Jan/feb 2014 issue six
NEON TREES
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Pg 11: phantogram
Pg 19: Melanie martinez Pg 17: broods
Pg 5: music Pg 9: astr Pg 11: phantogram PgPg13:5:neon musictrees Pg 17: broods Pg 19: Melanie Martinez Pg 21: lookbook
Pg 9: astr
CONTENTS
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Line-Up Magazine twitter.com/lineupmag facebook.com/thelineupmag lineupmag.tumblr.com lineup-mag.com
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Line-up CEO/Editor-In-Chief Evan Candelmo Senior Edi tors Ryan Cirillo Carly Meyers Writers Grant Anderson Owen Brinker Kelsey Candelmo Ryan Cirillo Reece Dennison Corey Emden Amanda Figueroa Sammy Gilligan Jackie Jacobson Carly Meyers Mariana Rodriguez Emily Roe Zack Shapiro Megalene Tamara On The Covers Front: Neon Trees Back: Melanie Martinez
Fashion Editor s Ryan Cirillo Erin Malloy Hitomi Mochizuki Mariana Rodriguez Megalene Tamara Models Grant Anderson Charles Bloomer* Owen Brinker Ryan Cirillo* Sebastian Couvreur Ashley Kauffman Hitomi Mochizuki Mariana Rodriguez Megalene Tamara* Soraya Tolat* Becca Vichi Rebecca Warren *models featured in this issue Â
January and february music
Foster The Peop le- “Com ing of A ge” Foster The People released their first album Torches, in the spring of 2011, and now, after just about three years they are releasing their sophomore album, Supermodel. This new album is being led by their new single, Coming of Age, which highly reflects their electro-indie-pop-rock type of music they have previously created. The single conveys an 80’s sensation, with its diverse tones throughout the song. Conjointly, the song is a lot more guitar-heavy, unlike their other works in their previous album, Torches. Although it has a memorable melody and chorus, the song is very simple. Both younger and older fans will be able to enjoy this because it links elements from both age groups’ individual perspectives. As the younger group will enjoy the aspect of a throwback to the classics, an older audience may feel a sense of nostalgia. Acknowledging that this song, Coming of Age, transmits an 80’s tone, it will be fascinating to see what they produce throughout the rest of the album. - SG 4/5
N eon Jun gl e- “B rav eheart” Neon Jungle’s new single, "Braveheart’s,” combo of rumbling production and UK bad-girl style makes for a unique single unlike anything in the genre today. Each of the four girls in Neon Jungle bring an exclusive sound to their parts, flowing provocative lyrics seamlessly with fast pasted rhymes all held together with rich bass lines, rivaling ones heard in the dubstep or trap scene. –GA 4.5/5
K aty B - “Crying For N o Reason” This English songstress’ song “Crying For No Reason” starts with a soft piano-led melody, which then transforms into a mid-tempo song with pumping beats and drums. This electro-ballad combines meaningful lyrics with a simple upbeat rhythm. The song is about pushing fears and negative thoughts away, while suffering and hurting at the same time. It’s really a perfect song to heartbrokenly dance to. Her new album “Little Red” is being released soon in the US and the expectations are set high, as listeners hope new poppy songs will come with it. –MR 5/5
David G uetta feat. S kylar Grey- “Shot M e Down” David Guetta’s 2014 kickoff collaboration with Skylar Grey, "Shot Me Down," is bound to reach the top of the charts and be rocking clubs for months to come. With its booming rhythm and velvet lyrics, Skylar Grey’s smooth, sexy lyrics tangle the listener, until, on a dime, Guetta’s familiar lead up takes you through a deep, palpitating drop. –GA 3.5/5
B leachers- “I W anna Get B etter” Though the band Bleachers may be new to the game, its leading man, Jack Antonoff, is not new to the music world. Hailing from the Grammy award-winning band, fun; Antonoff’s new side project is the best new thing to come to music since the beginning of 2014. This pop-rock anthem takes listeners back to the days of summer music festivals and coincidentally, concertgoers will be happy to see Bleachers on many festivals’ lineups throughout the country.–EC 5/5
Our Faves
El iza an d The B ear- “It G ets Cold” London-based indie folk pop band, Eliza and the Bear, really hit “home” on this track. The first four drum hits get you ready to run from something or somewhere as the lyrics later chime, “have to leave it all behind.” Then comes the folksy guitar phrase carried throughout the song, giving rise to a positive feel. Lead vocalist, James Kellegher, enters and that fantastic British twang emanates from his singing. What is a folk pop song without smooth, airy harmonies? That’s exactly what vocalist, Callie Noakes, brings later to the track. Counteractions take place as the song is written about being cold in the night while the tempo is relatively fast and staccato almost as if a person is fidgeting and jumping around to stay warm. The song as a whole is clearly played with purpose and musical depth destined to be a well-known single. -KC 5/5
