LOCAL WOLVES // ISSUE 18 - BROODS

l o c a l

w o lv e s

m a g a z i n e

D E A R WOL F I E S :

Digging the fall season so far and very looking forward to the new fashion trends and of course, juicy pop culture jazz.

I’d guess you’d say that this “collaborative” issue is based soley on music. We all know and love the songs we listen to and occassionally dance to in public. Why not share with our wolfies, some new bands and artists that’s been catching our eye. Loads of stuff in the works like a #girlpower issue which is going to be really awesome, just sayin.’

Cathrine Khom

founding editor-in-chief

many thanks:

broods

joseph hernandez

nelson, nz

los angeles, ca

dylan gardner

katy tiz

los angeles, ca

los angeles, ca

eliza & the bear

local natives

london, uk

los angeles, ca

fmmf

moderne

columbus, oh

orange county, ca

fourth & coast

nghbrs

san diego, ca

long island, ny

from indian lakes

priory

s. yosemite valley, ca

portland, or

head north

vacationer

buffalo, ny

philadelphia, pa

iwearsin

spencer sutherland

london, uk

columbus, oh

jordan JAE

starling glow

new york, ny

orange county, ca

summer camp ojai, ca

the futures league los angeles, ca

twin forks boca raton, fl

wolf gang london, uk

wonderful humans new york, ny

zak waters los angeles, ca

mucho love to: aubrey reid, circa survive, future island, new found glory, parachute, st. lucia, switchfoot

s e p t- o c t 2014

contents

Classics 07

playlist

08

munchies

09

aptitude

10

diy department

12

on the street

14

p.s. positivity

fea t u re s 16 20

summer camp iwearsin

28

joseph hernandez

32

spencer sutherland

34 62

fall music picks broods

70 fmmf

iss ue eig ht e e n / / s e p t + o c t t w e n t y fo u rteen

broods

founder / editor-in-chief cathrine khom managing editor samai khom copy editor sophia khom pr assistant faith escalera web designer ariane therrien diy coordinator madison bass-taylor music wiz sena cheung front cover logo fiona yeung back cover logo isabel ramos cover photo rachel epstein contributing writers kamrin baker, ashley bulayo, orion carloto, sydney clarke, amanda ferrarese, jessica goldman, gleann ignacio, katrina kalamar, jacob karre, hudson luthringshausen, shawn mulcahy, lydia snapper, alexandra southerst contributing photographers lexie alley, philipp ammon, riley buttery, chris coe, rachel epstein, kylee gregg, amanda harle, emily hedrick, gleann ignacio, marshall mckinley, katy johnson, rachel kober, sophia li, lhoycel marie, annie jacobs, ruby james, dunja opalko, dylan razo, elisa rodriguez, haydn rydings, priti shikotra, madison bass-taylor graphic designers christine ennis, elizabeth ellins, cathrine khom, gabrielle larsen, isabel ramos style department sophie bernard, caroline depta, emily hedrick, mackenzie isom, jessie yarborough description local wolves magazine, an online + print publication based in southern california with a talented team from all over the world. we focus on embracing the local scene in art, music, entertainment and film. our goal is to capture and share the stories about people doing what they love to do.

st a y c o nne ct e d w i t h b rood s // w eb s it e br o o ds .c o f a c eb o o k br o o ds m u s i c t w it t er @ br o o ds m u s i c inst a g ram @ br o o ds m u s i c

connect http://localwolvesmag.com http://facebook.com/localwolves http://twitter.com/localwolves http://instagram.com/localwolves http://localwolvesblog.tumblr.com http://pinterest.com/localwolves general inquiries localwolvesmagazine@yahoo.com press + advertisting inquiries localwolvespress@gmail.com

COVERAGE: SENA CHEUNG

local wolves magazine // 7

munchies +

sloan’s +

STORY & IMAGES: RILEY BUTTERY

Sloan’s was founded in 1999 by Sloan Kamerstein, a classically trained chef and ice cream connoisseur. For many south Floridians, such as myself, Sloan’s is just that one place that everyone knows about when you say it. It’s known for its colorful, quirky interior and freakishly cool bathrooms (the glass window in the bathroom fogs up when you lock the door!). It was a staple of my childhood and continues to make me feel like a child whenever I go in it, which is one of its alluring qualities (other than the intoxicating smell of ice cream, of course).

The most popular flavor cookie monster, their version of cookies and cream. My faves are the black and white malt and the coconut samoas (also my favorite girl scout cookie). For now, they only have these in south Florida, but their popularity is quickly expanding and you can soon get your very own Sloan’s ice cream in San Diego, CA and Athens, Greece!

+ where to find us

8

112 south clematis street west palm beach, florida 33401 (561) 833-3335

aptitude +

i n s t a g ra m c o n t e n t + IMAGES: AUDREY REID

do it yourself personalized dorm decor on your wall

SUPPLIES + frames used a normal frame and then a large shadow box for more dimension + paint pens bought craftsmart paint pens + patterned paper bought mine from michaels craft store + note if you print your design / quote out, make sure to reverse the image before you print it in order to make it easier!

STEP ONE remove the glass from the picture frame and tape the paper with the design on the back of the glass. then use the paint pen to trace your design onto the glass (the side that does not have the paper on it)

STEP TWO after you trace your design let it dry.

STEP THREE place the glass back into the frame (make sure the side you painted is on the inside of the frame so your design is the right way). After you put your glass in, add your patterned paper behind it.

10

COVERAGE: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR

STEP FOUR use hooks or hang or even just rest it on your desk!

finished ! + tip try different color paint pens, different fonts, sizes, and even photographs for the back of the frame!

local wolves magazine // 11

12

on the street Echo Park Rising is an annual music festival in Echo Park, Los Angeles that features local bands from records labels such as Burger Records and Lollipop Records. There was a lot of diverse fashion throughout the entire weekend, and it’s always fun to see the creative touches that people put on their outfits. I loved seeing the mixture of vintage pieces with modern pieces in a lot of stylings. The most popular trends I began noticing were plaid miniskirts, torn up tee’s, flannels, harem pants, platform shoes, metal arm-bands, and Ray-Bans.

COVERAGE: EMILY HEDRICK

n o i n r o i Or O: loto: o ar tC o l r a C

M

y dearest Wolfies,

Hello and welcome to the month of October! Lately I’ve been getting a lot of messages on Tumblr regarding insecurities and body image and I thought I would address it. I’m aware that in March I answered a few questions regarding selfconfidence, but I thought that I should go more in depth about body acceptance because it’s a very important topic in today’s society and I feel as though we aren’t reminded enough about the beauty of all different body shapes and sizes.

Of course, being a teenager, those questions and concerns are totally normal. Now, I’m not saying I’m an expert, but we all get self-conscious about ourselves here and there and I’ve learned some things and taught myself what I’m doing wrong along the way. Ahhhh, so I guess you could say that I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Beginning middle school was around the time I started realizing that I just simply didn’t like the way I looked and I felt like I didn’t fit in, like I was one giant pre-pubescent, chubby-faced, flat-chested, tummy-bulged, big-nosed oddball. I felt embarrassed with every flaw and imperfection that I had. It would consume my every thought every time I looked at myself in the mirror.

Obviously that was the WORST possible thing I could do to myself. Not to mention, changing in front of other girls in

14

the locker room was my biggest nightmare. Not because of the fact that I thought it may awkward to change in front of my fellow peers, but instead it was the fear of others seeing my body and judging me more than I judged myself.

Now, hear me out on this, my insecurities didn’t just go away all in one night (although I wish it did because that would’ve saved me a whole lot of years not comparing myself to every girl that walked passed me), but instead they lured throughout my thoughts and followed me all the way up until my sophomore year of high school.

It was a long journey of trying to accept myself for who I am, but thank based God I grew up a little and started understanding more and more that this is who I am and nothing in this universe can change that.

Here is a few important things that I learned when going through this terrifying stage in my life. I honestly wish someone would’ve given me this advice growing up because that would’ve helped TONS. So since we are never really taught how to accept our bodies in school, or anywhere for that matter, I am here to teach you guys what I taught myself.

1. STOP COMPARING YOURSELF! The most toxic thing you could ever do to yourself is look at others and compare yourself to them. Instead of focusing on all the things that other people have, start focusing on all the tiny things that makes you special. Little do you know that you have so many wonderful things that make you exactly who you are. Every single individual is one of a kind.

There is no one who has your soul but you. There is no one who can laugh the way you do. There is no one who’s eyes light up like yours do. SO DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF TO ANYONE! No celebrity or model or anyone for that matter can ever amount to the person you are and you HAVE to remember that.

2. REMEMBER THAT WHATEVER IT IS YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT, IT’S SO NORMAL! It doesn’t matter if you’re big or skinny, tall or short, masculine or lanky, hairy or shaved, thigh gap or not, stretch marks across your flesh, cellulite on your booty, ALL OF THAT IS HUMAN. 110% HUMAN BEING AND NOTHING ARTIFICIAL OR DISGUSTING ABOUT IT. YOU ARE STILL SO BEAUTIFUL. Have you ever really taken the time to see how cool stretch marks are?! Some are white, some are red, some look like lighting, others look like water reflections. They’re all so beautiful. It’s basically your body leaving cool a** art on your flesh while screaming “Hey look at me! I’m growing!

I’m growing!” There’s no reason to feel embarrassed of your body due to something so harmless and natural, trust me.

Even I’m guilty of having stretch marks and cellulite, but am I ashamed of my body? No, and you shouldn’t either because you’re still a gem and that doesn’t change who you are as a person.

3. FALL IN LOVE WITH YOURSELF! Nothing is more sexier than a person that loves themselves more than anyone on this planet. No, I’m not talking about being conceited. There’s a fine line between self-confidence and being cocky. Life is too short to sit around and pick out every flaw in your being. Instead, just think of it this way: Nobody on this entire planet has the exact flaws that you do. Nobody has the imperfections that your body has. And if you really think about it, that’s SO cool because thats what makes you has a human being so different from everyone else. Do what makes you happy, buy yourself a new outfit, get your nails done, put on a full face of makeup. And at the end of the day, wipe it all off, stare into your mirror with a wet face, and feel as beautiful as you did before you took it off. Remind yourself of this every single day until you’re no longer walking on this Earth. You deserve to feel as good about yourself as every other person in this universe does.

