l o c a l w o lv e s m a g a z i n e
D EA R WOL F I ES :
Finals are finally over for the spring semester and summer jobs are probably the next thing on your mind. Believe me, trying to find a job can be difficult but I feel like keeping a mason jar in your room of extra change would help you to get to your dream goal or possible next splurge purchase. A car, camera or maybe a trip to Europe with frends? Whatever it maybe, never forget to treat yourself once in a while. Stay the awesome trooper that you are!
Cathrine Khom
founding editor-in-chief
can’t get enough of:
THE DROWNERS SELF TITLED ALBUM < < “ L O NG H AI R ” > >
many thanks:
birdy
graceanne parks
@officialbirdy hampshire, uk
@graceanneparks boston / missouri
carson mccalley
kissing fractures
@thecarsoneffect san diego, ca
aimee lin boyds, md
centerfield
lauren wilhelm
raphael gomes
@centerfieldmd baltimore, md
@dazythegirl tallahassee, fl
@raphablueberry london, uk
ellis keyte
lime cordiale
richard nwaoko
@ellisjkeyte london, uk
@limecordiale sydney, aus
@rich_chill irvington, nj
ez stone
mandy
@ezstonemusic brighton, uk
@itsamandything london, uk
+ thanks to our amazing staff, wolfie readers, birdy’s team, cheers!
+ all images via tumblr
may 2014
contents
classics 7
munchies
8
diy department
10
discovery
11 threads 12
style
14
p.s. positivity
50 gallery
f e at u r e s 16
carson mccalley
18
ez stone
20
nesrin danan
24
lauren wilhelm
26
centerfield
28
raphael gomes
30
ellis keyte
32 mandy 36
kissing fractures
38
graceanne parks
40
birdy
46
rich chill tv
48
lime cordiale
founder / editor-in-chief cathrine khom managing editor samai khom copy editor sophia khom front cover logo fiona yeung back cover logo isabel ramos cover photo rachel kober
iss ue f if t e e n / / m ay t w e n t y fo u r t e e n
birdy
contributing writers lexie alley, orion carloto, amanda ferrarese, jessica goldman, gleann ignacio, shawn mulcahy, alexandra southerst contributing photographers lexie alley, philipp ammon, ryan james caruthers, chris coe, rachel epstein, kylee gregg, amanda harle, gleann ignacio, rachel kober, sophia li, lhoycel marie, eric mooney, dunja opalko, dylan razo, elisa rodriguez, priti shikotra, madison bass-taylor minds of fashion + beauty allyn bernardo, haley appell, stefani avena, caroline depta, mackenzie isom, katelyn rikel, jessie yarborough graphic designers isabel ramos, christine ennis, gabrielle larsen diy department madison bass-taylor description local wolves magazine, an online + print publication based from southern california, usa with a creative team in the united kingdom and canada. we focus on embracing the local scene by combining forces with talented folks from different cities to organizations and sharing stories about their favorite local places so do us a favor + go explore delicacies in your town. connect http://localwolvesmag.com http://facebook.com/localwolves http://twitter.com/localwolves http://instagram.com/localwolves http://localwolvesblog.tumblr.com general inquiries localwolvesmagazine@yahoo.com
st a y c o n n e c t e d w i t h b i rd y // w e b sit e ht t p : / / o ffi c i al bi r dy.c o m y o ut ub e ht t p : / / y o u t u be.c o m / u s e r / o ffi ci al bi rdy t w it t e r @ o f f i c i al bi r dy ins t a g r a m @ bi r dy i n s t agr am
press + advertisting inquiries localwolvespress@gmail.com
DIY MUNCHIES + SMALL WORLD COFFEE +
coverage: alexandra southerst
Central New Jersey’s favorite coffee shop, Small World Coffee is located in the quaint little college town of Princeton. It’s the perfect hangout for students, professors and locals alike. Contrary to their well known, green-logoed counterpart across the street, they offer a bright and welcoming atmosphere with super friendly baristas and two awesome locations. With two shops on both Princeton’s Main Street and Secondary Street.
What I love most about Small World (other than the coffee and chai, of course) are the baristas who consistently greet customers with a smile and warm welcome. While most other coffee shops’ goal is for the customer to get their coffee and go, their baristas are willing to have a short chat or joke while making sure that the customer does not feel rushed or pressured. Perhaps my favorite experience was one of my first visits to the shop.
Feeling in the mood for an iced chai? A request at the counter will grant you a smiley response of “Have you tried our chai before?” Small World’s famous recipe is hands down the best in town! Thanks to a unique blend of organic black tea brewed with ginger, pepper, cassia, cloves and spices, and lightly sweetened with honey, their take on the classic chai drink has earned as a much coveted spot as a favorite and their best seller. Small World always has fresh baked goods on offer that will please anyone and everyone! In addition to the occasional “bench musician” Saturday nights play host to live musical performances by local musicians, artists and bands. Part of Small World’s community appeal comes from its involvement with the town through displaying art work by local artists including photography.
After running errands with my mom, I stopped by this coffee shop and I chose to take a leap of faith and try the chai which I had heard so many rave reviews about. In a matter of minutes, my mom and I were sampling the famous drink after being warned of its “kick.” Spoiler alert: I ended up ordering the chai. As you probably know by now, I loved it and the atmosphere of the shop.
Since then, we’ve punched our way through several Coffee Club cards (buy 10 drinks, get one free). If ever you find yourself in Princeton, drop by Small World Coffee for a delicious energy boost and possibly a chat with a barista or even a little music! Keep in mind, true Princetonians get their coffee at Small World not S-bucks. + where to find us : 14 witherspoon street princeton, nj 08540 tel: (609) 924-4377 smallworldcoffee.com @smallworldcoffee
local wolves magazine // 7
DIY DEPARTMENT DIY + NIFTY KEEPSAKE BOX +
c ov e r ag e : m a d i s o n b a s s - tay lo r
things you’ll need
with your runny decoupage glue or mod podge, paint a thin layer onto your wooden box.
step one
step three
mix 2 parts elmers glue to 1 part water (2/3 glue, 1/3 water) to create a runny consistency.
place your decoupage paper on top, press down to seal, and paint another layer of glue on top of that, then let dry.
*you can also use mod podge instead of elmer’s glue and not have to water it down - i recommend doing this in order to get a perfect seal that will last longer. i just didn’t have any with me.
8
step two
+ paint brushes + paint + decoupage paper + elmers glue or mod podge + wooden boxes
*TIP paint boxes different colors and even add text with your vacation place or the year which you collected all of those memories.
finished!
local wolves magazine // 9
DIY DISCOVERY + WOLFIE ART 01 // LYDIA VELAZQUEZ +
10
E L I T E S U P P LY C O .
Introducing Elite Supply Co. the newest apparel company out of the East Coast. We asked Jon Sosidka, fifteen years old high school freshman who is an entrepreneur, youtuber and an owner who designs for Elite Supply Co.