Imag ine Drag on s feat. K endric k L amar- “Radioactive (Rem ix )” After their explosive debut at the 56th annual GRAMMY awards, Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar released a remix to the chart topping and GRAMMY nominated single "Radioactive," further fusing the lines between rock and rap. Also performed on Saturday Night Live, the song has been refurbished with a quicker tempo and alternate third verse, compliments of Lamar. While the MP3 release didn't completely capture the energy of the initial performance, it still displayed the vocal chops of lead singer Dan Reynolds, incredible instrumentalism of the band itself, and some of Kendrick Lamar’s most impeccable rhyming to date which, in hindsight, proved to be a slap in the face to The Recording Academy for sending him home empty handed. Plus one for Kendrick! -AF 4/5 L il y A ll en- “A ir Bal loon” Lily Allen has been working on her comeback after taking a little time off for motherhood and advances it with her new single, “Air Balloon,” which she co-wrote with Shellback, a Swedish songwriter. Unlike her other songs, which provide an direct message usually involving social issues, such as in “Hard Out Here,” this song reflects a more laidback side of Mrs. Allen. This sound definitely allows you to explore the meaning of the song to yourself personally. Contrasting to the laidback tone it presents, the lyrics are very catchy, and it is supported with the perfect amount of bass. Although, the song has a noticeably large use of auto-tune, the effect actually brings out a sense of irony to the piece. With all of the various instruments used in the song and the lyrics, the song will stay in your head for days on end. -SG 4/5
DJ Cassidy feat. Robin Thicke an d Jessie J - “Cal ling A ll H earts” With this initial single, DJ Cassidy shows insane promise for his debut album, “Paradise Royale” releasing this May. Opening up with a beat that brings the 70’s straight back, DJ Cassidy shows listeners just why he was chosen to DJ for Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake’s “Legends of Summer tour”. Jessie J and Robin Thicke both offer soulful verses near the beginning of the song, and show a huge amount of promise for the upcoming album, which will feature many more artists than just these two, who are only two of the huge ensemble DJ Cassidy will be featuring on this album, including Lady Gaga and Cee-Lo Green, just to name a few. If this song is representative of the whole album, DJ Cassidy may be looking at a lot of hits coming this spring. -OB 4.5/5
ASTR
ASTR is an electronic R&B-esque duo from the streets of New York City, which harbors a neonate genre of pop, old school hip-hop, R&B, and computerized sounds, synthesized into a seductive blend of alternative music. They execute their ecstatic bass drops, somber melodies, and bluesy vocals in a high to low frequency, an ideal listen for anyone with a craving for new R&B sounds. The dynamic duo is composed of two complementary personalities: Adam, a musician with a knack for any instrument with keys, and Zoe, a vocalist. On camera, Zoe, a New York native and bashful red head, relaxes with ease in one of their cover performances and puts on a fearless face. Her partner, Adam, adorned with messy brown hair, large framed glasses, and a matching black cardigan, assumes a more laid back demeanor. How did they meet? “Through a mutual friend at a yoga studio. The rumor is we met in a yoga class, but that isn’t how it happened. We sat over a green juice and chatted music but it took a few hangs before we got into writing songs.” Their creative process isn’t foreign to other musicians. On a typical day, Adam and Zoe “get in the studio and hang out, eat food or whatever. Then [they] will begin playing around with sounds, and once [they] kind of agree that [the pair] like something, an idea or a beat, [they] begin to throw around ideas. Whatever sticks just sticks. Sometimes [they start with] 5 or 6 ideas, but other times [they] hit on something and go all the way, although [they] typically write lyrics after [they] flush out what the melodies are. There is no one method, but those are some situations [the pair] work through.” It took roughly a year and a half for ASTR to release their full length EP, titled Varsity. “We didn't have a set goal in mind... We really wanted to take our time with it and not rush any songs. All killer and no filler as the saying goes. Some of the songs on the Varsity EP are old and some are newer, but overall it was a year and a half of writing and refining what the best ideas were to us.” The band’s chosen name sparks interest: “When we first started working together, the studio was just a few blocks away from Astor Place in Manhattan, and that resonated with us. It's a NYC landmark, and there's always a lot going on. But the other side of it was pulled from our similar interest in mythology. Asteria is the Greek goddess of the stars and, while we were figuring out who we were, that was something we kept coming back to.” Neon Gold Records, the label with which ASTR has signed, has helped release singles from popular alternative bands, such as Passion Pit, Ellie Goulding, Marina & the Diamonds, and Icona Pop. Recently, Neon Gold and Atlantic Records, a producing powerhouse in the music industry have signed a deal. ASTR’s reaction to the success of their label? “It's really exciting. Neon Gold was the first site to feature our song, “Operate”, on their blog back in April 2013, which was a game changer for us. We didn't realize how much it would set things in motion. From there, we gained a bit of exposure, and we really appreciate what that did. While that was happening, we met with a bunch of labels, including Atlantic, and really liked the guys we met who run that company. They are a legendary label, and we are really excited for Neon Gold to partner with them.” In the upcoming months, ASTR is planning to tour in the spring, although they don’t have any definite plans. “Right now, we are out there doing some shows and building the live performance as we go, which is something we have big ideas for.”