Loving yourself is so important.

“Wanting to be someone else is a waste

of the person you are.”– Kurt Cobain

wear or how many rolls we have on our tummies when we sit down, that NONE of that matters. None of that is who you are. You aren’t your body, you are your SOUL. You are everything you put out into this world and NOT a number on a scale. Learn to encourage others and compliment everyone because what’s the fun of living in a world where we’re all shaming each other based on size? We are all so much more than the size of our bodies. We are all unique and beautiful creatures. You only get one body, you can shape it and mold it, but ultimately you are bound to it.

You need to learn to accept the body that you have. This is where happiness and contentment for your body comes from. Now, I’m not saying my advice is going to change anyone’s life or make someone confident in the snap of my fingers, but I do hope that it give you guys some insight and a little piece of advice. All I’m saying is this: Remember that your imperfections should never define you as a person.

Accepting your body can be easy for some and difficult for others and I think everyone needs to be aware of that.

I’m so tired of seeing different body types get shamed and others glorified! That should never ever be the case. We all have to remind ourselves that no matter what size jeans we

local wolves magazine // 15

16

summer camp I’VE ALWAYS HAD THIS everlasting crush on anything mid-century modern or mid-century for that matter, so you can imagine when driving into the cute small town of Ojai to see this ever so lovely midcentury gas station sitting there, I had to find out what it was. After multiple times of driving through Ojai and seeing this place, I finally got to explore and find out what it was. Little did I know I would be interning there shortly after.

COVERAGE: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR

local wolves magazine // 17

18

+ CONNECT website: http://shopsummercamp.com instagram: @shopsummercamp + HOURS tuesday – saturday 11am – 5pm sunday 12pm – 4pm closed monday

After getting married, owners Rachel and Mike came across this amazing space and knew exactly what to do with it. By combining their experience in framing and their love for handcrafted goods, vintage collectibles, and the outdoors, Summer Camp was born. Not only does Summer Camp catch your eye on the outside, but the same happens on the inside. When you walk inside of this amazing space you immediately say I want my home to be just like this.

With the high ceiling, all of the windows, and the amazing wood and glass roll up garage doors you feel like you are in heaven.

Inside of that heavenly space, you will find anything. Not only will you find a great framing job, but also so many goods you just want to keep forever. There are candles, soaps, paper goods, leather goods, maps, typewriters, cameras, blankets, vintage picnic baskets, jewelry, and tons more little goods you will melt over. Another great thing about the shop are all of their events and workshops.

Be sure to stop by the shop! Gather up your friends for a day trip, stop by the shop and explore the town of Ojai, or even stay for a weekend at the lovely Ojai Rancho Inn just down the street from Summer Camp. If Summer Camp doesn’t make you want to pack up and go camping then I don’t know what will.

local wolves magazine // 19

iwearsin IMAGES: KATY JOHNSON IN 2010, SIN was initially just a local brand originating from the USA, targeted to like-minded girls who love dressing up without breaking the bank. It is definitely not a smoothsailing journey, but we are more than glad to be able to learn how to improve our brand to deliver the best quality to our customers. Designed and hand-picked fabric by our team personally, we’re very strict in quality control as we believe our customers’ satisfaction is our ultimate goal. Now expanded to international market with USA, UK and Australia being the core market, SIN also works with famous online fashion icons all over the world for a more elaborated fashion involvement as an effort to approach the customers even better.

20

local wolves magazine // 21

22

+ this look: white basic bralette with sunflower shorts.

local wolves magazine // 23

+ this page: a teasing top (plum) & playful pleats (plum) : opposite page: sunflower skater dress.

24

local wolves magazine // 24

local wolves magazine // 25

+ this look a long silhouette (white) with a blue denim jacket.

26

joseph hernandez QUESTIONS: ASHLEY BULYAO IMAGES: JOSEPH HERNANDEZ First off, how did you get into photography?

What was the first camera you ever owned?

JH: My passion for photography stemmed from my previous passion for filming video. I originally thought that I wanted to film videos, so my parents bought me a camcorder, the Canon Vixia HF200 to be exact. Ironically, it turned out that I ended up using the camcorder to shoot photographs and hardly used it to film at all. My first real DSLR was the Canon T3i, which I still use today. It was a Christmas gift from my father when I was 14 years old.

How did you learn to use the camera and was it all self-taught or did you have a mentor?

JH: I started off experimenting with my camera on my own until I soon realized that I wasn’t using my camera to its full potential because of my lack of knowledge of its controls and functions. I’ve never really been one to read manuals so I took to YouTube, and watched online tutorials on the basics of photography. I quickly picked up on the trade and after that it was just practice practice practice.

When was it when you realized you wanted to officially take up photography as a profession?

JH: I would say it wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I really decided I wanted to pursue photography as a career. I realized this after a trip I took to Europe over the summer. That trip opened my eyes to see how much I loved traveling around taking photographs, and I was pretty certain I would want to make a career out of it.

I know that cameras and accessories could cost thousands of dollars! What’s next on your wish list for your camera?

JH: Well as I said before, I still shoot all my photographs with my first camera. Sadly, I’ve used it so much that I will soon have to put her to rest *cries.* The camera that will be replacing her, is the Canon 6D. I hope to acquire it sometime very soon. As far as other accessories go, I just plan on upgrading my lens lineup.

28

local wolves magazine // 29

Looking back at all the images you’ve taken so far, what image holds fond memories with you?

JH: I would have to say that the image that holds the most memories for me is an image I took at my first Instameet.

The image is of a little girl in a bunny mask, who is staring at her brother, and the look on his face is priceless. The image holds such fond memories for me because this image put me through to the semi-finals of the Spotlight Awards Competition. I like to think of this image as the one that started it all. It was after this competition that great opportunities started arising for me in photography.

Who are the photographers you look up to or inspire you?

JH: I find myself inspired by photographers that I come across on Instagram. One of my main inspirations is Jared Chambers. He is really big on Instagram with over 200k followers. He travels all around the world taking photographs of his friends and landscapes. I’ve completely fallen in love with his style of shooting and editing. Some other photographers that I look up to are Ravi Vora, Bryant Eslava, and Chuck Lang, just to name a few.

If you could shoot any person or any place in the world, what would you want to shoot?

JH: I would say that there isn’t one particular person I would want to shoot, but more a particular culture. I’ve always wanted to travel to a third world country to photograph its citizens, as well as their living conditions. I believe in the power of a photograph, and that a photograph can shine the light on an issue, causing a change.

30

Besides photography, what other activities or such do you do?

JH: When I’m not taking photographs or editing photographs I enjoy many different things. I’m a big fan of spending hours on YouTube watching prank videos. I also love to work out, and play sports. I’m a huge Dodgers fan, so I go to quite a few games during the season. I also love to hike, and really enjoy spending time in nature.

You just graduated high school so what’s next for you?

JH: I’ve taken a semester off to focus on just my photography. But come winter, I will be enrolling in college. My plan is to get a business major, and minor in photography. Business, aside from photography, has always been one of my biggest passions. I love dealing with money, and the stock market has always been something that has interested me.

You’re traveling to take photos now but when you’re taking a break, what are some of your favorite local spots in Alhambra that you like to go to?

JH: When I’m in my hometown I love to stop by some of its local restaurants, my favorite would have to be Ricks burgers. It’s a cool place to just eat and hang out with friends.

Another great place I spend some time, is the local movie theatre. It’s located in a small plaza that has a great candy shop and soft served ice cream parlor, which always seems to hit the spot after seeing a good movie.

local wolves magazine // 31

32

checking in with:

spencer sutherland COVERAGE: LEXIE ALLEY

What is your musical background like?

SS: Ever since I can remember, I’ve sang. As I grew up, I realized it’s really the only thing that I wanted to do! In high school I literally played anywhere and everywhere including a whole lotta random restaurants, just to be in front of people! Then one day I auditioned for a woman who is now my manager and my whole life changed. I’m now lucky enough to be doing what I love at a much larger scale!

Does your hometown, Ohio, find it’s way into your music?

SS: I draw inspiration from everywhere! Girls, determination, positivity, all my songs come from different places. LA and NYC sort of stand as symbols of opportunity for me, so naturally I love going there. I do however love my hometown and the Midwest feel. It’s nice to return every few weeks and take a deep breath.

What was your initial goal when you started making music and has that goal changed or become more attainable?

SS: My initial goal is the same as it is today! My goal is to make people happy through my music. As time goes on, I’m seeing my dreams coming true and it’s mind blowing that I’m able to reach people! I can’t wait to see what happens in the future :) What is your best memory while touring?

SS: I would have to say is meeting fans. I love the feeling of the immediate response from a performing live. It feels incredible when you see them singing along to my own song.

And it’s unbelievably cool when you see fans follow you from gig to gig, city after city. They have no idea how good that makes me feel.

How has touring bettered you as an artist and do you see yourself headlining your own tour in the future?

SS: Touring has taught me so much! I’ve learned that experience is the best way to learn. I’ve learned anything from what works and what doesn’t work on stage to how much sleep is enough. Touring is my favorite thing to do and I am determined to headline one day.

How do you want people to feel after listening to one of your songs?

SS: I want people to feel like they are there with me! Being able to relate to my songs is so important to me!

What’s the coolest place your music career has taken you?

SS: LA is one of my favorite places on earth. Probably because of what I get to do there, but its also picture perfect.

I never thought I would ever go to LA let alone every other week! I feel lucky to have the opportunity.

Who was “Spencer Sutherland” before, your music took off?

SS: I had so many jobs before and partially during my career! I can’t have a job anymore, but I’ve worked at a nursing home, Abercrombie, landscaping, you name it, I did it! I tried some online college, but my schedule is way too crazy right now!

local wolves magazine // 33

34

music for the heart & soul we can never get enough of music, it’s everywhere. here is a collection full of our new favorite bands + artists emerging onto our fall playlist this upcoming season. as much as we love them, we think you will too.

local wolves magazine // 35

dylan gardner STORY: SYDNEY ADAMSON IMAGES: RACHEL EPSTEIN

Over 50,000 number of views that Dylan Gardner has racked up on his very first YouTube video. Impressive, right?

