Issue 03 // The Summer Set by MISTREE Magazine

issue 03|AUGUST â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14

the summer set

MISTREE magazine

As for the rest of this issue, we chatted to some wonderful people from all over the world, getting their perspectives on music and what they hope to achieve. We also reviewed some of the latest music and found some artists for you to discover. We do hope you enjoy this issue!

editorial editor: bekka collins bekka@mistreemagazine.co.uk writers: bekka collins, melina scarfo, carney sims photography: dylan razo

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HELLO SUMMER IS COMING TO AN END and if the UK’s thunderstorms and bi-polar weather is anything to go by, it may already be over. That being said, we thought the best way to commemorate the past month would be to feature the Vans Warped Tour, one of the largest tours in America. Our photographer Dylan Razo headed out to the Arizona date and did a great job capturing a wealth of artists that are only a few pages away. Nice work Dylan!

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MISTREE MAGAZINE is an independent publication that is solely published on issuu.com. All material is copyright. All rights reserved. The views of our contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the MISTREE Magazine team. At the time of writing the information published in this publication is known to be correct, but changes can occur bringing the accuracy of copy into question. We do not accept responsibility for these changes. info@mistreemagazine.co.uk

Don’t forget to TWEET us at @mistreemagazine using #unravelthemystery to let us know what you thought of this issue.

bekka collins, editor

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special thanks Thank make have help

you to everyone who helped this issue possible, we wouldn’t been able to do it without from the following people:

Atlantic Records, Chuff Media, Vans Warped Tour, Dylan Razo, The Summer Set, Sonic PR, Sound Consultancy, Bit Picture Media, Little Press, Quite Great, Resound Media and most importantly the featured musicians and contributors. We would also like to give a big thank you to you, for joining us on our journey into unravelling music mysteries.

CO N T EN T S 34

The summer set

ARIZONA FIVE PIECE THE

Summer Set have been dealing with a crazy amount of success since they released their album ‘Legendary’ last year via Fearless Records. They spent their summer playing main stage at this years Vans Warped Tour and we got a chance to speak to them about their experience, how they deal with being on a tour so dynamic as Warped and what we can expect from them in the future. If you’re a fan, you’ll be pleased to know that new music IS on the way.

discover

8 MAYDAY PARADE 14 ECHOSMITH 20 STRAY FROM THE PATH 21 THE COLOR MORALE 26 ANBERLIN 27 ETID + MORE!

06 MATT HIRES 12 FENCES 22 SAINTS OF VALORY 30 FARAO

PVRIS

nell

ward thomas

check out what else is in this issue!

opinions

visual

42 PAVILIONS 52 ALBUM REVIEWS 54 VIOLENT SOHO SHOW REVIEW

philippa hanna

breton

four year strong 3

the maine

G ALLER Y ALL WARPED TOUR PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO MESA, AZ || JUNE ‘14

LOOK OUT for our vans warped tour galleries

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MATT HIRES The first artist to sign to F-Stop Music, an imprint of Atlantic Records, Tampa-born Matt Hires has captured the hearts of many with his soulful lyrics and infectious melodies. His debut release was back in 2008, with an EP titled ‘Live From the Hotel Cafe’, which compiled four live tracks that gained him solid exposure and impressive critic comparisons. He released his first full-length album ‘Take Us To The Start’ in 2009 with a handful of EP’s following across the years. Having learned to play music on a handmade guitar that was given to him by his father, his original inspiration came from artists such as Sufjan Stevens, Dashboard Confessional, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and so on. Yet after the CD player in his car broke, Matt began to embrace the world of pop which features heavily on his second album ‘This World Won’t Last Forever, But Tonight We Can Pretend,’ which was released last year. Noting that his sophomore album is more fun and pop-oriented, it was created with the help of producer Eric Rosse, and songwriters Alex Dezen and Busbee. As a songwriter himself, Matt always takes something away from his collaborations, but his devotion to infuse songs with unwavering honesty is an element that always shines through. Now label free and tackling things on his own, Matt enjoys playing house tours in order to strengthen his connection with fans. He released his ‘Heart Machine’ EP back in April and has plenty more music on the way. TWITTER.COM/MATTHIRES FACEBOOK.COM/MATTHIRES WORDS BY: BEKKA COLLINS

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PHOTO BY: REID ROLLS

D I S C O V E R LOOK OUT FOR OUR DISCOVER HEADINGS WHICH FEATURE UP AND COMING ARTISTS.

