elvis Presley with short performances of "Kiss" and "Can’t Help Falling In Love." She sang the latter acapella before an incredibly moving moment where she sang her song "Consequences" along on the piano. Closing her set, she sang her #1 hit "Havana" in an almost skit-like spectacle with her dancers. Thanking the audience, she brought everyone to their feet to cheer for Swift. Known for her showmanship and out of this world tours, Taylor Swift’s Reputation Tour show was nothing short of spectacular. Between her multiple, extravagant outfit changes, beautifully filmed videos, and over the top, moving sets, there wasn’t a dull moment. Show-stopping performances of "…Ready For It?" and "I Did Something Bad" set the tone for the next two hours in St. Louis where the crowd would forget about time and the rest of the world. Playing songs from every single one of her six albums, nostalgia and joy especially filled the room as lifelong fans sang along to "Love Story," while the stadium was lit up pink by Swift’s show-synchronized wristbands. During the show, she took a moment to thank the audience for allowing her to experiment with her sound and sticking by her side as she has progressed as an artist and a person. Flying through the air on a glowing platform, she sang "Delicate" before welcoming Charli XCX and Camila back on stage for an electrifying performance of "Shake It Off." Swift also gave stripped down performances of "Dancing With Our Hands Tied" and "Hey Stephen" before eventually making it back to the main stage for a magical piano performance of "Long Live" and "New Year’s Day" together. For her unparalleled finale to "This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things" and "We Are Never Getting Back Together," a working fountain came on stage before fireworks began to end the night. The stadium was shaking as she took her final bows and waved goodbye. Truly a night to remember, Swift’s Reputation Tour performance in St. Louis was a special night for all three artists and their dedicated fans.
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taylor swift | by acacia evans
OCTOBER PLAYLIST Bad - Lennon Stella Sinking - RAYNA breathin - Ariana Grande without me - halsey Unloved - Lisa Cimorelli Public Places - Daniella Mason Happier - Marshmallow & Bastille Bullet - Stasney Mav Killshot - Eminem You Say - Lauren Daigle Want You Back - 5 Seconds of Summer Thunderclouds - lsd Head Above Water - Avril Lavigne