The video, titled “#DylanBrokeUpTheBeatles – Abbey Road in 15 Seconds,” was posted in April to coincide with the 40th anniversary of The Beatles breakup (hence the title).

The teen musician covered the entire second side of Abbey Road in 15-second snippets using everyday instruments like bass and piano and a few not so commonplace instruments like an accordion and a synth. Not long after it was posted, the video went viral. “That was kind of insane,” Gardner said. “Seeing that people liked it was really heartwarming.

It was a good day to know that everyone got to celebrate The Beatles.”

With his deep brown kempt hair, pronounced eyebrows and buttoned-up, retro style, Gardner even kind of resembles one of The Beatles. He used influences from the famous four piece, as well as Elliot Smith, Ben Folds and fun. to write his debut album, Adventures In Real Time which was released on May 12, 2014. “Music has kind of been in my -

36

DNA since day one, and I felt like this was the perfect time and perfect songs,” Gardner said of the album. “These songs are me in a time and place wanting to get started and just go out and sing for the stars.” By releasing an album at 17 years old, Gardner clearly defies the tendencies of an average teen. He also decided to side step college after graduating from home schooling a year early and instead of the usual procrastination and laziness any number of teens display daily, he fills his days with productive musical activities so that he can stretch his creative muscles and keep his songwriting skills in shape.

Right now, he is trying to build up a strong social media following, a task that should prove to be fairly simple considering Adventures In Real Time is packed with 10 smart, heart-felt, melodic, 60’s-influenced pop songs, each of which Gardner worked hard to curate. “I didn’t want one good song and then nine songs that I wrote in a day,” he said. “I wanted music that didn’t insult peoples intelligence and I wanted people to go on the adventure with me.”

local wolves magazine // 37

38

from indian lakes QUESTIONS: AMANDA FERRARESE IMAGES: LHOYCEL MARIE LOCAL WOLVES IS ALL ABOUT SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL SCENE AND STAYING TRUE TO YOUR ROOTS. THAT BEING SAID, WHERE ARE YOU FROM AND HOW DO YOU FEEL YOUR HOMETOWN HAS INFLUENCED YOUR DEVELOPMENT, NOT ONLY AS INDIVIDUALS, BUT AS A BAND? FIL: I think growing up in the mountains has definitely had a big part in the sound of this band. You have the cliche small town feelings that most bands latch onto, but there is also the incredibly beautiful sights. Constantly being in that natural environment can have a way of keeping you grounded in different ways i think.

THE LATEST SINGLE FROM YOUR NEW ALBUM, ABSENT SOUNDS IS ENTITLED “SLEEPING LIMBS” AND FEATURES AN ACCOMPANYING MUSIC VIDEO. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO RELEASE THIS PARTICULAR TRACK? FIL: I think its the best introduction to the new songs. It has a constant groove and it flows well, whereas the rest of the songs are a little trickier, and more focused on a particular sound. The newest single that just came out “Ghost” is another groovier one.

ARE THERE ANY PERSONAL FAVORITES OFF THE RECORD? AND IF SO, WHY? FIL: I really like the song Awful Things. It’s a sad song with a Shins and Real Estate kind of vibe going on. I’m also really happy with the song, “Runner.” I had never done any real guitar solos which i do on both songs, so that was fun.

local wolves magazine // 39

IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU FEEL ABSENT SOUNDS DIFFERS FROM ABLE BODIES? FIL: I think there is an obvious maturity. Friends have said that the new album makes the last sound amateur, which is an incredible compliment. Writing and recording it was basically the same as the last album. I think living in a big city the last couple years affected it somewhat. It still sounds like the same band, but i will never write the same songs twice, so its definitely a different type of sound in a lot of ways. The response to the new material from fans has been really awesome.

WHERE DO YOU DRAW A MAJORITY OF YOUR INSPIRATION FROM DURING THE SONGWRITING PROCESS? FIL: I was mostly inspired by going back and forth from the city to the mountains quite a bit. Being torn between nature and man made things.

WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND TO BE THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF CREATING MUSIC AND PUTTING YOURSELVES OUT THERE? THE MOST REWARDING? FIL: I think the biggest challenge for anyone when creating something, is trying to ignore the negative opinions that come with it, taking in the positive and all that. The artists lifestyle isn’t always the most financially rewarding at times, but being truly creative for a living is not something that a lot of people are given the opportunity to do.

40

IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE, WHAT OTHER BANDS DO YOU FEEL HAVE SHAPED YOUR OWN MUSICAL ENDEAVORS? FIL: I really love Radiohead. Bombay Bicycle Club is another huge inspiration. The Shins, The Dodos, Fleet Foxes and The Deftones are those come to mind at this moment as bands that i’ve loved for a long time, and aren’t just what i like right now.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND IN JUST A FEW WORDS? FIL: Sad, beautiful, hopefully. Alternative rock, experimental soft and slow. Depends on what you’re into i guess.

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING OR SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN YOUR MUSICAL CAREERS THUS FAR? FIL: Probably meeting some huge bands that have come out to our shows to see us. I think thats a really cool moment in ones career. In my opinion, to have the respect of the people you respect is more important than a lot of other things in this industry.

WHERE DO YOU HOPE TO SEE FROM INDIAN LAKES A YEAR FROM NOW- WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT IN THE COMING MONTHS? ARE THERE ANY SURPRISES THEY SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF? FIL: I would hope that a year from now, things are bigger and better in all aspects. Big shows and events and all that.

There are some surprises but i don’t want to ruin anything.

local wolves magazine // 41

wolf gang QUESTIONS: ASHLEY BULAYO IMAGE: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR

Wolf Gang started off as a solo act. How did you four come together to create a band?

WG: We were put in touch with Max through friends of friends on the London Music scene and over the years we just gelled as a touring band. Given that we all write anyway, we thought it made sense for us to come together and write/ record album two as a totally collaborative effort.

What’s the story behind the name, Wolf Gang?

WG: Max’s sister suggested the name a while back and it just stuck.

It’s been three years since the last album! What can listeners expect from your new tracks?

WG: As a collaborative effort between the four of us so you can totally hear all the individual characters coming through.

This time round the songs are a lot more grounded in the realities of life, they’re very reflective of where we all are in whatever grand scheme we’re immersed in.

Can you tell us what it was like working with music producer, Flood?

WG: Flood has produced so many of my favorite albums so it was a dream come true for me. That said, he’s very down to earth and he knows exactly how to eek the best performance from you so it was a very relaxed yet exciting affair.

42

You’re reaching more and more fans each day.

When you first started this band, did you ever imagine the outcome you’re receiving so far?

WG: It really means a lot to us to be able to travel the globe and have people sing our songs back to us, it’s an elating experience for us.

Who would be your dream band to open up for if given the chance?

WG: I’d love to open for U2, that would be a dream come true for me.

What are your favorite local spots to go visit on your downtime?

WG: London is such a hot pot of culture, we can usually be found wandering the many museums, galleries and parks or sifting through the racks of some record store somewhere.

Looking back on your journey up until today, what do you think has been the band’s biggest accomplishment?

WG: The whole journey so far has been an incredible accomplishment for me, to be afforded an opportunity to forge a career from doing what you enjoy should be relished, every step of the way.

starling glow QUESTIONS: SYDNEY CLARKE IMAGE: RACHEL EPSTEIN

Tell us a bit about the name Starling Glow.

Where did it come from?

SG: My producer’s wife suggested it actually. A starling is a songbird and we thought it was very fitting. Glow just seemed to match the vibe of the music. So there you have it!

How do you feel that growing up in the OC has influenced you and your music?

SG: I think being from Orange County has definitely shaped me as a musician. I cut my teeth playing Chain Reaction in Anaheim, Slide Bar in Fullerton, the Observatory in Santa Ana, among other great local venues. The music community in OC is really tight, everybody knows everybody, there’s a lot of talent. I think that environment fosters you to work hard because everyone else busting their butt too. The great thing is that everyone is supportive instead of competitive with one another. I’ll rep my OC roots proudly til the day I die. the “We Are Infinite” remix debuted on the Billboard dance charts, Was it hard to create a remix with Dave Aude that blended the two genres?

SG: Debuting “We Are Infinite” as a dance remix before releasing the album version was a huge experiment but it worked out well. Being a new artist, it’s hard to gain exposure. The EDM scene is really blowing up right now, so we figured there was nothing to lose by having Dave Audé remix “We Are Infinite” and see if we could make a splash in the dance world. Dave did an amazing job with it, and the single’s Billboard chart success has been a dream come true. The album version however lends a lot more to my pop/ rock influences. I love both versions in their own right.

Let’s face it—female rockers are pretty darn awesome. How does it feel to be a female role model in today’s society?

SG: Why thank you! I mean, I feel like I had no choice other to be a rocker because lord knows I can’t dance (laughs). I definitely feel a responsibility to my fans on multiple levels.

Any time you step on a stage and put yourself out there, people are watching you, what you say, what you do. I remember growing up and comparing myself to celebrities and it not being a healthy thing for me. Instead of trying to be skinny or thin, I strive to be strong and athletic. Girls and guys have enough pressure from other places: peers, media, etc. I don’t need to add to it, you know? Also, I don’t drink/ smoke/use not because I’ve got something against it, but just because I know I don’t need it and I always want to be able to deliver the best show possible.

What advice do you have for young girls looking to get into bands and the music scene?

SG: 1) Learn an instrument, and be good at it. The only way to combat the stereotype of ‘playing like a girl’ is to shred at your instrument.

2) Make friends in the music community. There are so many resources to meet other musicians and interact. Go to open mic nights, shows, (carefully) use the internet to find other musicians. Especially in OC, everyone wants to help one another up, so being plugged in the community is essential.

3) Be a smart, classy lady. The music world is small and people talk, be aware and protect your reputation, because again, there still unfortunately seems to be double standards between the genders as far as codes of conduct.

local wolves magazine // 43

wonderful humans STORY: ASHLEY BULYAO IMAGES: RACHEL EPSTEIN THERE AREN’T MANY “faceless” artists out there. The only one that bears a close similarity is Daft Punk but even then we could find images of the faces underneath the helmets.