As for the clothing side of things, Sosidka would like to continue designing products for every season while working closely with teen designers to involve a larger variety of people and expand sales to new horizons.
Sosidka says, is “all about design and apparel.” In addition to having their own line of apparel, they also offer custom design and clothing services for groups, sports and events. All it took was one of Sosidka’s t-shirt designs to get this company off the ground. Sosidka wanted a separate identity to brand all of his clothing so with the help of his family, he established an LLC and reliable accounting records and it was all uphill from there! After his friend, Jake, programmed the website from scratch, the company took off.
While mostly sticking to apparel, he says that it is possible that the company will release posters or prints featuring some of their photos and creations. Naturally, Sosidka is keeping an eye out for new groups and events to design for, “Local events and groups are in continuous need of custom shirts and sweatshirts! Being able to provide them with the things they need is really cool!” With YouTube being a huge of part of his everyday life, he hopes to continue being involved with it.
in only a few months, his brand name has filled the halls of high schools and middle schools in his and surrounding areas. Inspiration for designs comes easily thanks to his long time interest in photography and traveling. As it seems, the sky’s the limit for Elite Supply Co.! A huge factor in the success of a company is its social media reach, which for Elite, has not been an issue.
Being so young, Jon has some advice for other entrepreneurs his age, “I have always believed that when you are pursuing something you love to do, you’ll be willing to put forth the effort needed to succeed. So put the doubts aside and just go for it!” We will definitely be seeing big things from Elite Supply Co. and can’t wait for future designs!
S T O R Y : A L E X AN D R A S O U T H E R S T IMAGE : R A C H E L K O B E R
local wolves magazine // 11
L O C A l W O LV E S
+ AFTER THIS YEAR’S COACHELLA
it is eminent that festival season is among us. Whether you categorize your style as boho, edgy, casual, or girly among others you can use some of young Hollywood’s outfit choices from past festivals as inspiration as you pull together up coming festival looks. Now there are many key pieces that are festival necessities and key pieces that will have onlookers gawking at your polished and fun look.
+ SUNGLASSES
Although traditional aviator and wayfarer sunglasses go with every outfit and are easy to grab on your way out the door, why not choose a creative and fun pair of shades. Kendall Jenner wore these adorable, flirty floral sunglasses from Nasty Gal that drew much attention. If you wore a simple white crop top and patterned shorts, these added floral sunnies or any other pair of your choice would simply complete your outfit. I suggest checking out Nasty Gal, Wildfox and Quay Australia for some topnotch eyewear! Polarized lenses are my favorite these days, and are perfect for summer.
12
+ HATS
The sun is our frenemy to put it nicely. I believe that is why hats are seen everywhere at festivals. They easily protect your skin from the sun and can mask a bad hair day as well as complete an outfit. Selena’s boho vibes are truly presented with her Daisy Chemical Lace dress from Free People and her brown panama hat, although a giant sun hat would’ve been perfect as well. If you have a grungier or edgy style, a trilby hat would be right up your ally to complete your outfit. If you like to wear lots of crazy cool patterns, I personally find it fun to see girls sporting patterned snapbacks with their outfits. You know, just something different!
+ BODY CHAINS
Traditional jewelry is always acceptable for any occasion, but I always believe festivals and summer parties are the perfect time to bring out your body chains, hair chains and hair tikkas. Although floral headbands are fun and girly, I find them quite over worn these days, especially at festivals. So feel free to pair a body chain under your favorite crop top or a head chain to complete any outfit and I promise you’ll receive many compliments. Plus, they’re an easy accessory to wear that often times keeps you from having to add bracelets and necklaces.
F E S T I VA L LO O KS
+ BACKPACKS
Leave your purses and cross body bags at home and grab your favorite back pack or dare I say fanny pack and head out the door. There are hundreds of backpack styles that are perfect for any outfit. They allow you to dance free in the crowds without fear of dropping all your valuables. And don’t forget fanny packs, which I have always considered that “granny purse” or “Disney World mom bag” until I saw the edgy, studded pack that Kylie Jenner wore at Coachella. It gave me faith that all fanny packs can’t be terrible. You just have to use your stylish brain and think before you make an unintentional fashion faux pas.
+ FOOTWEAR
Picking a comfortable shoe is imperative when you will be standing, dancing and walking for hours and hours on end. Sandals are perfect for the hot weather, but make sure you choose sandals that are practical. Sandals with a wedge don’t generally cut it for festivals, while gladiator sandals are both functional and visually appealing. I’ve never been a fan of the knee high gladiator until this year when I finally got my own pair. I’m absolutely in love with them and plan on wearing them one of the days that I’m at London’s Wireless Festival this July. I also plan on wearing ankle
booties like combat boots or maybe even the Birkenstock style sandal that is back on trend this summer. Your shoe of choice should reflect your style, so if someone dislikes your shoes of choice, rock it anyway.
+ COLORED HAIR
Summertime vibes instantly bring out the hair dye and hair chalks for numerous people. If you aren’t as daring as fashion blogger, Evelina Barry to dye your whole hair a multitude of bright colors, than experiment with the numerous hair chalks created by Splat, Fudge Urban and many other brands. Let your hair be your latest accessory, For more festival fashion inspiration, check out pictures of Chanel Iman, Vanessa Hudgens, Jhene Aiko, Haim and Gigi Hadid among others on the Coachella Fashion twitter page @CoachellaFSHN! Sending lots of flirty, crazy and stylish summer vibes your way. C O V E R AGE : C A R O L INE D E P T A + MA C K ENZIE I S I O M
local wolves magazine // 13
n o i r O to: o l r a C
H
iiiii Wolfies! Happy May and welcome back! This month has been filled to the brim with hectic/exciting things and I thought hmmmm maybe I should share! So, as most of you may know I’m a HUGE fan of the one and only Lana Del Rey and if you’re a new reader and you didn’t know that, BARE YOURSELF FOR WHAT I’M ABOUT TO TELL YOU! I’ve supported Miss Lana for years now, from hanging up pictures of her in my room to buying every single album of hers and blasting them in my room all day. She’s a massive icon to me and someone I look up to and aspired to be. About a month or two ago, I got the most exciting news that she is going on tour in AMERICA. OK IF YOU’RE A FAN OF LANA DEL REY, YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. A TOUR. NOT IN SOUTH AMERICA OR EUROPE. BUT. IN. AMERICA. And when I found out that she was coming to my state, all hell broke lose in my house and I was so excited! By the time tickets were going on sale, it was 10 AM, I was in class, and I was ready to buy my way to see my queen. They sold out in 10 minutes! Luckily, good karma and fate was on my side and buying it was a success. The ticket I bought was general admission. First come, first serve. And I wanted front row. So that’s when I realized there is only one way to get what I wanted. I had to get there super duper early. Luckily for me, two of my closest pals Tiffany and Ray were also up for the whole “skipping classes all day to wait in like super early” insane idea of mine.