@thelostenemy

With a group title that represents the negativity left behind in their lives to instead pursue their dreams, East London urban trio The Lost Enemy are on the rise in the music scene, putting together bouncy hip hop mixes and cool collaborations to date. The three talented emcees known as Denero, Boogie and Snowman showcase their distinct flare with catchy raps and clever lyrics in fun tracks like “Poppin” and “GhosTown”. The trio have released a brand spanking new single that is said to already be circulating the streets of London. Titled “One And A Million”, we see them teaming up with UK songstress Jahna Sebastian who mixed and produced the track. From performing at the Ministry of Sound and XOYO to supporting N-Dubz’s Dappy, The Artful Dodger and English Frank, The Lost Enemy are a multi-talented bunch who are clearly only moving further forward into the music industry.

@WILDSMILESBAND @MYLITTLEAF @osloparks Wild Smiles are a trio from Winchester who let their music depict the highs and lows of modern day life. Formed back in 2012 after Chris Peden hit rock bottom after a break up and the demise of his previous alt-rock act, he turned to music as an escape. After recruiting his brother Joe to play guitar and drummer Ben Cook, the trio began to pick up some local attention. They set their sights on recording their debut album ‘Always Tomorrow’ which is due out in October. The albums first single “Never Wanted This” looks at the supposed milestones we reach in life, and the act of following a mundane routine. It is a great taster to their sound and we’re excited to see what will come from this band. Though they may be new to the scene, their sound is polished, professional and addictive.

Oslo Parks are not a Norwegian act like you might expect from their location based name, but instead a duo from Brighton who create luscious music almost effortlessly. There is not much to know about this new act at the moment, but we have a feeling their exposure will soon pick up. Their debut single “Twin” was released in July via X Novo and is an electronically infused, laid-back gem that will have you singing “our love is like a coma”. It is a promising debut release that has already garnered quite a buzz online. The accompanying video was directed by Jeb Hardwick of Phoria. We are excited to see what their future brings.

MOKO is a soul-singer who I’ve had on my radar for a while. After she uploaded her first track “Summon The Strength” to YouTube last year, the praise inevitably and quickly started to roll in. The New Cross singer has since been on the rise, selling out shows and earning prime time radio play. Her vintage synths and sounds are memorable and dance worthy, while her almost gospel vocals are executed with such great power. Her latest track “Your Love” is an infectious 90s track that is uplifting and dynamic. I am really excited to see what opportunities arise for MOKO, she is one artist that everyone needs to look out for.

@shadowsonstars

@THISMOKO

Portland, Oregon is known for being weird and wonderful, and Portland natives Randa Leigh and Brian Vincent seem to have struck a perfect balance between the two with their alternative outfit SOS. The musical duo have been experimenting with their sound for the past few years and it is a generous blend of electro-pop, reminiscent of The Weeknd and SBTRKT. Their latest track “She Wants” is sultry and seductive, channeling intimate vibes and warm tones. It’s great to see the progression they have made with their sound and we hope they keep going on their musical journey.

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M A Y D A Y p a r a d e PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

I NT E RV IEW

WE LEARNED LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE THROUGH

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ONE OF THE MOST TALKED ABOUT acts at the moment is PVRIS, the three piece Massachusetts act and new Rise Record signees. Known as Operation Guillotine for a short while, the band entered the studio and emerged with a fresh sound and a brand new name to match their music. The trio made their Warped Tour debut with a two week run this year, and we spoke to front woman Lynn Gunn about PVRIS’s plans for the future and what we can expect from their debut album. Describing their sound as “a big mix of rock, pop and electronic,” the band took influences from absolutely everything to craft their new music. They even showcased their true talent by stripping back their songs and releasing an acoustic EP earlier in the year. Now the newest signees and only female fronted act on Rise Records, Lynn talked us through their signing experience. “We were originally supposed to sign to a different label,” she said. “Literally on the day we were going to sign our contracts, we were told not to sign and that Rise would be giving us an offer. Being the first-female fronted act feels the same as being any other band on their roster, we have to work just as hard and earn our stripes just like any other band.”