When the blogosphere erupted with confusion one night, it was out of pure curiosity of wanting to know who was behind the track, “Edge of the Night.”

Most only knew it was by a group called WONDERFUL HUMANS who had originated from separate bands. Now, according to one of the members, “We feel like it’s the right time to start letting people into our lives a little more.

We figured we’ll eventually be inviting people into this relationship that we have whether we like it or not. The use of imagery is something that we’re going to be using heavily with this project in the future.”

Additionally they mentioned, “When we put up the first song, we wanted people to listen to it for its own purpose, its own musicality. We didn’t want any distractions as far as intense imagery, or forcing people to put a face to a sound.

Instead, making the listener take in what they heard solely based on the song felt right.”

Alas, the mystery is solved. The voices belong to Brian Cag who partnered with his girlfriend, Amanda Carl. Originally, this was a writing project for outside purposes but it was after they wrote “Edge of the Night” together where they found their sound. When it was released, rave reviews bursted from several bloggers and the track landed itself on Hype Machine’s Popular Now Chart and onto Spotify’s “Your Girlfriend’s Mixtape.”

“That was really insane, considering the project was only a couple weeks old. I love both of those music outlets, so seeing that people are interested in any form or fashion was kind of crazy. Plus, ‘Your Girlfriend’s Playlist’ is the jam,” says Cag. The track sounds like it came straight out of an ‘80s movie which is fitting since they “wanted to write something that felt like you were in [a] cinematic soundtrack.” Cag went on to say, “I love writing music that can be felt not only sonically but visually in one’s imagination. Songwriting has become much more than just melodies and lyrics, in my opinion. We like to paint a picture with each track and let the listeners’ imaginations run free with whatever they may interpret from the song.”

44

46 46

Looks as though they accomplished the cinematic sound; however, they aren’t actually working toward a specific genre. Cag says, “‘Edge of the Night’ came from a place where we were feeling very inspired by 80s cinema. I think much credit should be given to artists like Blondie, and we’ve even heard people say it reminds them of early Heart. We’re still not even sure if that’s entirely true, we just enjoy how it sounds to us.”

If anything, keep doing what you’re doing you two. That’s all I have to say. If you head over to their SoundCloud, they have a remix of their single by Mad Decent producer, Daktyl which garnered over 225,000 plays and they have a new added track called, “Worth Your While.”

“This project really just began, and we’re looking to make people feel as good about it as we do,” says Cag. With all this talk of creating new music, they have to give some time to wind down which is why they turn to the local spots in New York City and Brooklyn. You can probably catch them at The Tippler in Manhattan. A plus for you if you enjoy “good cocktails and a dark, 70s environment.”

Maybe this is the bar they talk about in their song? (“The back of this bar never looked so alive”) Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.

local wolves magazine // 47

fourth & coast STORY: JACOB KARRE IMAGES: KATY JOHNSON

From the upbeat track “Ain’t Got a Care in the World” (Feels Like Summer EP) to the melancholy tune of “Heavy Hearts” (Heavy Hearts EP) the band takes their fans on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. “We just want our audience to feel something.

Anything.” Says the duo, “Our main goal is to connect.

Connecting with our audience is our most important role as musicians.” Recently they collaborated with The Ready Set to produce the summertime single “Young Hearts.” It bounds and leaps with an upbeat progression and is threaded with lyrics about a young romance. The single shows off a new side of Fourth & Coast that has been developing since early January.

“We wanted it to be the bridge between our old sound and our future sound.” They said, “Young Hearts,” stands firmly on its own, balancing a leader in the indie pop genre, The Ready Set, and the fresh faces of Fourth & Coast, nicely.“ We’re so stoked that TRS got to appear on the track.”

Five tours down, two EP’s recorded and 15,000 digital downloads are just some of the accomplishments of Fourth & Coast, an indie pop duo from San Diego, California. The band is composed of long time friends Stephen Ordonez and James Colla. Since meeting,the two regularly collaborated and overtime constructed a sound that now identifies the duo as Fourth & Coast. With their newfound success, Stephen and James have discovered a new life away from the cozy hills of California. “Honestly it’s pretty hard to balance life,” Ordonez and Colla reveal, “we tend to spend a lot more time on the road than at home. But if it’s something you enjoy as much as we do, then it’s really not a problem.” Driven by the immense support from their fans, Stephen and James work hard to make the best music they can.

Finding success has enabled them to live the dream. “We are blessed enough to be able to play music for our jobs – I mean, how much greater can life get?” Stephen and James give a lot of credit to their fans saying, “We really wouldn’t be where we are without them.” Audience support is very instrumental in the life of the band and it runs deep in its core. In return, the two strive for a “more real” relationship with them. “With interaction and support both ways.” While trying to reply to everyone who tweets them and even playing private parties for them, the band is able to create stronger bonds with their audience. When it comes to writing songs, the band draws inspiration from many of their own life experiences. They write with an open mind, creating songs out of simple moments and expanding them into complex sounds. These moments are translated during long jam sessions, where the two mix and match lyrics with chords until they discover the perfect vibe.

48

At the beginning of June, they set off on another musical escapade with X-Factor’s, Jennel Garcia. As they travel across the United States and Canada they continue to mesh sounds into their style and also aim to make friends along the way. “The future is bright for us. Expect new music later this year and a lot more touring. Our goal for this year is to have people see the growth in our music, not only in popularity but also in musical maturity.” The band attributes their success to the amount of time they spend working on their music. They hope to prove that their work is positively influencing the people around them.

With such a clear focus on the future, a dedicated attitude towards music, and a willingness to connect with fans, Fourth & Coast is well on their way to becoming the next big musical act.

jordan JAE STORY: KAMRIN BAKER IMAGE: RACHEL KOBER

Following in the footsteps of young gymnasts who win the Olympics and tiny toe-tappers who play child leads in Broadway productions, 14-year-old Jordan JAE is splashing the New York music scene with a pop of youth, energy, and charisma that can only be described with gold medals and Tony Award nominees.

Her first single, “Said No One Ever” debuted this year, a song which is very reminiscent of a Taylor Swift-esque girl power anthem that stabs backs and holds hands in all the right places.

Her EP drops at the end of this year, and her teen 30 Rockefeller vibe is sure to influence an audience of all ages.

“New York has taught me that no dream is impossible,” Jordan reflects. “I’ve seen the saddest people sitting down on the city streets to the happiest people getting married in Central Park.

There is always a great unknown entertainer performing on a side street or down at the subway station. I have been walking around the city streets alone since I was 9 years old and have been taking public transportation since I was little to get to school. Unlike the suburbs where everything is miles away, I can easily walk out of my apartment to the nearest yogurt shop, clothing store, or restaurant. Many kids have told me they think New York is dangerous, but it’s all I’ve ever known, and, to me, it’s just the best home anyone could ask for!”

“New York has taught me that no dream is impossible.”

Finding her niche in New York has been a natural growing-up process for Jordan JAE. From the way she hails a taxi to how she defines her personal style (“modern hipster with a little glam thrown in”) it all boils down to her harmonious city roots.

Her songwriting skills also follow this trend, as she is inspired by the millions of people around her to tell deeper and more meaningful stories that have the capability to extend everyday life occurrences into transcendent music. “My life experiences, friends, and family inspire me to sing and write music,” Jordan says. “Honestly even strangers inspire me everyday. I write from memories, books, movies, and sometimes even dreams.

I write about the kindness of a friend or the expression on someone’s face. People and everyday experiences inspire me to write music.”

As most musicians usually do, Jordan draws her symphonic stamina from a safe haven where she feels most electrified to create and sing her songs. Slumbo Studios in Brooklyn is her home away from home, the place where she can reach both her full potential and utmost level of fulfillment.

“It is the studio where I have most of my writing and recording sessions,” Jordan explains. “I have made some great friends who always hang out at Slumbo. Every time I walk in, I feel my creative juices flowing. Writing and recording music always makes me feel safe, energized, and happy.”

The invigorated feeling Jordan JAE speaks of doesn’t end at writing music. Her self confidence and youthful spirit are building blocks in a skyscraper of empowerment seen in her music videos, songwriting capabilities, and even her relationships in general. “I build confidence by being around people that I don’t need to be perfect around and accept me for who I am,” Jordan remarks. “I am very lucky because my family and close friends have always given me the confidence to pursue my dreams and helped me understand that hard work and determination pays off. Once I get used to being myself, it’s hard to be anyone else.”

local wolves magazine // 49

moderne QUESTIONS: AMANDA FERRARESE IMAGES: LHOYCEL MARIE

How do you feel your hometown has influenced your development as a band?

Spencer: We all grew up blocks away from each other. Ira and I started our first band together back in middle school.

We had a lot of mutual friends. Huntington Beach is not a small town by any means, but when you live here your whole life, just like anywhere else I suppose, you love it in ways that people who aren’t locals would never understand. People think our city revolves around the beach and the downtown scene. Which is true to an extent, but being musicians in a city that doesn’t have much of a music scene and no venues other than some dive bars, we tend to be a tight knit group.

If you are a musician living in Huntington Beach and you are active in the Southern California scene, there is a good chance that you know, or at least know of every other active musician living in Huntington Beach. We are proud of our roots. We all came up playing in local bands together and those days playing at Chain Reaction and Hogue Barmichaels to our family and our high school friends is where we started.

How did you guys meet and what made you decide to start working together?

Devin: Ira and I played in a band together for the past few years and had been working on some new songs and ideas. I think it was around the summer of 2012 that we went into the studio with our buddy Johnny Liu and started laying down scratch tracks for the new songs.

Ira: We were playing with some other musicians during the beginning of the recording process but they ended up not working out, so Devin and I decided to take the songs in a different direction. The songs were intended for our last band, but we decided to just start fresh and take a new approach with what we had.

Devin: We had these 6 incomplete songs and there was no rush to put anything out. We didn’t even have a solid lineup so it just made sense to take our time with it. I remember seeing some videos of Sam playing guitar and singing online.

We had only met maybe once or twice before, so I sent him a message and asked him if he was interested in jamming and I’m very glad that it happened.