14
The day before the concert rolls around, me and my friends woke up at 2 AM and got to the venue. Around 3 AM, we got there with snacks, pillows and blankets and we were ready to take on the day. There were a few people already in line ahead of us, but we knew for sure that we would get front row. I became friends with most of the people around me, so that was rad! The night passes by us and we are freezing our butts off! By the time morning comes around, I found myself waking up on the sidewalks of Atlanta to a homeless guy asking me if I had any spare change on me. The line started to progressively get longer and longer and longer and next thing I know, it’s 7 PM and they were about to open the doors to get into the venue. We waited a whole 16 hours just IN LINE. Once they scanned my ticket, I ran straight towards the stage and got front row right in the center! The concert was amazing and Lana performs even better live! The crowd was wild and even though they pushed like crazy and I literally felt like I couldn’t breathe, it was SO worth it. Lana is such a humble gal and her stage presence was breathtaking. I cried at least 3 times, holy butts! After singing “Cola,” she came down off of the stage and met people in the front row AND SHE STARTED TALKING TO ME. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. Throughout the concert, we made lots of eye contact and yeah, that sounds super cheesy that I took note of that, but c’mon, she’s such a babe.
! s s e d god By the time she was singing her last song, I thought I was going to pass out. The crowd was so wild and kept pushing like crazy so I noted it to security and they picked me up out of the crowd and carried me out. While in midst of being carried out, it hit me that Lana might meet fans after the show. So, when security put me down, I calmed for a bit and then ran to the back of the venue and waited at the barricade with my friends hoping she would come out. I waited for 2 more hours after the show and guess what, here comes the best part - SHE CAME OUT. I was one of the last people in line to meet her and my adrenaline was pumping like crazy as she was getting closer and closer. And next thing I know, I’m face to face with the lovely gal I’ve been idolizing for years.
went to kiss her cheek and she pulled back. I was so confused at why she did that until she started to kiss my lips. WAIT WHAT. DID LANA DEL REY REALLY KISS MY LIPS?! That kiss literally felt like it lasted forever because my friend had no idea how to work my camera! Finally, once the picture was taken, we pulled away and I was like “omg I love you” and gave her a massive hug. Ok, ok, ok, that may sound weird to some people, but oh my goodness I can’t believe it happened! The hours and hours I put into that day was so worth it and I’m so happy that I was finally able to meet my idol. I know this month I didn’t give any advice, but this was requested a LOT and I hope you all enjoyed it! I wish the best for everyone out there reading this that one day they get to meet their idol as well! You totally deserve it!
“Hey Lana, can I get a polaroid of me kissing your cheek?” “Ooooh a kissing polaroid, of course!” then she grabbed both of my hands and interlocked her fingers with mine. I
local wolves magazine // 15
carson mccalley S T O R Y : C H E L S EA T O T T EN IMAGE S : K A T Y J O H N S O N
Ever wonder what it would be like if somehow Olan Rogers, Mitchell Davis and Troye Sivan had a love child? Meet Carson McCalley - an up and coming YouTuber who’s channel is more entertaining than Cher’s Twitter. McCalley’s favorite local spot to hangout “coincidentally, my favorite spot in San Diego to hang out is Cosmos Cafe, which was featured in Local Wolves a couple issues ago.” He had a hard time classifying his channel into a category, claiming that it’s just his “crazy thoughts paint-splattered onto a computer screen,” but as a subscriber myself, I can tell you that his content is absolutely hilarious. In fact, McCalley says the main reason he started his channel was because he wanted to make people happy and would probably have more luck making people laugh on the internet than staying in bed all day. He not only wanted to entertain with his channel, but he wanted to use it as a way to connect positively with other creative people and it worked, he now has friends all over the world thanks to YouTube. When asked what inspires him the most, he jokes that a lot of his inspiration comes from being an idiot stating “every time I get myself into a crazy situation or laughing way harder than I should be at something, I turn on the camera and start to talk about it.” He also draws inspiration from his favorite YouTubers. Like Troye, Olan and Mitchell. He says “you can see all of their influences through my videos, but I’m starting to find my own niche and it feels really great.” One of Carson’s favorite part of pursuing a career as a YouTuber is attending YouTube events like Playlist Live and Vidcon. He says that being able to meet and interact with other people who do the same things that he does allows people online to be more of a family, “networking with other people who share your creative passion is one of the most rewarding experiences you could have. It’s like finding your long lost brothers and sisters every time you turn around.” McCalley’s favorite type of content to film is videos where he gets to tell stories to his audience. He gets to incorporate sort of a stand up comedy element and being able to share his crazy stories with an audience makes the adventure more fulfilling. He also enjoys shooting collaborations because it gives him the opportunity to make videos with his best friends. McCalley’s plans for the future of his channel includes a lot more collaborating, and cool projects that haven’t been done yet. He wants to introduce something entirely new to YouTube and also plans on releasing merchandise in the near future. He’ll be attending Vidcon, DigiFest and Buffer Festival this year.
16
local wolves magazine // 17
Ez S to n e S TO R Y: S H AW N M U LC A H Y IMAGE S : P R I T I S H I K O T R A
With a style described as folk and soul, Brighton’s Ez Stone hopes to take the world by storm with his mesmerizing melodies and unique lyrics. Stone cites a wide range of musicians who have influenced his music, from the like of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd to James Taylor and Leonard Cohen to Tallest Man on Earth and Nathaniel Rateliff. In addition, Stone also acknowledges two of his friends, Alex Wells and Bella Spinks, who have helped shaped his music. Recently, Ez Stone released his debut EP, Moroccan Whiskey. The album tells many different stories that are close to Stone. The title refers to Stone’s experiences in Morocco when he was nineteen. Moroccan Whiskey is actually a type of tea that Stone discovered while he was there. “Other songs are a bit more personal,” said Stone.” For example, “Just A Film” is about my brother or “World Of Pretend” which explores when play and imagination was everything and when the responsibilities of adult life weren’t a factor and the transition between childhood ambitions to the present.” Stone recounts one of his favorite moments thus far as his EP launch in December of last year. “Having a packed out venue with all my friends and family amongst the crowd which was pretty special,” said Stone. He also added that he really enjoyed showing support for artists he admires. When asked about the songwriting process, Stone told us that there really isn’t one. He went on to tell us, “it depends on the song, sometimes a song can form in one night and others, a theme sticks and takes a long time to come together to a point where I’m happy enough to play it.” However, Stone does believe that there are a few key components behind every great song: a solid theme, an interesting structure, and a bit of soul! He admits that he loves the sheer simplicity of some songs. At the same time, however he believes that some songs “work” solely because they’re different. Stone elaborated upon this by saying “love simple songs, yet I love and grew up listening to bands like Pink Floyd, Zeppelin and Caravan who’s songs are like long melodic tapestries pulling you through a range of emotions and changes.”