Their EP, Varsity, is out now. Story by Meg Tamara Interview by Corey Emden
After a three year hiatus between LPs, Phantogram’s Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel return to the public eye with the release of “Voices,” their freshly released EP. Combining airy vocals and jolting beats, “Voices” has the music world keenly watching. Line-Up recently had the opportunity to discuss his duo, starting with his humble beginnings in the industry. “Phantogram started as my solo work and then I asked Sarah if she wanted to feature in some of it...we just ended up starting a band together,” retrospects Josh. With their junior high friendship rekindled, the pair started to get serious come 2007. Steadily releasing material from 2009 to 2011 and getting commendable amounts of press attention, Phantogram had officially taken off. However, the seasoned musicians aren’t fazed by the rampant increase in attention they’ve been receiving because of the long hours him and his partner spent in the studio “... we’ve been working constantly on music and touring quite often, so we’re in the same state as we have always been.” Amongst the commotion of releasing a successful LP, Carter never questioned neither himself nor his comrade. When inquired if he ever considered adding more members, Carter answered thusly: “We’re a two piece band primarily because we just both enjoy writing music, there’s sometimes too many cooks in the kitchen in songwriting.” Pertaining to their working atmosphere, Carter admits, “[Sarah and I] are just a very well-functioning unit. We tend to think along the same line creatively, so nobody generally gets their way more often, per se, we just have similar ideas.” The harmony the pair shares even covers the negative aspect of collaboration: the tough love. “...if there’s something that I’m isn’t exactly loving on, it’s pretty easy to make that clear,” Carter chuckles. Contrary to heartwarming cliches about companionship, having an exceptional co-worker isn’t enough to make Phantogram glide through the music industry with ease. Says Josh, “If there is a time where the music industry is getting us down, we will put that into a song.” However, they try to keep their music universal. “They mostly pertain to the three basic human emotions: love, life, and death.” Currently, Phantogram is working on a new EP with Big Boi from Outkast. “Big has become a good friend of ours,” Carter says about their longtime friend, who they’ve partnered up with on several projects before. “I’m making the beat, Big is going to be rhyming, and Sarah’s doing the vocals. I’m excited.” Phantogram intends on supporting Outkast later this year when they headline for many prestigious music festivals including Coachella, Firefly, and Wireless. Also on Phantogram’s to-see list? “We’d love to meet The Black Angels!”