Sam: Early last year, I got a message from Devin asking if I was playing in any bands. My response was, “No. Why do you ask?” He said he wanted to meet up and jam and I was so stoked. I didn’t own a bass at the time, so I ended up buying one and joined the band that same week.

50

Devin: When Sam joined it was a breath of fresh air. We still didn’t have a drummer at that moment, so we started mapping out the vocals to all the songs. I had a bunch of lyrics and melodies already written, but they didn’t feel 100% complete. Sam and I sat down and structured them better. I remember going through the songs and he showed me a few harmonies he had been working on. Right then I knew that we had something special.

Ira: We were still looking for a drummer and had a few tryouts that didn’t go so well. Spencer wasn’t playing in a band at the time and we all knew him from previous projects that we were in, so we figured we should ask him to jam.

Devin: Towards the end of 2013, I remember talking to Spencer and telling him we were looking for a drummer for this new project. I showed him a few of the demos that we had and we eventually set up a time to teach him the songs. Things just naturally fell into place after that. It took us a while to solidify a lineup but it was so worth it. For the remaining months we finished up the EP and planned out how we wanted to launch the new band.

How did it feel to finally release your EP, Distances & Distractions after working so hard on it?

Ira: It felt amazing. I don’t think any of us have worked so hard and long on writing and recording an album. There were a lot of struggles and fallouts with some other band mates but it was so worth it and I don’t think any of us could be happier with the way it turned out. We put everything we wanted into it and have no regrets about it.

Devin: We worked on these songs and the EP for such a long time that when we finally released it, there was a great feeling of accomplishment. There was a time that I wasn’t even sure if these songs would be finished. It feels good to finally have it out for people to hear.

Sam: I felt like it was a HUGE weight off of all our shoulders.

When it comes to recording we can be very picky about each part of the tracks we lay out on the computer, but only because we want to make our music as perfect as we can. I think the album has met our expectations both lyrically and musically. We each bring a special element to the band and I hope our fans appreciate what we’ve done together.

local wolves magazine // 51

katy tiz STORY: ALEXANDRA SOUTHERST IMAGE: RACHEL KOBER What do you get when you mix Pop, Urban and mix in a pinch of Reggae? Well, none other than Katy Tiz of course! This British recording artist and writer is by no means new to the music scene and although pint-sized, packs and undeniable punch! Katy’s introduction into the music industry is probably best as put in her own words, “I was originally noticed by Arjan Writes who reviewed a song I did with my brother called Fire Fire. Shortly after, I signed to another label which didn’t work out, but thanks to the incredible support of Clear Channel, I was the first unsigned artist to be a part of their On the Verge program which led to me recently signing to Atlantic records. I am so happy about this partnership as they really share my dream of being a long term artist and HERE I AM *throws hands up*” Being an artist, Katy of course must draw inspiration from somewhere which in her case, happens to be everyday experiences, whether they be her own, a friend’s or those of someone she meets and can relate to. Her favorite show was the Today Show which she says had been a huge dream for her and her first TV appearance. The best part? Her parents got to watch it! Katy says she couldn’t sleep the night before she was so excited! “The Big Bang” is perhaps what she is most known for and an incredible experience in her opinion, in her own words, “I had huge boots to fill as Tim James is an amazing vocalist but he was there and coached me through. I was so happy with the outcome.The video was super fun! Kai Regan directed it and we all had a right laugh shooting it. Plus I got to wear a lot of diamonds, what girl wouldn’t love that?! And I’m super excited about the Big Bang Reggae Mix featuring Jo Mersa Marley and Inner Circle. What a blessing it was to be able to collaborate with two such amazing reggae artists.

Having fashioned myself as reggae influenced, it was a dream come true.”

Speaking of collaborations, Katy says that given the opportunity to collaborate with anyone, Justin Timberlake and Eminem would be top of the list. Favorite artists? She names one of our faves! None other than Ed Sheeran! “I’m such a fan of music. Right now, I’m loving Ed Sheeren’s new album because I love his lyrics; he doesn’t hold back and really writes from the heart which is something I relate to.”

Every artist needs their munchies to keep ‘em going and Katy recommends Katana in LA where her family surprised her when she signed her first record deal making it a very special place. She also adds, “I bloody love sushi!” Us too!

local wolves magazine // 53

zak waters STORY: Ashley Bulayo IMAGE: Rachel Epstein Let’s be real. Most of us had a crush on someone much older than us. Zak Waters understands us, so much that he even wrote a song about his crush on his best friend’s babysitter. When I hear it, I think of my “Penelope” who happened to be the high school jock that had no idea I existed.

Typical. Los Angeles native Zak Waters is a man of many talents which include being a singer, producer, songwriter, DJ and a “full time purveyor of fun accents.” His music is often described by critics as “Baby Makin’ Music” or “Disco Soul” but more of the latter. “When I became a solo artist I knew for sure, I wanted to do something more in the ‘soul’ genre. That’s what I grew up with and always listened to and sang along to as a kid,” said Waters.

The genre was decided during his solo project when he wrote the track “In The Kitchen with The Lights On.” Working with fellow writer Ted Bruner and his friend Jarrad K, they created the sound Waters is known for today. “Me and Jarrad got to tinkering and thought, ‘What if we made this like a Bee Gees style jam?’ So we loaded it up with strings and funky bass. We were so incredibly stoked on it. I felt [like] I was onto something. I started thinking ‘Ok, I’m gonna make a disco record. This is cool.’”

Waters draws his inspiration from legends such as Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire and Prince. “I’d love to work with them. To do anything with them would be pinnacle.”

But another artist he looks to is someone you really can’t recreate. (Something I never thought of until he mentioned it) D’angelo. “Do you notice how pretty much nobody ever covers his songs? It’s like, ‘How do I even do something remotely substantial next to this man?’ But D’angelo is just.

D’angelo.” It makes sense why his music sounds the way it does but it doesn’t stop there. His music taste and inspiration is literally all-over the map.

From his local country station, Go Country 105.1 to R&B station HOT 92.3 to random blogs featuring deep house and indie tracks to hardcore bands like Every Time I Die, his music is infused with the influences of random genres. It’s no doubt he stays true to himself through every musical aspect whether it be for his music or another artist. “I’ve spent hours upon hours in writing sessions making songs for other artists and meticulously placing lyrics so that label heads and industry people will find it current/catchy/dumb enough to go to radio. That really burnt me out. So many hours sitting in a room wondering ‘Hmm, what would Rihanna sing here?’ I’m so done with that. It really made me question if I like doing this.”

54

CONT “But then I wrote ‘The City’ with no one in mind. [It’s] just what I thought was cool. That seemed to work out pretty well so I just thought it was a better idea to trust myself.”

Waters went on to comment even more on the industry and discusses how ultimately, fans decide the fate of artists. “[The music industry] thinks they’re the gatekeepers but most of the time they have no idea. Do you think a song like ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ would have ever passed a label head’s desk and they would have thought it was a ‘SMASH’? Or, Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’? Never. But these songs are ‘smashes’ but it wasn’t label heads that made them big. It was regular people’s responses to those songs.

The industry peeps had to jump on the train because those songs just couldn’t be ignored.”

Sticking with his instincts is most likely what attracted people to his music. Fans on social media continue to praise his tracks going so far as to label his music as “love making groove house.” Nevertheless, Waters still has that bit of self doubt in him when it comes to either writing a good song or when it came to signing his first record deal. But when he gets on stage, all the doubt leaves his system. “Seeing people in real time react is something so cool and gives me so much inspiration and assurance that I’m not crazy.”

Yeah, she was sUch a mystery, I was 9 and she was 17.

And alas, Waters continued creating music that grew followers who wanted to hear more which eventually opened him to opportunities such as performing on AXS Live, Last Call with Carson Daly, KISS FM and opening up for singersongwriter Betty Who on her recent tour. He recently went to Japan to perform during the Summer Sonic Festival.

Plus, word is that he will be on a co-headlining tour with French Horn Rebellion this fall. However, no matter how busy his schedule is, he’s just a normal guy like the rest of us who is guilty of making those constant trips to Target.

But he does have his favorite spots to hit up like Cafe 101 in Franklin Village for “the late night jam,” El Sauz Tacos in Glendale for “the late night burrito jam,” Bobby’s Coffee Shop in Woodland Hills for “the early breakfast jam,” and Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank for “the all time jam.”

local wolves magazine // 55

the

futures league

SoCal natives and members of the rock n’ roll band, The Futures League first formed in a few years ago after coming together through unexpected circumstances. Drawing inspiration from bands like the Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, T. Rex, and, Donovan; they manages to emulate the classic rock of our parent’s generation, while simultaneously bringing their own unique California edge into the mix.

The Futures League is comprised of members Jack Rose, Jon Arman, Johnny Fontana, and Scott Ruth. Although each member has had an enduring love for music since they were young, the four of them didn’t unite as a band until several years ago. “We’ve all pursued it [music] off and on over the years in our own way, but when the band came together we definitely knew we wanted to keep pushing forward. The start of the band was very natural feeling and I don’t think there was ever really a discussion of ‘are we a band’ we just kept getting together and writing songs.”

Provided their numerous stints in previous bands and ample experience, it’s no wonder The Futures League has managed to creep their way onto the radio stations and into the public eye. Though it’s obvious it took them a lot of hard work to get where they are now, the boys attribute their success in part to their local scene. “I think we definitely have a Southern California sound that probably just naturally comes out. We don’t write with that in mind but it probably is just engrained having lived here so long. Its a great place to have a band because theres so many people that love music living in the area and so many great places to play.”

Despite their familiarity with the scene, it didn’t necessarily play a role in how the boys met and started making music together. In fact, it’s a little more complicated than that. “It’s a weird combination of events, Jack and Jon were already working on some music together. Jack and Scott had been good friends for a while and had worked on some things together, as well. John and Jon met while surfing down in Dana Point. Somehow things all just came together from there. There was a phone call at some point and a ‘didn’t you tell me you play the drums?’ Confused yet?”

After several years of writing and recording together, the boys finally released their EP, Don’t Be A Drag earlier this summer. How their record came to be is probably just as interesting of a story as how TFL formed itself. The boys are clearly intuitive individuals and it comes into play when they’re creating music. “The writing process was scattered.