18
local wolves magazine // 19
photo g r a phy by
/ /
nesrin danan
20
local wolves magazine // 21
In some rare cases, an accident can change the course of one’s life for the better. Such is the case for an eighteen year old concert and event photographer, Nesrin Danan of Portland, Oregon. After accidentally being placed in a film photography class her freshman year of high school, Danan turned what she thought would be “lame” into a full blown career. After being taught the basics of photography, she taught herself how to use a DSLR and digital editing software. Danan found herself joining yearbook her junior and senior year and did the majority of the photo work while still booking senior shoots and shows outside of school. Currently attending Portland State University in Portland, OR, She has found ways to juggle her passion and career on top of school. Being a freshman in college, she is charged with juggling school, gym visits and homework in the afternoon
22
noon and shows at night. Regardless, she says of her hectic schedule “education is important and so is doing what you love, so I make it work.” Danan’s unique techniques and eye have given her an edge in the business which has allowed her to shoot artists like Hoodie Allen, Drake, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and Riff Raff to name a few. While the first show she shot was Macklemore and Ryan Lewis at Flat Tail Music Festival in 2012, she hopes to have the opportunity to work with Logic, her favorite rapper since she was sixteen and Iggy Azalea. She states, “Concert and live music photos are my favorite, as well as artist portraits. I like being around talented souls and sharing what they do with their fans and the world. Concert photography is also challenging, which I love. You have to account for your position, lighting, angles and everything all while there’s
thousands of people screaming and a whole show going on. I just love the way every show I shoot is different, and every photographer has a different style. It never gets old.” While quickly making strides in the photography community she also has a lot coming up in the near future, “Currently I’m working out some tour schedules with artists and music festivals for this summer and fall which I’m super stoked about.” In regards to the distant future however, she hopes to work for a magazine like Billboard or Rolling Stone to have her photos published regularly but for now as she says “I’m just kinda having fun with it.” Her inspiration is mostly born out of two things, other music photographers, directors and the musicians themselves, “I have so much respect for everyone else in this business, because it’s cutthroat. A lot of people overlook directors and photographers cause they are behind
an artist’s whole image and presentation. These artists are so talented and hardworking. I wish fans could see everything that goes into putting on a show and recording an album and all that. It’s just really cool to see people putting their lives into perfecting their craft. It’s all love.” A main concern of all college students is food, and more specifically, good food on a budget. Danan has us covered! A trip to Portland, Oregon she says will warrant you a journey to food truck heaven, especially around the downtown area. A favorite of Nesrin’s is a truck that makes grilled cheese sandwiches in the shape of dinosaurs. S T O R Y : A L E X AN D R A S O U T H E R S T IMAGE S : NE S R IN D ANAN
local wolves magazine // 23
w n lauren dazy aka
p Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? LW: Yeah! I know there’s like so much to that. Well, I’m from Florida, I’m 26 and I’ve been playing music my whole life. I’ve been on stages and been goofy on stage. My whole family is really musical. I grew up sailing, playing piano, writing songs and I live in Tallahassee now with my boyfriend, my two daughters, Bailey and Grey and we have an awesome life. That’s pretty much it. Where does the name Dazy The Girl come from? LW: It’s a name that I came up with when I decided I wanted to put out some solo stuff finally instead of doing stuff with the band and having complete control over it and that took me a while. The first name that kind of came to me was “Daisy” with the spelling of “Dazy.” It’s funny, actually because all of the URLs for Dazy were taken so I just kinda was like “Oh, Dazy The Girl” and so that developed to be a part of me. I think it’s cute. My parents love daisies so there’s a little inspiration there. Who would you consider your musical influences? LW: My musical influences are my parents, that’s number one. They have been singing to me longer than any artist or anybody else has been. I think it’s all over the place, you know? I grew up singing along and trying to sound just like Christina Aguilera so it’s all over the place. I’m a huge fan of the band, Coke Blend and you kind of suck in little bits of everything you listen to. I listen to hardcore music, I listen to some Top 40 stuff, some folk, so it comes from everywhere. Maybe Erin Marsh and a little Ellie Goulding, she’s great.
24
when I was in one of the other bands, I was in playing keyboard and singing for them. I was on the way to practice and it was just one of those songs that just kind of came to me in a little piece and I just kind of snowballed from there trying to type as fast as I can sing. I got home that night and messed around and I showed it to Derek who was like, “This song is amazing.” I made a demo of it and showed it to him and he’s like “my favorite song of yours” and I’m like “for real?!” I didn’t really want to use it for the band because it wasn’t really the right genre so I was like, well it’s about time you know I can just go do a few songs and it was great. It was better than I even thought it would’ve turned out. So how is it working with Derek Sanders? LW: Oh, it was just really easy. Derek and I get along really well anyway. We’ve known each other for a really long time but going to the studio was something we never really had done together before but it was very easy because all we’d do is get dinner just like any other day except for during the day instead of hanging with kids. I’d do a little time recording music. We brought Grey in the studio so she was around the majority of the time, it was really cute. Derek took her in when he did vocals. He sang some of the song holding her, I thought that was really cute. How would you describe your sound? LW: You know, it’s such a brand new project and I like blues and I like pop, so you’re gonna hear a lot of different stuff. I’d say it’d mainly be pop. I wrote it down one time, it is more pop than Avril and a little more aggressive than Adele so it’s a lot of mainstream stuff kind of thrown in together.
Can you tell us about your new song “I Told You So”?
Where do you see yourself in a year from now?
LW: I wrote that song actually on the way to a band practice
LW: A year from now, I see myself at least being able to
wilhelm
n the girlp sustain the project and keep recording and definitely working with other artists. I want Dazy to flourish and I also want to have my hands in a bunch of other musical projects. Speaking of other artists, are there any that you would really want to collaborate with? LW: Yeah, there are tons that I’d love to collaborate with. One that’s happening right now is Daniel Lancaster and we’ve been working on a song together and it’s not even close to being done but it’s gonna happen. As far as any artist, Elvis would have been cool or something like that. I mean why not? Seeing as you get so much influence from the charts, what are your top three most played songs on your phone? LW: I’ve been really into Balance and Composure recently so probably that “Tiny Raindrops” song or “Started From The Bottom” and it’s all over the place, probably something from the Frozen soundtrack. I’ve been jamming to that for what, like two months now? “Let It Go.” Do you maybe have anything special in the works? LW: Actually yes, I don’t know if I can announce it yet but I am working on another track with Zack and Kenneth that they actually produced and just kind of sent to me and I’m recording vocals here but it’s going to be really cool.