PVRIS recently released their brand new video for their track titled “St. Patrick” with the help of Raul Gonzo. The video is certainly captivating and the track is taken from their forthcoming debut album. Lynn said: “don’t expect anything [from the album], just listen to it when it comes out!” Speaking of the album, the trio worked alongside producer Blake Harnage (of Versa). “He was always a bit of a mentor to me with programming music/making electronic sounding music, and this kind of started before we even went to record our older material” explained Lynn. “When I had started writing the new material for the new record, I demoed out all of the songs by programming them out in Reason. I sent a lot of

“WE HAVE TO WORK JUST AS HARD TO EARN OUR STRIPES” them over to Blake and we would send ideas back and forth via email. When we finally got in the studio with Blake we just morphed our sounds/styles together and it eventually progressed into what it is now. Our biggest challenge [in the studio] was definitely just having confidence in the music we made.”

But PVRIS have certainly grown in confidence, especially after their stint on this years Warped Tour. Lynn told us that you can expect “jumping, clapping and dancing,” from their shows. She also noted there may be some moments where she “talks like an idiot” because she is “socially awkward,” but those were her words not ours! “Being on the road has taught us that we are a team,” she continued. “We have to hold each other up and we all have to look out for each other. We also learned that laughter is the best medicine through anything. We go through some tough shit sometimes but we always try and find humour and laughter in everything.” PVRIS have one goal in mind, and that is to: “reach as many ears and touch as many hearts” as they can. Lynn however noted that her personal goal is to have a tour kitten, and we think someone should start a petition to get that arranged. You can catch the band in Japan this September where they will be supporting A Loss For Words and State Champs. They also have a full US fall tour planned and hope to align that alongside the release of their debut album. We’re really excited about PVRIS and have a great feeling about them and their future in music. FACEBOOK.COM/THISISPVRIS TWITTER.COM/THISISPVRIS

d i s cov er

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FENCES Seattle born and bred musician Chris Mansfield, more commonly known as Fences has been honing his craft and making a name for himself in the music business for years. While the singer-songwriter previously self-described his music as “pouty petulant pop”, it’s clear that he has matured since his 2009 debut EP release, and in turn his music has evolved too. Originally discovered by Sarah Quinn via MySpace, Chris worked with Tegan and Sara to produce his debut self-titled album. He also spent time on the road alongside HelloGoodbye and Against Me!, sharing his music with the masses and touching upon his sobriety story that has connected him to so many people. Four years after his debut release and Chris is now ready to share more of his stories with the world, in the form of his new album ‘Lesser Oceans’ which will be released on October 14th. The album is set to contain collaborations with Chris Walla and Jason McGerr of Death Cab For Cutie, as well as Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Though news about ‘Lesser Oceans’ has mainly been kept on the down-low, Fences recently released the albums first track “Songs About Angels”. “Songs About Angels” is a mature pop track with delicate keys and soulful vocals. Fences has not lost his relatable charm, and we’re really excited to see what comes from ‘Lesser Oceans’. Keep up to date with Fences’ journey via the links below. FACEBOOK.COM/FENCESVSWOLF TWITTER.COM/FFEENNCCEESS