Their album, Voices, is out now. Story by Ryan Cirillo Interview by Evan Candelmo Photo by Timothy Saccenti
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NEON TREES
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Adorned with psychedelic patterns and fluorescent colors, band members Tyler Glenn, Christopher Allen, Branden Campbell, and Elaine Bradley are more reminiscent of something you’d find nestled in a truffula tree than a “neon tree.” Formed in Utah in 2005, Neon Trees originally had five members: only Tyler Glenn was part of the band in its nascent stages. They launched an EP in 2006 with limited success, but Ronnie Vannucci Jr. of The Killers discovered their talent in 2008 and offered Neon Trees a gig as the opening act for his own band. After the tour, Vannucci helped Neon Trees get signed to Mercury Records, who would produce their first full-length album entitled Habits in 2010. They grabbed the attention of the public with the charming and uplifting roars in the chorus of Animal, their debut single that seized a spot in the top 15 on Billboard charts. To build on that success, Neon Trees accompanied Thirty Seconds to Mars on tour in 2010 as well as My Chemical Romance and Panic! At the Disco in 2011 all while working on a new album, which would later be titled Picture Show, which was released in early 2012. The lead single for the sophomore LP, Everybody Talks, became an instant hit when it was released several months prior to the release of the album, which set a strong note for Picture Show. Since then, the vibrant band has had little action until recently, bursting back on to the scene in January with a drive for success. As their fans await the release of their third studio album entitled Pop Psychology, Line-Up talked to lead singer Tyler Glenn about the album. “Everything’s really bright and colorful, down to the artwork, down to what we’re wearing,” reveals Glenn. The forceful punching effect of the juxtaposition in the title Pop Psychology begs attention: why put such a scientific, esoteric word like “psychology” next to the innocence of “pop?” “I was going through a rough patch personally and emotionally sort of midway through our last record, touring off the last record, I took a lot of time off to re-evaluate. I ended up seeing a therapist and finding out what made me so sick,” Glenn discloses. However, this ephemeral period ushered an epoch of change for his band. “...it got me in a place where I was being really open and honest in a way I hadn't been before.”
Despite showing contention towards the band’s new album, there’s no such thing as being too sure in the music industry. “I’m gonna be honest, there’s a bit of, kind of, anxiety. I was really curious to see how our core fans would react to the song, [Sleeping With A Friend,] it’s definitely slicker and bigger-sounding than some of our previous stuff.” Pop Psychology’s lead single Sleeping with a Friend has elicited a strong response from new listeners and hardcore fans alike. “...we were really excited by the response [from the fans], but also by the response to the video from people that didn’t necessarily listen to us either,” Glenn explains. “I think it’s going really well so far!” Unfortunately, the transition from the head-bopping 60’s inspired full-length Picture Show to their new vernacular hasn’t been sound for some long time listeners. Sleeping with a Friend with its futuristic techno beat, paroxysms of joyous disco-esque effects, and exhilarating synthesized vocals, hints at a ubiquitous 80’s influence; undeniably a bold move for a band in a stage of reform. According to Glenn, the blackand-white disparity between the lead single and their previous LP was not incidental. “...there were a couple more obvious Neon Trees songs that sounded more like material we released in the past.” Nevertheless, Glenn and his bandmates “all felt really strongly about [Sleeping with a Friend].” “I definitely feel that our decision to put Sleeping with a Friend first is paying off because I feel that this new record is a way to reinvent,” states Glenn confidently. “There’s a lot in Sleeping with a Friend that represents the album as a whole. I’m really stoked.” Also hinting at a plausible 80’s motif is Glenn’s history of inspiration. “I’ve always seemed to be a lot more inspired by things that happened in the 70’s and the 80’s. The artists from those decades are definitely the artists I like to pull from the most.” However, being an innovative soul, Glenn laments imitation of any kind. “I think our work is new art; it doesn’t draw so much on older music that it’s boring.” Glenn’s method to subjective success in the industry? “[Neon Trees] doesn’t have this urge to give everything away right off the bat. It would’ve been all too easy to, right off hand, do this throwaway one hit wonder band, but we’ve continued to put out records we’re proud of. The key is being honest and sticking to your personal truth.” Acting as an immunity to the fame virus, Neon Trees also firmly believes that you run into trouble when you succumb to the pressure of staying on top. Says Glenn, “...it’s so rad that we
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even have this opportunity.” Despite being prepared for failure, there’s no shortage of ambition in Neon Trees. Anticipating the tour for Pop Psychology, Glenn says very hastily, “We're gonna up the production of everything.” The brevity of this statement was met with visions vivid enough to be attributed to psychosis. “We're really gonna up the ante on the visuals and present what we’ve always wanted to do in an artistic way. We’re a colorful band and we like to integrate art into our stuff.” Glenn then goes into his style of performance. “We’re gonna be able to just play and have a good time. As long as [we] got entertainment, [we’re] well off.” In stark contrast to his larger-than-life persona on stage, Glenn has little interest in sharing his personal lives with his fans. “I’d be confused as to what to put up on [social media]. I don’t like to force my beliefs on others just because I am a musician, but when it’s time for me to speak up, I will. I just don’t like the idea of people looking at pictures of my family or who I’m dating. It’s almost asking for trouble because you’re essentially calling to attention everything you know… It’s a fine line to walk.” Along with significant chunks of his personal life, Glenn’s political/social opinions are left backstage. “[being a musician] is not really about the political movements or any other agenda,” opines Glenn. “I think it’s funny that if you don’t put out everything that you see and everything that you believe in, people assume you don’t believe those things.”