It was a pleasure chatting with you about your love for music and future plans, is there anything you want to let us know or talk about? LW: Find me on SoundCloud, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, I’m on all of those! I have my first cover up on YouTube so it’s the first real video I’ve made. Everything’s URL is DazyTheGirl.
S T O R Y : A L E X AN D R A S O U T H E R S T
As our name is Local Wolves, do you have a favorite local spot in your hometown or where you currently live? LW: Yeah, for sure! Mockingbird Cafe we actually just shot there for a music video, a couple weeks ago. We did a bunch of scenes. They were really nice, they just let us come in, we drank and looked really crazy in our outfits, it was really fun.
local wolves magazine // 25
centerfield
26
26
26
26
Behind the raucous clash of drums, emo guitar riffs and searing vocals is three piece punk outfit Centerfield. Drummer Mark Bessler, bassist A.J. Polesel and vocalist and guitarist Will Teague played together in other projects before creating Centerfield. The trio is keeping punk alive and wreaking havoc in Maryland’s DIY scene and beyond. Bessler chats with Local Wolves about getting rowdy on tour and citing Nicklebacks’ iconic tune “Rockstar” like champs. Describe the DIY scene in Maryland. What do you guys add to it? MB: The DIY scene in Maryland is pretty small. I currently book and host shows at the Charm City Art Space in Baltimore. We offer show trades for other bands around the U.S. so that we can have other DIY bands come through the area. Within that community, what are the dynamic and relationships like between you and other bands? MB: Within our community, there is a friendly relationship between us and the other Maryland DIY bands. We all help each other out. Our friends in Class Picture do most of our designs for our t-shirts and album artwork. How was touring? MB: Touring is always a fun and wild time. Securing the shows in several different states is always a tough job, especially when we are looking to play a show in a state where we have no connections. People are usually generous about housing us, but we have had some instances where we needed to stay at motels.
Can you tell us any exciting stories or adventures? MB: While driving to St. Augustine, Florida, we were hiking in Ocala and saw two black bears, which was unusual, but awesome. Later that night, our bassist A.J. took full advantage of the complementary drink tickets and ended up puking his brains out in the parking lot. How would you describe the energy of your live shows? MB: We try to just have a good time and make everyone attending the show feel warm and welcome. Who are your biggest musical influences? MB: Right off the bat, our three main influences are Creed, Theory of a Deadman and Tyga. Honestly, our real influences are Hot Water Music, The Lawrence Arms and Alkaline Trio. How would you describe your sound? MB: Our sound is just straight up melodic punk with some emo influences. What do you want your band to achieve? MB: We all just want to be big rock stars, living in hilltop houses, driving fifteen cars. Hometown Haunt: MB: There isn’t much in our hometown of Calvert County, but our favorite places to play are Charm City Art Space in Baltimore, MD and The Lab in Alexandria, VA. Both are friendly spaces with caring people running them. Either venues are perfect for any DIY shows and ticket prices are never above $12.
S T O R Y : A LY S S IA GI R D W AIN IMAGE S : C L A R E K IM
local wolves magazine // 27
RAPHAEL GOMES YouTuber, Raphael Gomes, first started watching videos on YouTube six years ago, and has seen wonderful success in the recent years. “As someone who’s been watching YouTube for so long, I guess I was inspired by other creators and their success stories. That being said, I never really expected that someone would actually care about me or my life.” To say care would be an understatement, with over 100,000 subscribers and an average of at least 70,000 views per video, not to mention his most popular videos range from 500,000 views to over a million views; Raphael has a loving and dedicated fan base waiting on his channel.
28
Gome’s videos range from his cooking videos, to different challenges and tags that he does with his fellow YouTuber friends, to everyday vlogs where he gets to share himself with his fans. Ideas come fairly easy to him, and Gomes says he’s got a whole secret stash of videos ready at any given point. One of the most relatable things about Gomes is his ability to fangirl. Nothing screams YouTube more than fangirling intensely over someone amazing. For Gomes, it’s Taylor Swift. On what he’d want to do for a day with Swift, “I would mostly try not to fangirl intensely and once I’m done with that, I’d probably take her on a trip to Paris knowing how much she loves the city and explore for the day. Also, maybe bake some butter biscuits with her because she loves baking almost as much as I do.” Two of his other celebrity crushes are Jennifer Lawrence and Harry Styles, two very obvious choices for anyone of his fans. Fan interaction is such a big part of being a YouTuber, and Gomes loves all his fans and, although it made him uncomfortable at first, he’s finally getting to enjoy being recognized on the street. He had fan encounters of all kinds, “I’ve had people in tears who couldn’t even look me in the eyes, and I’ve met viewers that sometimes end up being my real life friends.” Becoming a YouTuber can be a big step towards your future and a potentially life changing choice with Gomes, it was no different. Having started making videos at a young age, he never thought of exploring other areas or even get a “real life job or anything remotely close to it.” YouTube has provided him with some amazing opportunities, “I recently went on a trip to Chile to meet Owl City, Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen. I’m aware that I would have never gotten to do this if I didn’t have my YouTube following and that makes me very happy.” Outside of YouTube, he likes walking around London and getting street food, “Camden Town is probably the best place for that. You can get food from all over the world and the shops are so much fun if you enjoy vintage fashion. Crispy Chinese Chicken is a must try if you’re ever around” His favorite local place from his hometown is the downtown area near the river in Porto, Portugal. “It the summer you can see the boats with tourists driving under the bridge and it’s the most beautiful scenery I can think of.”
S T O R Y : AN D R E Y P A T IN O IMAGE S : P H I L I P P AMM O N
local wolves magazine // 29
ellis keyte S T O R Y : A LY S S A GI R D W AIN IMAGE : P R I T I S H I K O T R A
What made you start making YouTube videos? EK: I have a few friends who were already on YouTube and were having so much fun and travelling all the time and I thought huh I need to get involved in this! What kind of videos do you enjoy making? EK: I’m very random I make tags, challenges or me just rambling it’s just way too fun to sit and talk to a camera. How do you develop your content and ideas? EK: I like to try and stay on topic with stuff that’s happening right now and try not to plan more than two weeks ahead because everything can change in a night on the internet. What does being a part of the YouTube community mean to you? EK: It’s mean so much, t’s really awesome that there is this kind of family where everyone is accepted and no one judged or looked down on and it’s so amazing to me that just by making a video you can make peoples day better and just make them smile it means the world to me when I get those kind of messages. Do you see YouTube as a platform for you, or is it more of a hobby? EK: It started out as a hobby but it’s definitely moved into more of a platform, I actually really want to get involved in hosting events or presenting TV and already I’ve got some events in the pipeline I could be hosting coming up soon which is amazing. Who would you love to collaborate with/who do you enjoy collaborating with now? EK: I would love to collaborate with Louis Cole (funforlouis) his travelling vlogs always look so amazing! And I love collaborating with my friends it’s always so much to film with them but it takes so much time to edit because we’re never totally serious! What is your favorite local place from your hometown? EK: That’s so hard when you live in London! I love everything about London for me, it’s the best city in the world, I definitely recommend going to Primrose Hill, it’s my favorite place in London and it’s a great to just think about life!