echosmith PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

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Nell For those who don’t know, could you tell us a little bit about how you got started in music? I grew up in Brooklyn in a large loft with two artistic parents. I was raised primarily by my father who is a painter and a sculptor. My mother was a classical soprano; she and my father divorced when I was five. She would take me on tour with her when I was very young, and set me up on a blanket on the side of the stage. She even sang with me in utero at eight months in Carnegie Hall. When I was seven, my mom moved to Massachusetts and I stayed with my dad in New York. Life in Brooklyn until the age of 11 was ideal and I remember it fondly. I studied the cello and thought about being a classical musician. When I was 11, I moved to Massachusetts in the country, several states away to live with my mother. It was an unhappy time for me, and I felt like the kids at school were not “my people” and I was unpopular. I eventually found solace in listening to Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix while driving the country roads in my first car. It wasn’t until then that I really started feeling I could be a singer-songwriter. Janis and Jimi, like they have with so many other angsty teenagers, made me feel like I had friends, I had people that were right in my ear that sounded immediate, and they got what I was going through. I took a gap year after high school before university, and travelled to Australia alone with a backpack and a Lonely Planet guidebook. I had the time of my life meeting other strangers and “finding myself.” On the advice of some other backpackers I met, I bought a cheap guitar so I could accompany myself on the little acapella “ditties” I was composing. I was terrible at it and the guitar was heavy and

unwieldy, but the passion to learn how to play had firmly taken hold. When I returned to the US, I went to a very academically serious allgirls university in Boston. I led a double life, living off campus, and hanging out at the folk clubs in Boston where I would play the open mics. I recorded my first EP, got the taste for recording, and knew I was doomed because it was all I wanted to ever do with my life. I studied English literature but knew all along that I’d be playing the bars and clubs instead of getting a “normal” office job like all the other graduates. How would you personally describe your sound? I have no idea. I love singing, so the vocals are always front and centre. I play guitar, so all of the songs can always be stripped back to just vocals and guitar if need be. My first album ‘What Does It Take’ was more soul-Americana, since I recorded it in New Orleans. My second album ‘Shake The Tree’ was rootsy but darker lyrically, kind of Daniel Lanois or T Bone Burnett style production. On this latest album ‘Wayfarer’ I got into more dance, funk and electronic influences, since I’d been spending so much time in England. I wrote all the songs mostly with this new sound in mind, but some of them were older songs that hadn’t fit on earlier albums because they needed a more light hearted sonic approach than I had previously been doing. Tell us a little bit about surviving your fair share of natural disasters. Did these events have an impact on you or your music at all? I’ve been living in Greenwich Village for the last 13 years. I was there on 9/11 and that day changed my life. I decided shortly after to quit

my waitressing job and go on tour in Europe, so I set up a 30 date tour for myself and have been touring and making records ever since. For a long time I didn’t want to write about my experience that day, and ten years went by before I did. The song that finally came out was Sirens, and its tone is more hopeful because I didn’t write it right away after the trauma. That song then changed my life: Cher covered it on her latest album, and Gary Barlow heard it on the radio and invited me on his tour. I recorded my first album, ‘What Does It Take’, in New Orleans. As soon as the producer and I had finished, we flew back to NYC to mix the tracks. We turned on the TV and watched Hurricane Katrina flood that beautiful city. It was a moment where I felt like I had to do all I could to get the sound of those brilliant musicians out there to the world. So yes, those two disasters have shaped my musical direction. You’re gearing up to release your new album ‘Wayfarer’, how do you think your sound has progressed within this album? I’ve gotten more into funk and dance influences on the latest album ‘Wayfarer’, with the two young East London producers I worked with. Because my life is so upbeat and happy these days (I’ve recently gotten married and I’m expecting a baby), I wanted to come up with a sound that was less cry-in-yourbeer country ballad than I’d done before, and more a drive-yourcar-with-the-windows-down summer album that you’d want to move to. What was the recording experience of ‘Wayfarer’ like, did you experience any challenges while in the studio? Each album about 11-13