Pop Psychology releases April 22nd Story by Ryan Cirillo Interview by Evan Candelmo
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broods
With their international tour coming up, we got the privilege of asking brother-sister duo Georgia and Caleb Nott of Broods a couple of questions about how they got started, making music together, and their fans on social media. For those unfamiliar with the name, they’ve been making music together for their whole lives. “We've been obsessed with the idea of having a family band since we can remember.” They were both members of the band “The Peasants” while in college, until it split up in 2012. The Notts decided to actually start Broods “just over a year ago.” When asked about what exactly “Broods” means, its surprising to heard that a name so unique took time to find. “We struggled with a name that suited us for a while. We came up with so many lame names but settled on Broods because it had references to the family thing, plus, we tend to write quite good music to brood to.” This February and March, the duo is on the road touring internationally for the first time and are both pumped to be playing shows in new places around the world “All of the USA shows are bound to be heaps of fun! Plus London is a place we've always wanted to go to, so going there for our music is quite a bonus for us.” Their self-titled debut EP placed quite well on their home country, New Zealand’s, charts, peaking at number two. The siblings agree that their fans really motivate them. “The first thing I do when I wake up is read the tweets from our fans. The ones that quote the lyrics are my favorite because it makes you feel heard. I'd wanna tell them that when I wake up sad, they make me happy.” For their music goals by the end of next year, they keep want to just keep going. “We just want to deliver something we can be proud of, and of course to keep the live show improving. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we'll hear our songs being sung back to us from the crowd. That would be incredible.” With tour dates fast approaching, this looks to be a big year for Broods as they try to build popularity and a fan base outside of New Zealand. With good turnouts at their upcoming gigs abroad, their future looks bright.
Their self-titled debut EP is out now. Story by Owen Brinker Interview by Carly Meyers Photo by Stephen Tilley
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Melanie martinez
Voice.
Melanie Martinez has come a long way since her 2012 run on The
A 16-year old Martinez caught the attention of three judges during the third season of the show with her Cruella de Vil inspired hair and unique sound. With the guidance of coach Adam Levine, she advanced to the top 6 before elimination by audience vote. However, that was only the beginning. Now 18, she has been working on a debut album and has evolved immensely as an artist. "I definitely have grown up a lot... The voice was my first real taste [rest of answer] having to do what TV producers tell you." She's doing anything but taking orders right now as she discovers whom she is and what she wants to achieve with her music. "I want to tell stories. I just want to...bring uncomfortable topics up in an easy way for people to understand." Staying true to her objective, Martinez released a music video to her album's lead single, Dollhouse, in early February 2014. The song, which reflects on the separateness of the celebrities we see from their true selves as a result of the overbearing scrutiny of the public eye, is expressed to full effectiveness in a creepy, eye-catching video that is its own little world complete with an illuminating blue and pink color scheme and an array of mystical doll-inspired outfits. “So when we wrote Dollhouse, we basically just wanted to tell the story of a dysfunctional doll family that is supposed to be perfect in the little girl's eyes but in reality they're far from it. It also has double meaning for how I feel people treat celebrities and anyone in the light of media. Celebrities have to put on such a doll-like facade in order for people to continue to follow them. I think its very strange considering artists are all human and people know that but they don't really understand it fully,” Martinez explains, “ [It] is very hard with people judging their every move, as if they have no mistakes of their own.” Martinez enjoys exploring topics such as these, the kind of issues that people don't necessarily talk about face-to-face. “Really dark uncomfortable subjects usually inspire me to write. I try to bring them up in a very sweet, but honest way to shed some light on issues that people really don't like talking about. I’ve always cared so much about everything and was made fun of for it growing up. I'm glad I get to talk about whatever I want now without being teased. I guess I get the last laugh now. Haha.” And, looking ahead to her plans for the next year, that last laugh should get even sweeter. "I want to put out an album and be able to play a ton of shows for my lovely fans" she claims in earnest. "I'd also like to move out!" With the drive and creativity she's got, she just might do it all.
Dollhouse is out now. Story and Interview by Carly Meyers
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Jan/feb 2014 issue six
Melanie martinez