Some of the songs we had written for a while and played live a bunch of times before. Some of them we had just recently finished or were still finishing up. The recording process was great. Previously we had just self recorded everything we did with not the best equipment or space.

For this we worked with Gus Seyffert who definitely brought his touch to each song and really made sure we got the energy of each song recorded properly.”

“He’s an incredible engineer so the tones are always milky and with us, he’s a “feel” producer. We recorded live so if the take didn’t have the right feel he would have us do it again. Its great too because we became good friends with him quickly so he didn’t have trouble saying he didn’t like a part of a song or the way we were playing it. He also called in a couple different guys to play keys which is something we really didn’t think too much about before. Its crazy cause Gus will be like “let me call my buddy real quick” and 30 minutes later this guy shows up who just owns on keys.”

CONT “He’s friends with incredible musicians and they’re all down for the cause. All that together helps the songs really take life and ultimately made the EP what it is.” For The Futures League, the songwriting process truly is a collaborative effort. Although they don’t necessarily draw a majority of their inspiration from a specific source. Just being together seems to be enough to get their creative juices flowing.

“For the most part we write together while playing. A lot of the time Jon has a riff and a melody in his head. He’ll start to play it and we just go from there. Jack usually adds some great creative guitar part and Scott/John just try to lock in the groove. The songs will typically change a lot from the start to the final product because everyone helps throw ideas in there. Scott had the idea for the call and response guitar part in “Too Many Lies” which really helped make that song unique, so its little things like that. I guess ultimately the inspiration just comes from us being in a room together on that particular day.”

Through each song, The Futures League seeks to remind listeners to not take things so seriously. “At this point there’s so much going on in the world. So much heavy stuff and on top of that people are so consumed by their phones, computers, etc. Its draining. I guess were just trying to make music that gives people energy and for the most part lightens the mood. We consider ourselves a live band more than anything so when we write we keep that in mind. If they listen to our songs live than we hope that come away with a melted face.”

Although the guys all have the same mentality in mind, creating songs they all agree on can, at times, be challenging.

However, in the end, all it comes down to is whether or not they like their own songs. “We’re a band of four equal members so writing a song that everyone digs gets pretty challenging at times. Putting yourself out there isn’t a big deal because its music and people will like it or they won’t.

The most rewarding is always playing live. That’s why we do this.” The band had their fair share of accomplishments thus far, “It’s a process; you keep grinding and pushing forward. As long as things are improving then you’re happy.

We haven’t sat down and been like ‘this is what it means to make it,’ Until then its just about reaching that next step.”

In terms of their victories, the boys of The Futures League have had a memorable year so far. One of their favorite experiences, in addition to playing at UCSD, was “hands down” Bonnaroo. “People there are just focused on the music and having a good time. Everyone was super nice and you really learn what it means when people say southern hospitality, UCSD was a ton of fun. We could tell that the students weren’t too familiar with our music going in but they were just amped and had such good energy to play in front of. Those kind of shows give you enough fuel to keep going for a while.”

STORY: Amanda Ferrarese IMAGE: Lhoycel Marie

local wolves magazine // 57

priory STORY: JACOB KARRE IMAGES: KATY JOHNSON There’s a certain prestige that surrounds DIY projects. It’s exciting, it’s new, and it’s something you build with your own two hands. It’s “one of a kind,” a solid piece of work that is tailored specifically to your needs and purposes. You’d be proud to set that piece of work up in your house and make it the centerpiece of your living room. There has been an obvious shift in popular culture that celebrates this concept and don’t think for a minute that music has been left out of this wave of creativity. Independent music or “indie music” as it now has been dubbed, does not fall short; in fact it is one of the most popular genres today.

Priory was born out of this same do-it-yourself attitude that surrounded Portland’s music scene. Fronted by band members Brandon Rush and Kyle Sears, the duo began collaborating together back in 2009. The two balanced busy work lives, with writing and recording music three to four times a week, slowly crafting their sound. Brandon and Kyle do everything themselves, they write, they record, they produce - they are fully immersed in the entire process from start to finish. When asked about their musical backgrounds, Rush described his humble beginnings, which mostly consisted of mowing lawns in order to buy his first guitar at the age of twelve, and Sears explained his dabbling’s in multiple instruments, which also consisted of taking his mother’s classical guitar and stringing it up with electric strings. Although both members did go to school for music they both agreed that they learned the most while making music. “I honestly think music school is great, but the real growth happens when you start making music every day, all day,” Rush explained.

The media often romanticizes being in a band and the two did not have it easy when first starting out. The beginning for Priory was rough, but they were both willing to do what needed to be done in order to peruse their passion. “We knew that the only way to get from point A to point B was to dive in head first. We were completely broke and were forced to give plasma and teach music lessons to survive during that period.” Supported by their families, Brandon and Kyle were able to make that first big push happen.

“When we decided to drop everything and focus on mak-

58

ing this album it was scary and obviously a huge risk, but it also felt like the only way to make a record we would be proud of.” Prior to this, the duo had been touring on an album they felt like they had “outgrown” as musicians. The ability to focus solely on music gave Priory the freedom to do what needed to be done.

Their passion for music is apparent as Rush explains the process behind recording new tracks. “Our songs almost never start the same way, but it is always very organic.

Often we just pick up instruments and screw around until a sound starts to happen. If we come up with a good idea, we try to capture the recording in that moment. This approach gave us the ability to critically listen to the songs elements in context. This process works for us but is often tedious because we are continually re-evaluating and re-recording elements.” The way the pair create shows the meticulous work which resonates throughout their music. From every blip to every guitar riff, you can hear Rush and Sears build each track layer by layer by working off one another.

Priory has been writing and recording for five years and they are now reaching the point in their careers where people know who they are. They seek to separate themselves from all the noise by constantly bettering themselves and competing with one another to get better. “A little healthy competition can be a good thing,” the two say. They stray from labeling their music, and treat their fans as they would want to be treated and aim to rise above the stereotypes the media tends to portray musicians as. As for the near future, Brandon and Kyle are set to tour for the rest of the year supporting their new EP, Weekend, which drops October 14th.

You can say Priory is like a long term DIY project, a project that is constantly changing with the ebb and flow of everyday life. It borrows inspiration from Portland’s DIY lifestyle, sprinkling in life-learned lessons and expanding those ideas into authentic songs. Brandon and Kyle’s hard work exemplifies the concept of chasing your dreams and shows that anyone can achieve their goals, as long as they never give up.

60

eliza & the bear STORY: JACOB KARRE IMAGES: PRITI SHIKOTRA Put on your coats and beanies, get your spiced lattes and wander under crimson stained treetops. Wade through massive piles of fallen leaves and enjoy campfire gatherings with close friends. Give your sun kissed bodies a break from solar rays and slip underneath a comfy sweater to enjoy crisp, cool weather. Local Wolves is all about exploring the local scene, so go out and explore your own.

While exploring this fall, Local Wolves has hand picked a band to accompany you on your adventures. Eliza & The Bear is a promising five-piece actfrom London, England. Composed of James Kellegher (lead vocals, guitar), Callie Noakes (vocals, keyboards), Martin Dukelow (vocals, guitar), Chris Brand (bass), and Paul Kevin Jackson (drums). The band lacks an Eliza and a bear, but that’s quite all right, because the English natives create infectious folk pop. The group does an excellent job of combining alternative rock anthems with folk instruments, creating songs that coincide nicely with city adventures. So put on your rain boots, grab your keys, call up your friends and head out into the fresh October air. Listen to their track “The Southern Wild” and get lost in the bold lyrics or blast their tune “Talk” which is a romance oriented tune. Wherever you may venture, and however you may feel, make sure to take Eliza & The Bear with you, they’ll provide a soundtrack that will stick firmly in your mind for years to come.

local wolves magazine // 61

• YOUR NEW FAVORITE DUO •

BROODS

62

STORY: HUDSON LUTHRINGSHAUSEN IMAGES: CATHRINE KHOM & RACHEL EPSTEIN

local wolves magazine // 63

YOUNG, DRIVEN, AND TALENTED

- Georgia and Caleb Nott make up the hit sibling music duo, Broods.

Born and raised in Nelson, New Zealand, the two have been playing music together their whole lives. They came together in early 2013 to form Broods, and by October had released their first single, earning 200,000 streams in just a week.

With their hit single being picked up various popular sources, they were off and running.

It didn’t all begin with Broods, though. As a result of growing up in a family full of musicians, performing arts became a focal point of their lives from the beginning; they were were constantly surrounded by music, art, and dancing.

“I remember being really confused when my mum told me that not everybody could harmonize to songs on the radio.

Our parents never told us to be practical about what subjects we put our effort into at school. Their motto was ‘do what you love but work your ass off for it,’” says Georgia. In addition to their musical environment, the two were able to foster a positive relationship as siblings. As with any relationship, there were arguments and fights, but never anything drastic.

As she recalls “there was more laughter than tears. We like different things outside of music. Caleb is more social than me. He can’t sit still, he always has to be doing something.

I like to chill and go outside heaps, especially back home in New Zealand because it’s so untouched and the outdoors is our specialty back there.”

64

This special dynamic would later translate into their success as Broods, but before they could form the duo they would find success in a handful of musical ventures beforehand.

As they hit high school they found themselves on their feet musically, largely influenced by their music teacher who encouraged all his students to start bands and play gigs outside of school. “He got everyone entering this competition called Rockquest, which is basically a high school battle of the bands with 100% original music. That’s how we learned about arranging original music, working with a group and practicing every night. It also introduced us to performing for an audience and also our manager and producer found us through it,” says Georgia. Together the two would go on to not only win a talent competition but join an indie-rock band with whom they would win yet another competition.

Despite its promise, the band split in late 2012 and from there both Caleb and Georgia found themselves together forming what would become Broods. The two had always had the idea of working together as musicians, stating that “it’s easier to work with someone that shares the same ambitions musically and we also help each other remember why we started when it gets hard or there is pressure on us to do well,” and with Broods it was beginning to really happen. Their relationship, in and out of the studio, thrives off a sense of mutual respect and honesty. “We can’t really imagine it any other way,” says Georgia about working as a duo, “there is unconditional love and respect because we’re family.”

local wolves magazine // 65

66

local wolves magazine // 67

“WE JUST WANT TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S WITH OUR LOVE OF PERFORMANCE OR OUR LYRICS.”