I put out has songs, but there 17

would be about 40 songs I wrote and demoed up in order to get to the final stages of recording. So it’s a long process of coming up with the right mixture of songs, and then figuring out how best to record that sound. For instance for ‘Wayfarer’, we recorded a whole uptempo upbeat album that reflected the emotional direction my life was going in, and then when I got to the end I decided to do all the songs again, but as stripped-back acoustic versions. So it’s a double album. What is your writing process like, and do you prefer to write from real life events or do you incorporate fiction too? I think since I studied literature in University, I definitely try to get a story or a narrative across in a song, whether fictitious elements are incorporated or not. But the emotions always come from an autobiographical place, since it has to feel real. If I’m writing about a character, I have to relate. Why did you choose the title track to be the album’s first single, what is it about and what does it mean to you? Wayfarer means “someone who wanders.” I’ve been a travelling nomad as a touring musician for many years, and have been privileged to see all different parts of the world and collect friends and colleagues in far-flung places. So I wanted this album to reflect all the moving around that I’ve done in the past 10 years. But also, I’ve gone from being a loner, a touring musician on the road, married to my career - to quite suddenly having my life change to what I always wanted: I’ve met the man of my dreams, he’s my best friend, and we’ve gotten married and we’re expecting a baby. I always wanted to be a mom and a wife, but I thought that being a touring musician was mutually exclusive, because unlike most guys I know, I wasn’t into the whole groupie thing and I wanted a permanent partner, which seemed impossible to find when I was always moving around. Then when I developed alopecia three years ago and lost all my hair from stress, I finally got off the work treadmill and took a good long look at the direction I was headed in, which was a life of loneliness. So I just kind 18 | MISTREEMAGAZINE.CO.UK

of opened myself up, and low and behold my husband and I crossed paths and I was finally ready for it. You’ve shared the stage with an array of artists, what could we expect from one of your live shows? Many gigs when I started out, I’d be under a TV screen with the football on, in an empty bar with uninterested strangers in a foreign country. So every show now where people have bought a ticket to see me and know the songs feels like a joy. I feel quite close to the audience because I tell stories about where the songs came from and they laugh at my stupid jokes and awkward moments. And yeah, I’ve been lucky to tour with some of the greats, especially Gary Barlow, who invited me onstage every night to sing a duet with him, and Jools Holland, whose band is amazing. My headline tour this autumn is with my own band, which is always more fun and energetic than the solo acoustic shows I do as a support act. What have you learned about yourself from being on the road? I feel like I’ve built up my fanbase one person at a time, by doing constant shows. It’s hard to bullshit a live audience, so it keeps you real and grounded. There were years where I was playing 250 shows a year, setting up all my own tours, selling CDs out of my suitcase and sleeping on strangers’ couches. With ‘Wayfarer’, it’s a joy to take an album sound that’s a new direction and try it out with a live band. I’m nearly 6 months pregnant now, and I’ve already got a baby bump to contend with. My headline tour is 21 dates, starting 19th September and ending 1st November, and my due date is 27 November. It’s certainly making holding the guitar more interesting by the day! Luckily I love what I do, and my husband will drive me separately from the band, so I can make sure I get enough rest to stay healthy and safe. What is one thing you would like to achieve as a musician? I would like to be involved in more collaborations, since it shows you a whole new side of yourself. I met Nile Rodgers when I was part of a documentary about the healing

power of music, filmed while I did a tour in Iraq. He is such a gentle and kind person, and I’m privileged to know him. He also has a wicked funk sense, and is the king of rhythm guitar today. We used a lot of his influence on my new album, and I’d love to do a Daft Punk / Pharrell Williams style collaboration with him. If we are talking acoustic collaborations though, I’d say Robert Plant seems like a guy who’s lived the crazy rock and roll lifestyle and has come out the other side intact, still loving music and growing artistically. I love his work recently with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss and alt-country singer Nancy Griffith. What do you have planned for the rest of the year? I will be hosting my own program on Radio 2 on August 25. It’s called “Nell Bryden’s New York Hour,” and I will play music that has to do with my hometown. So many singersongwriters have passed through the streets of Greenwich Village where I live (from Bob Dylan to Lou Reed), and it’s been inspiring to follow in their footsteps in the music haunts they frequented. My headline tour is 19 September - 1 November, and after that I will hopefully have a wonderfully life-changing moment becoming a new mom. People tell me to enjoy the sleep while I can! Is there anything else you would like to say? I think that people that are truly themselves - not these airbrushed, photo-shopped, auto-tuned celebrities that are created by a backstage board-committee - are the most interesting songwriters. My aim, after losing my hair, finding love, becoming a mom, and remaining independent as a businesswoman, is to show people that everything I’ve been through is what makes me who I am, and that being ashamed of who you are is counterproductive. I try to be confident in my own skin, even though like most women there are countless things I would like to change about myself. It’s a life lesson I want to pass on to my daughter; I want her to be accepting of whoever she ends up being too. FACEBOOK.COM/NELLBRYDENMUSIC TWITTER.COM/NELLBRYDEN