30
local wolves magazine // 31
mandy a chat with
32
m
eet Mandy, Britain’s most up and coming comedic vlogger and presenter. Born in America, this UK native has received several awards from Cosmopolitan Magazine UK for her work in beauty, lifestyle and comedy blogging including “Next Up Vlogger” in May 2013 and “Highly Commended Best Vlogger” which she says is “a bit of a big deal in the girl blogging world.” Like many YouTubers, Mandy’s channel was created purely out of boredom, “in all honestly, I was a bored teenager with access to a webcam.” Mandy describes herself as a “chatty person” and hopes that her work on YouTube will help her obtain a career in presenting and/or stand up comedy. She goes on to say, “I think anybody who puts themselves in front of a camera wants a job entertaining others. I flourish in that environment.” When asked who her favorite YouTubers are, Julian Smith was a definite front runner with Mandy being a viewer of his since 2008 with Michelle Phan being another favorite. “Old school YouTubers” hold a special place in Mandy’s heart as she says that she loves watching them grow and evolve. She would also like to extend an honorable mention to her best friend and house mate bingradio/ slomozovon who she says is “going to go on and do big things in this world.” On the subject of YouTtubers, Mandy says that given the opportunity and choice she would like to collaborate with Julian Smith or KickThePj and make something “really beautiful but funny” or work on a travel project with the JacksGap crew “because the Rickshaw run was incredible and so well crafted.” As well as gaining a solid following on her website (itsamandything.com) and two YouTube channels, she has also made the majority of her friends through YouTube including her house mate and the people she’s met through her work on the platform. One of her favorite aspects of her channel is watching herself grow and change, “I adore being able to go back and pinpoint things that have happened in my life - both good and surprisingly bad.”
local wolves magazine // 33
I will be one of those people who document their life in some manner online. Forever a vlogger.” Although Mandy has noticed a few differences between American and British YouTubers, she also thinks that the gap has been bridged as a result of Americans catching onto the business side of things by developing merchandise and obtaining sponsorships. In her opinion, the American media has also caught on quicker to the success of those on the platform while the British media is only beginning to develop an understanding of the power of the YouTube fan base. We asked Mandy if she plans on visiting any American, YouTube related events and she said that she hopes to eventually make it VidCon and Playlist Live. Although she may not be attending any events in the U.S. she hopes to be at Summer In The City back home in the UK, and plans on visiting Los Angeles later this year mainly to see her YouTube friends. Fortunately, having been born in New York City, Mandy has an American passport which will make heading state side easier. Mandy’s obvious experience and love of her art led us to ask her to give advice to aspiring YouTubers. Her wise words are “do it for the love of creating and meeting others like minded and not to getting “mad crazy internet famous.” Do not get fixated on numbers and do not compare yourself to those at the top. It’s like a kitten looking up to a lion, same animal, different resources. Also something that people do not say often enough is people will forgive bad video quality and not bad audio. If you want to invest in anything first, make sure the mic is good.” This quirky Brit’s talents aren’t just limited to online endeavors. She can be found filming red carpet events, premieres or attending press screenings. She likes to spend her time watching “terrible films” with her friends, some of which she reviews on her website. YouTube she says, has become a show case for her many talents and passions.
34
Inspired by her video entitled “The Little Mermaid” in which she critiques the true meaning of the Disney’s classic children’s film. We asked her about what her favorite Disney movie is, to which she responded “I basically love all the other Disney films. As a child I was all about Snow White and Beauty and Beast is always a good one. I also love Aladdin and Hercules. But I saw Frozen recently as it was a fantastic addition to studio’s releases. “Let It Go” has managed to make it’s way onto my music playlists!” We can definitely see a bright future for Mandy and look forward to seeing what’s in store for this outspoken rising star who’s ultimate goal for her channel is “to have fun with it and always create content I enjoy both making and watching. If I don’t enjoy it, I think it shows to those watching it.” Keep an eye out for her!
S T O R Y : A L E X AN D R A S O U T H E R S T IMAGE S : P H I L I P P AMM O N
local wolves magazine // 35
KISSING FRACTURES “Kissing Fractures“ is the unofficial medical term for the symmetrical fracture pattern that is made when two skulls collide at equal force. I learned that after watching an episode of Bones, and thought that it was a beautiful combination of words.” Born and raised in the suburbs of Maryland, Aimee Lin is no stranger to the ever evolving DC music scene. Although she’ll be heading off to Brooklyn in the fall, Lin fully acknowledges the massive role DC has played in the development of her band, openly admitting that she wouldn’t be where she is now without it. “I didn’t appreciate the DC DIY scene as much until I spent some time away from it and realized that it was very unique, and that I was very lucky to be a part of it.” Lin has been performing as herself around the area for years, but her adoption and eventual assumption under the name Kissing Fractures is a fairly recent change. “I started writing music for Kissing Fractures in mid February of 2013. Prior to that, I had never seriously dedicated myself to writing music. My friend Zach had heard some of my stuff and proposed that we did a six song split, and so I began writing.” The split, 6 in 13, was released a month later and features music by both Lin and buddy Zachary Hillman. The melancholy tone present in many of her songs is strangely haunting, but in the best possible way. Kissing Fractures provides a softer, more pleasant alternative to
36
a lot of confrontational, in your face, sad songs. Despite her candid lyrics and the openness they might suggest, listeners should note that getting to the point of release wasn’t easy. For plenty of musicians, songwriting can prove to be an emotionally exhaustive process, but what proves even harder is sharing the end result. Lin says that she is no exception and many others has sometimes struggled with exposing her thoughts to the public. “Writing music has always been something that I have done to reason with myself. There have been many times when I have felt reluctant to share my music with other people. I’m rarely proud of what I write, but knowing that there are people who resonate with my art is probably what drives me to pursue music.” Despite this occasional reluctance, the obviously humble musician should find reassurance in the fact that the very music she is “rarely proud of” has been so well received. During the past June, she released her EP, It’s Never Nothing and only months later, sold out of tapes. Alongside the record, she released the statement, “often, when people ask what’s wrong, we reply with “nothing” but everyone knows that it’s never nothing.” “It’s Never Nothing” is a compilation of six poignant songs that carry an immense amount of emotional weight. “Most of my songs are written whenever I feel or experience something that lasts with me. Sometimes I borrow from parts of my dreams and pieces of stories that my friends
her most meaningful song to date. “It’s very personal, and I haven’t decided if I am going to release it yet, but it is probably the most honest thing I have written.” Outside of music, the very talented musician also spends much of her time working with the visual arts, her preferred mediums of choice being photography and mixed media. Although she’ll be attending art school this upcoming semester, she intends to continue making and playing music. “[Art] just allows me to sort out my thoughts in a different format, and translate things that I don’t really know how else to say.” For Lin, the most rewarding part of everything she creates is its impact on others. Knowing that people enjoy and find comfort in the songs she writes is what continually motivates her. “Being able to inspire people is also really wonderful. When I started writing, I thought it would just be a fun project my friends would occasionally listen to. Somebody once wrote me a message saying that they picked up their guitar again after seeing me play a show. That was really incredible.” Lin may be young, but her passion and accomplishments exceed that of your typical teenager. Despite this fact, she claims that she is nothing extraordinary. “I like to paint layers of nail polish on, and then wait for them to dry just to peel it all off. I can’t whistle or crack my knuckles. I like the smell gasoline, but I am terrified of driving. I’m not really all that interesting.”