68

The process for Georgia and Caleb in creating their sound was a new challenge. While both were extremely talented musically, neither had any experience with creating electronic music which would ultimately be the sound for Broods. “We didn’t really know how to write electronic music but we both were really loving it, so we just made weird noises and tried to explain what was happening in our heads to Joel Little, and he taught us the technical side of creating it,” says Georgia about the developing process. Joel Little, a producer and Grammy award winning songwriter who has worked with other New Zealand artists such as Kids of 88 and Lorde, was a key influencer from the beginning.

In the studio for the first time with Little, they had no idea where to start, but after Caleb introduced a beat he’d had stuck on his mind they were able to build the song “Pretty Thing,” in just four hours. They had always known that together they had something special, and Little was able to motivate the duo to see their potential. “He also showed us how limitless writing could be and really encouraged us to try anything and everything. The EP was what came out of all our experimenting and then the album was a little more educated,” adds Georgia. Back in the studio, they began working at whatever inspiration came to them. Their creativity was driven by everything around them, and they always write from personal experiences, “although, we do exaggerate!” mentioned Georgia.

Channeling their inspiration into their music remained a key focus for the duo. When it comes to Broods, “we just want to make an impact on people, whether it’s with our love of performance or our lyrics. Music has always been our most fluent language when it comes to expressing ourselves so to give that to people and have them understand you or relate to you is the most satisfying thing,” they said. With their family and team of supporters, they were ready to release their first single, “Bridges,” in October of 2013, and they had no idea of the craziness that would ensue.

The single was picked up by music blogs and rapidly earned over 200,000 streams in its first week. “We were completely shocked by the reaction. We had absolutely no idea people would pick it up so fast. We were pretty distracted for the next two weeks,” says Georgia. It was only the beginning for the single and Broods. Shortly after, the duo made their next moves, signing with Capitol Records and Polydor Records, and releasing their song, “Never Gonna Change” in anticipation of their EP’s release. With their rising popularity, gaining recognition from MTV and iTunes, the group landed themselves a spot touring with the Los Angeles based band, Haim. The two set out on tour thrilled to take up the opportunity before them. “We definitely had to learn as we went. That’s the way we like to learn though so we really enjoyed seeing how we could get better and get the most out of a crowd,” Georgia explained, “We’ve had horrible gigs and unforgettable ones. We’re definitely still learning and I think we’d like to be always learning and improving.”

Despite only being on tour for the first time, Broods’ reception was so strong they were able to hit North America for there very own tour. Their tour was a massive success not only for the fans, but for the siblings themselves. For Georgia and Caleb, “[playing] to a crowd that’s clearly enjoying it, is hard to beat. When someone is looking you in the eye, singing words you wrote, there’s nothing quite like it.” Broods released their debut album, Evergreen, on August 22, 2014 debuting at number one on the New Zealand album chart.

As for the future, Broods have a lot more to come. They are currently touring with Sam Smith around the US, and are set to tour in Australia in November; however, they are still working in the studio every chance they get.

As far as their favorite local place, Georgia mentions, “I like to eat at home because it’s free and you don’t have to wear shoes. We have incredible beaches, lakes and rivers in our hometown though, so in summer we just live outside.”

local wolves magazine // 69

s t e e m n o i fash festival music ey

by lexie all

70

local wolves magazine // 71

local natives Making waves in the indie music scene, Local Natives began with their debut album Gorilla Manor, named after the house they all shared while recording the album.

The album is both haunting and cathartic, hitting you right in the gut with their introspective lyrics and intricate harmonies. Since then, the band has also released the album Hummingbird and countless singles, with the time in between spent constantly on the road. Winding down a series of festival shows this summer, Local Natives hit Fashion Meets Music Festival in Columbus, OH during Labor Day Weekend where they headlined. We spoke with Taylor Rice and Ryan Hahn about how their band came up in the scene and what the future holds for them.

So you guys live in Los Angeles AND DID YOU GUYS GROW UP THERE TOO? TR: There’s kind of a bunch of neighborhoods all stuck together and Silverlake is where we lived for our first record and our second one as well. Still (our home base) is in LA. RH: We all grew up in Southern California so like an hour down the freeway. do you think living in la has influenced your growth as a band at all or your style?

TR: I think it does, yeah. I think your surroundings definitely seep into you. Even when our first record came out there were all these aspects that we were being told sounded like a Southern California album and we couldn’t see that at all. Now stepping back it may be even more obvious. But LA is very much home to us, we love living there, it’s a very creative place and it’s nice all the time. I think those things are gonna feel different if you’re making a place in say like New York where the conditions are really different. I think the lifestyle probably affects the music directly.

72

local wolves magazine // 73

Did you guys have certain musical influences based there Or is there anyone growing up that seemed to influenced YOU, music wise?

RH: Not necessarily Southern California bands, it was, I think, kind of for us - a big change happened in high school when we started listening to bands from the 60s like The Beatles, The Zombies, Crosby Still and Nash, bands that had more intricate harmonies. Before that we were all listening to heavier, more aggressive music. The switch was I guess midway through high school when we started to write those kinds of songs over crazy, fast, and loud parts.

TR: And that really worked for us because Ryan, Kelcey, and I are the singers and songwriters of the band. Since we had three singers we all wanted to sing and that’s how we started singing harmony all the time because of that relationship.

We’ve been making songs since high school together.

Do you think in your genre there is a good supportive base for your music? It seems like there is a tight knit community of musicians in indie especially in outer LA. TR: For us, it was definitely true. We made our first album on our own, by ourselves. We had moved to LA and made this record and we had these residencies at a couple of the different well-known venues in Los Angeles and those residencies were so good for us. We would play for free every Monday night. Every time more and more people were coming. It just felt awesome to be embraced by the community.

So it was a very home-grown-rise for you guys then?

TR: Yeah when that happened, one venue called Silverlake Lounge that was an early on thing that I think was really important for us. Then after that a venue called Spaceland and kind of the same thing happened. I think those were really important for us to get a foothold that started in LA and spread around from there.

74

I have read you guys are very collaborative in all aspects, you guys do your artwork as well.

Do you plan to continue doing that yourselves?

RH: We will see where it goes; we like to be as involved as we can with everything. If it keeps flowing we will probably keep doing our artwork. I think we are definitely open to collaborating with other artists.

When I was reading about Hummingbird, the album meant a lot to your guys and there was a lot of growing processes represented on the album. What do you hope for people to get out of this next record?

TR: I think with this new record we are just on the edge of the cliff right now. I think we are in a totally different place than we were with Hummingbird. It was really cathartic and we had a lot to work out. On this [new] record it seems everyone is more on a similar page and is excited. It feels like it has a little more momentum and is kind of a bit more forward leaning. The last record was pretty introspective and I think this one, indication as of now, is it will feel more “outward.” interesting concept, change of pace, do you guys have a favorite performance you’ve been a part of?

TR: I think playing the Greek in LA last year. That was actually my first time there, which is crazy because I live right by it.

That was a hometown show for us and all of our friends and families were there. It was kind of the culmination of working on that record and that whole tour. It was this really big moment for us. I was really proud of where we had gotten to at that point.

RH: Thinking back we did so many shows last year, there are a few memorable ones. We played in Japan again, which was pretty amazing. It ended up being one of my favorite shows of the year. We did a show in London at this venue called The Brixton, and besides LA I think it’s our second biggest place we’ve played to date.

local wolves magazine // 75

head north QUESTIONS: CATHRINE KHOM IMAGES: LEXIE ALLEY

76

Local Wolves is all about sticking to your roots, what are your favorite places in your hometown?

BL: We love SPoT Coffee, Elmwood Taco & Sub, and Denny’s! (laughs) All places that we spend a lot of time at and we do a lot of “business” work at SPoT so we like it there.

How does it feel to be back on the road this fall and what can fans expect at your shows?

BL: It feels absolutely incredible, we love being on the road more than we love being at home. Expect punk.

What advice can you give to up and coming bands who are starting out?

BL: Write amazing music. Bottom line, that’s your first priority.

The band performed at FMMF, how was it to perform at this festival and any memories from there?

BL: It was seriously the coolest experience we’ve had as a band. Just to be a part of something that a lot of the bands that we look up to and got us into music was so awesome.

As far as memories, the timeline of everything was perfectly placed so that we got to play our set, walk down the street to see Have Mercy, and then get back in time for Citizen. what is the story behind creating a Split with A Will Away?

BL: Our split with A Will Away, came from us both being under Giant MKT and us being best friends from playing together. It seemed like the perfect idea at the time based on where both our bands were. We were stoked on it and I think it turned out well.

local wolves magazine // 77

twin forks COVERAGE: LEXIE ALLEY

I had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Carrabba of Twin Forks during their stop at Fashion Meets Music Festival in Columbus, OH. While I couldn’t put it on this page, imagine Chris answering these questions all while intermittingly strumming a guitar. It was completely folksy and organic, just like the music on Twin Forks self-titled record released this past spring. Read below to see what he has to say on how Twin Forks came about, discovering his true love in music, and what’s next for the band.

I read you guys are bashed in Nashville, have you always lived there?

CC: No. I’ve lived everywhere (laughs). This time? Not terribly long, less than a year.

Would you say your sound was more influenced by what you grew up listening to then?

CC: Yeah, for sure. I guess that’s what shaped this band more than anything is me going back to my earliest influences, the ones that stayed the sharpest influences.

They were ones I embraced early and I pandered with early as influences with the kid gloves. In those days, it was so perfect, ya know, the music that influenced me. I didn’t want to, I was obviously influenced by it. Melodically, I can hear it all over the place. But stylistically, I didn’t want to delve into it until I just couldn’t wait anymore.

Are you referring to specific artists?