STRAY FROM THE PATH PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

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THE COLOR MORALE PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

DIS COV ER

SAINTS OF VALORY

SAINTS OF VALORY ARE A BAND WHO JUST KEEP ON GIVING MORE AND GETTING BETTER

WORDS BY: BEKKA COLLINS PHOTO BY: JOSH FLETCHER

Saints Of Valory are a rock quartet, home to four members who hail from three different continents. Built upon a childhood friendship between lead vocalist and bassist Gavin Jasper and guitarist Godfrey Thomson, the pair reunited years later in Brazil. Having individually worked their way through a handful of other acts, the pair joined forces back in 2008. They soon enlisted the help of drummer Gerard Labou and officially formed as Saints of Valory. After relocating to Austin, Texas in 2010, the trio contacted Stephen Buckle who owned a small studio space where he let the band rehearse. After a few months passed, Stephen joined the band 22 | MISTREEMAGAZINE.CO.UK

full-time as a keyboardist, and the rest as they say is history. The four piece worked hard to establish their rock-rooted sound that strikes a perfect balance of shimmering guitars, pop hooks and anthemic choruses. At a time where MySpace was at the forefront of music discovery, the band selfreleased their debut EP ‘The Bright Lights’, followed by their second EP ‘Kids’ in 2012. During this time the band were receiving major airplay and scoring slots at SXSW, CMJ and DeLuna festival. They then announced their signing to Atlantic Records. The band’s label debut ‘Possibilities’ was released in July of last year

and features their most notable song to date, “Neon Eyes.” It has been all things go since then, and Saints Of Valory have continued to grow from strength to strength. In May of this year the quartet released another EP titled ‘V’, which has already garnered a wealth of praise. They just seem to have a solid grasp on their sound which is constantly evolving and improving. Saints Of Valory are an exciting group who are continuously delivering impressive music to an ever growing fanbase, and we hope they never stop. FACEBOOK.COM/SAINTSOFVALORY TWITTER.COM/SAINTSOFVALORY

D I S C OVER @LAKESBAND

LAKES Lakes formed as all great indie rock bands do. Four close friends from California, Matt Covington, Jeremy Wells, Jacob Wick and Seth Roberts, played in different bands until they came together as Lakes in 2005. Since then they have released an EP, two full lengths and toured with the likes of Anberlin and Cold War Kids. The band’s latest release ‘Fire Ahead’ is described as their most definitive album yet. It is a nostalgic mix of thundering drums and hazy guitars. The lyrics are very personal,

expressing everything from love, pain, longing and joy. Lakes say “it is a raw look into our world, our story and the pieces that have made this band a family”. Lakes are confident and honest in what they do and this shines through in their music. They are currently finishing up a tour in support of ‘Fire Ahead’ and hopefully we will see more of them soon. FACEBOOK.COM/LAKESBAND WORDS BY: MELINA SCARFO

BEN FROST @ETHERMACHINES

Ben Frost is an Australian born musician who relocated to Iceland in 2005 to work with a close friend and form the record label Bedroom Community. He is completely engrossed in the world that is music, constantly finding ways to juxtapose rhythm, technology, performance and art. He has dabbled in many projects including creating an opera and debuting as a director. His musical talents are by far some of his most critically acclaimed work however, with his fourth, and most recent album A U R O R A already becoming a firm 2014 favourite. With worldwide shows announced from September onwards, Ben Frost really is an artist you’ll want to catch this year.