have told me.” Following the album’s release, Kissing Fractures embarked on a short tour with Nikolaus. Prior to that summer, Lin claims that if anyone had proposed, that she’d go on tour (or release anything, in the first place) she probably would’ve just laughed. “Everything that happened sort of just happened, and I was experimenting with new things, and everything turned out better than I thought it would.” Though each memory made was certainly special, Lin says that one sticks out above the rest. “After Nick and I played a show in southern Rhode Island, we went to this beautiful lake with some of Nick’s friends from Willimantic who I had met the day before. We sat and skipped rocks, and sat in the freezing cold and watched the sunset. It ended up referencing the memory in one of my songs, “Past Tense.” It’s probably one of my favorite memories.
Though Lin may not believe she’s “all that interesting,” both friends and listeners alike know that is far from the truth. It is noticeable after just one listen, that she is a spirited individual with a knack for what she loves. Only time will tell where Kissing Fractures ends up, but it won’t be much of a surprise if it is doing something big and inspiring even more people along the way. “Something new will be released before the year ends, and you all will be in for a very nice surprise!”
S T O R Y : AMAN D A F E R R A R E S E IMAGE S : R A C H E L K O B E R
It’s been almost a year since It’s Never Nothing first came out and only a few demos have been released since then. However, fans need not worry, Lin promises that much more music is underway. Listeners are sure to be in for a pleasant surprise when they hear some of the new songs. “Everything I’ve been writing since August is very different from what was on It’s Never Nothing, and I have been putting a lot more thought into every aspect of every song. At the moment, I am just trying to write down what is most honest to me.” Hopefully, fans will get to hear what Lin remarks is
local wolves magazine // 37
graceanne
parks S T O R Y : C H E L S EA T O T T EN
G
raceanne Parks is the perfect blend of music, comedy and sass. She started out her YouTube channel because she had a lot to say, and she wanted to be heard. Parks describes her channel as a lot of things, but says it focuses mostly on music and comedy. On the musical side, she features original songs and cover videos. She says that music is a huge part of her life, and so she wanted to make sure it was a part of her YouTube channel. The comedy element is featured into a storytelling series where she talks about crazy things that have happened to her, and rants about things that she’s passionate about or that make her angry. In one segment in particular, “Tales of Graceanne” she shares bizarre stories. This segment was inspired by her real life story and was constantly being asked to tell stories as an icebreaker at parties. Her main goal overall is to try and be her weird sassy self. Parks says that her channel targets girls (or anyone else) around her age, or anyone struggling with depression, anxiety or other insecurities. The content of a lot of her videos includes loving yourself and going after your dreams. She loves the thought of people leaving her channel with a smile and a bit of hope, “My favorite thing is when I get to encourage or inspire my audience. If I can make a difference in one person’s life then my job is done and I’m happy.” Parks’ biggest YouTube inspirations are Olan Rogers and The Vlog Brothers. She admires that these people are their true selves and work hard to be where they are, hoping that one day she can be as successful as they are. She also finds inspiration in everyday life, things she sees in public that make her laugh or annoy her.
38
IMAGE : R A C H E L K O B E R
She even carries around a notebook with her to jot down ideas when they come up saying “I love to people watch in my free time because I always end up laughing at all of the weird things that people do.”
“My favorite thing is when I get to encourage or inspire my audience. If I can make a difference in one person’s life then my job is done and I’m happy.” As a college student who also works, Parks admits that it’s sometimes hard to post videos as religiously as she’d like to but that she always has ideas swimming around her head. Extremely grateful for all of the support she’s received so far, Parks wants you all to know that she loves each and every one of you and says, “They will never truly know how much it means that they support everything I do and believe in me. They are the best and can do anything they put their mind to.” Graceanne’s favorite spot to hang out is Peet’s Coffee and Tea. “They have the best coffee and a super chill vibe. It’s also great because it’s on the East and West Coast!”
local wolves magazine localwolves wolvesmagazine magazine // // 39 39 local
40
BIRDY At
just the tender age of eighteen,
with two albums down, an award and nomination at some of the biggest award shows such as the BRIT Awards, and winning talent shows as a child, a little birdy showed us that this powerhouse teen is just getting started! S T O R Y: G L EANN IGNAC I O IIMAGE S : R AC H E L KO B E R
local wolves magazine // 41
B
irdy is an English female singer and musician, whose music can be described as melancholic and powerful, but also fragile to an upbeat tune with a folky feel. Piano and voice become one, “I find they drive each other,” says Birdy. Influenced by the likes of Jeff Buckley, Tracy Chapman, and Keane, she began writing when she was just eight and admits that she had no idea it could even become a further possibility and later take her onto some of the highlights of her young life, “it was always something I just loved to do that was very natural for me,” Birdy comments about music. She grew up listening to a mix of genres, ranging from classical music to pop music and to artists like George Michael, Prince, KT Tunstall and Paolo Nutini. Born as Jasmine van de Bogaerde, she was always known as Birdy by her family and friends. Her parents gave her the nickname when she was a baby, “because when they’d feed me, I’d open my mouth really wide!” she reveals. Growing up with parents who were also deeply into music, as a professional concert pianist, Birdy’s mother would play and teach her classical pieces on the piano. It was around that time Birdy discovered songwriting as early around the age of six. When she was only twelve, she won a UK talent contest called Open Mic UK and got the opportunity to perform one of her own original songs in front of more than 2,000
42
“usually write with an instrument, the music comes first and then I start mumbling along.” people. She would later go on to record her self-titled debut album, which consisted of numerous covers such as Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love,” Phoenix’s “1901” and The Postal Service’s “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight.” Also, her singles are featured on hit television series and movies such as The Vampire Diaries and The Hunger Games to having a few tracks on The Fault In Our Stars soundtrack. In the past year, she released her second album, Fire Within, which she says is very personal, “it’s soulful and true,” says Birdy.
local wolvesmagazine magazine // 43 43 local wolves
44
“I can only make music that moves me.” Birdy finds inspiration from feelings she experiences around new places or from the people and stories around her, “I usually write with an instrument, the music comes first and then I start mumbling along,” she explains. Tracing back to her roots, back in the UK, Birdy loves her home at Hampshire, “Hampshire is very beautiful and peaceful,” she gushes, “where I live, it’s quite secluded with wild ponies running about everywhere,” she adds. Her favorite place though is to be right by the sea.