CC: Yeah. Paul Simon, Towns Van Zandt, Steve Earl, Norman Blake was a big influence, Tony Rice. Fleetwood Mac was a huge influence. I think melodically that shows the most but I think that guitar wise that’s the thing I reached for most, to pick one. Fleetwood Mac. That’s one where, there was no decision. It influenced my instinct on melody without even me knowing that I was having an education in it just by listening. When I started down the road of learning how to play that kind of picking, which, is a style almost all the guys I mentioned have in common which is called Travis pickingand or like bluegrass flat picking, which overlap in a lot of ways. That was a tough road. Because once it got to

78

Lindsey Buckingham, some along the way were difficult, but Lindsey went it and got to him it was just unattainable. It’s just the beyond, he is the greatest guitar player in that style that I’ve ever heard. Without being like Tom Emmanuel, who’s a virtuo but that’s his thing, he’s like “this is what I do and I show this off.” I love that too, but Lindsey is also the greatest singer, greatest songwriter, in one the greatest bands. Greatest hair (laughs). Some of the coolest leather jackets I’ve seen in rock n’ roll.

Ha! I agree. The greatest of a lot of things, I saw them here in Columbus a few months ago and he had so much swag, he was definitely way cooler than me.

CC: Yeah he’s still cool as shi*t! And he’s so fit and his voice is as strong as can be.

You mentioned before you were kind of overlapping on projects when you started Twin Forks, what inspired you to really get the ball rolling?

CC: It wasn’t a direct line. I was working on these projects.

Also, I had made this ramshackle space in my garage in order to record them and that became like a go to spot before bars closed or after bars closed or after shows and so it ended up being groups of us just playing, just sitting outside the garage having a guitar pool. At one point, Jonathan, he’s the bass player of Twin Forks and also the producer, which I’ve said this before but everybody in the band is a producer. Well, 3 of the 4 of us of the original lineup. But I think it says something about the esteem we hold

of him that we said, “You’re in charge.” Because he just really is brilliant, he has a brilliant musical mind and fantastic taste. He never lets things go over into showoff territory, which is great. Anyway so, there were a couple of factors.

One was that these people had started coming over to play and I realized with Dashboard that no two of us lived in the same state. I was in Florida at the time. I’d come up with an idea then I’d have to finish it. No one to bounce it around with, nobody to play the part. I’m able to play the parts but am I as good at bass as Scott? No. Am I as good at drums as Mike, no. To stop and wait and arrange in a few months until we could get together, it became less appealing to me at the time, and to the other guys too. So that’s when I devised this thing that, “I want to have a band of other people that live around me.” I didn’t know that meant we would go play shows, I just thought, “this would be a nice thing to have.” Creative people in the same room, finish songs. To what end I don’t know. So I got Jonathan, then Ben, who is a great drummer. Eventually Suzy but she was a little later to the game.

So one day I’m playing something outside (begins to play guitar) that wasn’t really the direction we were writing in when we were already together. You know, somebody played a song, somebody else played a song, I picked up my cover to play whatever it was. I wish I could remember what it was but it was something in the vain of Towns Van Zandt, could have been Steve Earl I’m not sure. But Jonathan put his hand on my guitar like this (slams hand across frets). Which is rather, obtrusive. It’s such a sudden.

(I thought) Where’s the fire? Something must be wrong, how bad can I be tanking this. Your brain doesn’t go to, I’m playing it wrong, OR there’s an epiphany on the line. It’s just like “oh my god (I’m tanking this) or there must be a fire in the garbage can.” So then he just looked at me and said, “Why are you afraid to play what you love?” I know I had to stop myself because I felt the incredulous look on my face. I think I’d been hit with a lot of praise and criticism simply for doing what I love and (faced) the consequences. But it was a revelatory moment. Once I did a little self-examination I realized this kid was right. I had to ask myself, “Why am I afraid of this? Well, I’m afraid I’m not good enough.” Once I realized that I realized I needed to spend more time on my chops, more time on my phrasing, finding different ways

CONT thing to find, that had been changing already and it actually stopped making sense in the format of the bands I was in. So, I was having trouble connecting with the songs.

The lyrics and the songs felt disconnected. Once I started playing this music, it just fit better. We played one show, it was billed as Chris Carrabba I think it was one of the few, maybe ten, I’ve done billed that way and it was at a festival called Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. I was invited there to play by the lady who runs it, Dawn. She was a great supporter of Dashboard from the very beginning. She brought me up in San Francisco from literally the smallest club to literally the biggest place you could play. I could name a lot of people who helped me along the way but I’ll stick to Dawn right now. She had this special thing where she could sense there was change on the rise for me and that I didn’t see it coming, the same way Jonathan sensed that. She put me in the middle of this Bluegrass Festival. I presented some of the covers that were on my covers records, and maybe some Dashboard songs, and then tentatively these songs I had been working on and (the audience) connected immediately. They were what, I presumed, and I don’t know if I was correct or not, a judgmental audience. An educated audience on that kind of music. We felt celebrated, to the degree that we were like, “We aren’t a band, we are all so busy” and we walked off like, “Well we are a band.” The band decided we were a band, not us. So here we are, a band.

Do you still work on your other projects then or is this becoming your only one?

CC: No, I’ll never have just one project. I don’t know how to do that. I always have many irons in the fire. I think sometimes people think if you must have one and if you don’t stick to your one thing there must be some negative personal aspect that’s keeping you from doing it and the truth is, like Dashboard and Twin Forks played the same festival last week on the same day last week, and it was only more fun for both bands. It was really nice for me to look out and see my band mates in Dashboard genuinely appreciating this very different thing that I’m doing. Then my band mates in Twin Forks, for them to see me in Dashboard was great too because I think I took pride in that. To see the people I work with in both cases rooting for you, it feels pretty good.

local wolves magazine // 79

vacationer COVERAGE: LEXIE ALLEY ARTICLE: JACOB KARRE

Kenny Vasoli’s newest musical project, Vacationer takes you across the world within seconds. The sounds heard in Vacationer’s music often resembletropical paradise, which help transport you down to an exotic coast.

“When I started making music for Vacationer I just wanted to make a record. It turned into much more, now it’s my bread and butter and it’s all I do.” Vasoli says. Before heading up Vacationer, Vasoli contributed to a number of other bands, the most notable being The Starting Line and Person L. When asked about why he left the punk pop scene, Vasoli reveled that the decision was for the long term. “Vacationer is the kind of thing I can do well into my old age.” The nature of the punk pop genre began to wear on Vasoli, which inspired him to look outwards to other areas of music. The band contributes its relaxed style to artists such as James Taylor and Paul Simon, for having “restrain and control” within their music. “Having that kind of dynamic with this band is a new thing, and it’s much more comfortable,” Vasoli admits.

“I like to call Vacationer’s style exotica over hip-hop tempo, or for those who don’t know what exotica is; Beach Boys with a hip-hop tempo.” Vasoli admitted that rap does not resonate with him as an artist, but he loves the hip-hop beats, which is why hip-hop is an important component to Vacationer’s overall sound. Vasoli pointed out tracks “Good As New” and “Trip,” (which can be found on Spotify) saying that they best represent the exotica over hip-hop style he is going for.

Another contributing factor in Vasoli’s transition from punk to exotica was the excitement in making something new. “I just wanted to see what it would take to make electronic music, and the guys from Body Language who produce Vacationer, were kind of my mentors, because of their extensive knowledge in the genre.” Vasoli credits them with helping create most of Vacationer’s initial starting points.

“The guys from Body Language would send me snippets of things they had created, just one to two minute clips and then I would sit down with my guitar or base and see what I could come up with. Then I would take that, chop it up, loop it a little bit and then I’ll write (lyrics) to that. I kind of look at it like a coloring book, they give me a framework and then I’ll see if that shakes anything loose for me. It’s a really collaborative process.” Vasoli explains.

80

nghbrs

So do you guys only have three members now and will you be staying a three piece?

N: At the moment, yeah. We have our great friend Tom who has been jamming with us touring but for now yeah, we are a three piece.

Cool, can you guys give me your background?

N: About 4.5 years. We just came together through the Long Island music scene. Our old bands used to play shows together. Those bands kind of dismembered around the same time and we were all still into playing music so we found each, the rest is history. Actually, we met up in the middle of a field randomly one day, we ran toward each other That sounds like a Wes Anderson movie.

N: Yes, and we were holding our instruments and we started singing in the forest (laughs) So did you guys all grow up in Long Island?

N: Yes! All of us born and raised.

Oh wow, how do you think that had any influence on your sound? Long Island has some pretty distinct music coming out of there.

N: Absolutely. Unintentionally I guess. We all grew up going to shows and watched Long Island bands blow up and do their thing. Especially when we play out of state, you don’t realize it necessarily at first but people always say, “You sound so Long Island” whenever we play in other states.”

Are there specific artists then that you guys grew up on and any from Long Island in particular that influenced you?

N: Well Ian is a huge Brand New fan and Jordan grew up with The Chili Peppers. A lot not from Long Island – Incubus and Thrice.

I have to ask, why don’t you have vowels in your name?

N: Simple: google. But really, we were called Neighbors spelled out but when we went to make a Myspace 4.5 or 5 years ago, it was taken so we were just going to take out the vowels for the links. Then we recorded our EP and the day we finished tracking a press release for another band went our called Neighbors, spelled out. So we were like, “sh*t” and we were gonna change it but the name had already stuck with us so we kind just decided to take the vowels out. Thought it might be interesting, now it’s a trend though.

You released a single in August and released an album last year. Are you guys just continuously writing material?

N: Yes, always. That’s kind of the plan. I feel like this day and age, spending two years on an album and touring for a year, and that whole cycle isn’t as relevant anymore. Not across the board totally but at least for bands of our size.

So, I feel like the goal for us is just to continuously write and when we feel like putting something out, we put something out.

Do you guys have another album planned?

N:Yeah, sort of. We are writing and recording as we are writing. We are working right now with a producer named Mike Sapone, he did all the Brand New/Taking Back Sunday records. He’s a big Long Island dude and he kind of works like that. We send him demos and he will be like, “I love these two, let’s do these two now.” It’s gradual. It’s a little refreshing for us to do that because the record we released last year, we wrote all these songs and moved into a mansion to record it live. It was an abandoned mansion.

It was like a museum, it was William Cullen Bryant’s old estate. We rented it from the county; seventy acres of land, on a lake. Spent like 300 bucks on a permit and that was it.

local wolves magazine // 81

circa survive

twin forks

switchfoot

82

future islands

new found glory

parachute

local wolves magazine // 83