Throughout all the success, Birdy still manages to maintain a regular life, “the most important thing [for me] is to have your family and friends around you, always,” she says, “everything seems to happen so quickly, although it has actually been gradual, I’ve been able to grow at my own pace.” One of her biggest moments as a musician so far was being able to tour in Australia last year and play at the infamous Sydney Opera House for three nights, “somewhere I never imagined I’d get to play,” she says.
Birdy has been on the road and is having the time of her life! The crowds all across the country are warm and welcoming to her. She admits she is learning a lot from her fellow tour buddy and touring band mates as well by observing the performances and the interaction that Christina Perri makes with the audience on stage, “being the support act is a more relaxed feel and time to experiment,” she comments.
This summer, Birdy plans to return to Europe and perform at a couple of festivals and write new music. All this experience and achievements as a musician has taught her to always go with her gut and just do what she loves. Hopeful that others will feel the emotion and honesty in her songs, Birdy will continue to buzz around, “I can only make music that moves me.”
local wolves magazine // 45
RICH CHILL TV There’s nothing that Rich Nwaoko loves more than making people laugh. When he was in university, Nwaoko found that there was a lack of social activities, and decided to make it the goal of his university career to entertain his school. Nwaoko became the campus DJ, “DJ Rich Chill” and once a week he would play in a game room near the school where all the students would come and rock out. Every Thursday became “Chill Night” and he discovered he loved giving people something to look forward to. It was also in college that Nwaoko realized he was different than everyone else in another way, he was the only one without a smart phone. Instagram started taking over, and when he was assigned to create a skit on cyber harassment so he created Stanley, a campus nerd seeking recognition. After people’s positive response to Stanley, he decided to take it even further and create a web series for his Master’s Degree thesis. The webisodes were called “Instantly Famous” and was about a man that uses social media to make it look like he’s famous. Nwaoko wanted the series to inspire young, creative people and be able to educate people while still being able to entertain. He played every role in creating Instantly Famous by producing, directing, writing and acting in every episode. Though he loves doing all of these things, he says he does prefer one, “I must say, I love being in front of the camera. When the cameras are rolling, I get lost in the roles I play.” Nwaoko gets a lot of his inspiration from a bunch of 90’s sitcoms that he watched growing up like The Fresh Price of Bel-Air, Martin and The Cosby Show. “All of these great entertainers took a piece of their lives and demonstrated it in their works.” Next, Nwaoko plans on tapping into more genres with his work hinting at his future projects saying “I already have some drama productions in the works.” He is working to get his work picked up by cable television and land a leading role. So stay tuned to Rich Chill TV and brush up on your episodes of Instantly Famous because Rich Nwaoko is just getting started.
S T O R Y : C H E L S EA T O T T EN IMAGE S : R A C H E L K O B E R
46
local wolves magazine // 47
LIME CORDIALE S T O R Y : A L E X AN D R A S O U T H E R S T IMAGE S : E R I C M O O NE Y
Y
ou’ve heard of soul, you’ve heard of Indie and you’ve definitely heard of rock but have you ever considered what a combination of the three would sound like? Well, look no further music connoisseurs, for we have just what you’re looking for Lime Cordiale! This Aussie duo comprised of brothers, Louis and Oliver Leimbach may be newcomers to the states but they’ve definitely found their place. Citing musical influences as Citizen Cope, Cosmo Jarvis, The Strokes and The Specials, they describe themselves as a “soul indie rock” band who gets their name from their aunt’s classical music festival, Musique Cordiale. Their old soul and motown sound with unexpected entrances from the solo trombone, clarinet and trumpet really sets them apart. The two brothers like to change their band around for each tour while their drummer, James plays the majority of their shows. Having gone to the Conservatorium of Music together in Sydney, Australia, the duo is pleased to have given James a spot in the group, “I’m happy to say that we were the first guys to pull James away from the empty piggy bank of jazz.” Lime Cordiale says that their favorite stop during their days on the road for tour has been Santa Barbara, thanks to its great surf which has inspired several more trips back from Los Angeles. Of course, Oliver has a favorite song off the band’s new EP which he says is “Everything Else.” Oliver describes the song, “It’s the last song on the EP and we had no expectations for it. It’s got this crazy uplifting middle section that makes me want to pull my pants off and run through the corporate side of any city.” >>
48
local wolves magazine // 49
50
CONT’D What is a band without fans? Well, Oliver hopes that “in a year’s time we’ll have a whole lot of friends and fans here in the USA, that makes it real easy to pop on over.” Of course, the band already has a trip back state side planned for June as well as another in September but they can’t neglect their fans back home! Oliver says that they want to spend as much time as they can in the states and have the opportunity to as a result of their American team who “pretty much never put their phones down, their husbands and wives must hate them.” Dream future collaborations include Jeff Buckley who Oliver says he would “kill” for a singing lesson with. Of course, Lime Cordiale would love to collaborate with a “songwriting legend” like Paul McCartney which the band says would be “kick*ss.”
Another dream collaboration would be Beyoncé according to Oliver who says, “To have a Lime Cordiale song (ft. Beyoncé) wouldn’t be too shabby!” Lime Cordiale’s top three most played songs are “Stronger Than Me” by Amy Winehouse, “Rollercoaster” by Whitest Boy Alive, and “Bullet And A Target” by Citizen Cope. When the band isn’t kicking it state side, they like to relax on a “little secret beach” on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, back home in Australia. Conveniently the beach is close to their parents’ house where they grew up. The U.S. could always use more laid back Aussies like Oliver and Louis so keep an eye out for future tuneage and who knows? Maybe they’ll roll into a town near you!
local wolves magazine // 51
<<
the 1975 + e r i c m oo n e y
52
local wolves magazine // 53
<<
+ m a d i so n b a ss -taylor
elbow + pr i t i sh i kotr a
54
<<
<<
t o ta l s l a c k e r
the dunwells + pr i t i sh i kotr a
<<
ta k i n g b a c k s u n d ay + dyl a n r a z o
local wolves magazine // 55
<<
neon lights tour + l e x i e a ll e y
f i fth h a r m o n y
ch e r lloyd
d e m i lovato
56
lloyd
local wolves magazine // 57
<<
the orwells + L E X IE A L L E Y
58
<<
t. m i l l s
<<
+ r a ch e l kob e r
j o h n b u t l e r t ri o + pr i t i sh i kotr a
<<
m i n i at u r e t i g e r s + m a d i so n b a ss -taylor
local wolves magazine // 59