WORDS BY: BEKKA COLLINS

@FREEDOMFRYMUSIC

FREEDOM FRY Formed in 2011, the sun-kissed duo known as Freedom Fry are made up of French songstress Marie Seyrat and Michigan-born Bruce Driscoll. The pair met in Los Angeles where their tropica-pop vibes seem to fit right in. They have self-recorded and released three EP’s and four singles, constantly pushing themselves and their creative boundaries. Their DIY approach has only fuelled their love and understanding of music, and has not diminished their chances of being spotted by mainstream media, having already been praised by the likes of iTunes, MTV and TopShop. They have since built their own home studio and constantly explore their sound and techniques. Their latest track “The Wilder Mile” is one of the most charming tracks we’ve heard in a while, with playful dual vocals and a folk-twist. The energetic percussion and memorable whistles will have you hitting repeat. It shows great promise for this band and their future in music. We don’t think you’ll find a cuter pairing than these two. We absolutely love what Freedom Fry are creating, and think you will too. WORDS BY: BEKKA COLLINS 23

i nterv iew

Ward Thomas “WE HOPE THAT OUR MUSIC CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE” 24 | MISTREEMAGAZINE.CO.UK

WARD THOMAS ARE ONE OF the freshest country acts to recently rise from the UK’s music scene. The sibling duo is made up of 20-year-old twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas from Hampshire. They have just released their debut album and are due to head out on a mammoth UK tour. We spoke to them about their musical backgrounds, their experiences recording their first album, being twins in music and their future plans. “We have always been surrounded by music growing up,” Lizzy began. “Our parents were in an old classic rock band together so we got into music such as The Kinks, The Beatles and so on at an early age. Before getting into country music we were both in a classical choir at our school. Catherine was Alto and I was Soprano. We used to go home together and practice our harmonies. We then watched ‘Walk The Line’ and stared loving the melodies and stories to Johnny Cash and June Carter songs. Our cousin from Canada then came over and lived with us for a few years. She introduced us to the Dixie Chicks, Miranda Lambert and so on. We then started writing songs when we turned 16. That was really when we decided to do this as a career.” Around this time a rough demo of the girls’ track “Footnotes” found its way into the hands of two session musicians in Nashville. Lizzy explained that since releasing their ‘Footnotes’ EP their sound has definitely progressed. “We have written a bunch of new songs in America and found that we are learning to open up more in our songs. We are constantly exploring our writing skills and we are always developing our sound. We are learning that we never stop developing as artists and we’re always wanting our sound to progress the more we write and perform.” Their debut album ‘From Where We Stand’ was released on July 21st. The album was written completely in the UK but recorded in Nashville. Lizzy

noted that recording in America was “amazing.” She said: “We got to meet all sorts of interesting people and made many close relationships. It was hard work and there were some days where we were in the studio until very late singing for 12/13 hour stretches. It was very tiring but very worth it. There are a few messages and meanings to every song on the album, but we wanted to show what we think about things from what we have experienced growing up.” The albums lead single “Push For The Stride” was released the same day, with the girls believing that it would be the perfect single to lead the album. “It’s a big up tempo summer track to fit with the time of year, but it is also about picking yourself up when you’re down. We wanted to have a track with a positive message out there,” they explained. The release of their album has been a momentous occasion, seeing some people state that country music is being reborn because of Ward Thomas. We wanted to know what it is the girls love so much about country music and who has inspired their sound. “We love a lot of things about country music, but what we love most is what it represents. We feel that especially with modern country, the lyrics tell a story that most people can relate to. I’m not talking about the old country and Western songs about cowboys and trucks, which people over here cannot relate to as we haven’t got those things. I’m looking at artists such as The Dixie Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Zack Brown Band and so on. If you listen to what they are all talking about in their songs, they all talk about everyday life aspects and how most people have the same experiences and feelings. We also love the melodies and harmonies to country music. I’d say our biggest influences are The Dixie Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Alison Krauss and many more,” expressed Lizzy.

that they tend to agree on most things. “Luckily we have very similar taste in music,” laughed Lizzy. “Our writing process changes now and then, as sometimes one of us comes up with a melody to a chord progression then the idea comes afterwards. Or we have an idea and the melody comes out. We obviously have a few different ideas, but we mostly work very well together.” And their understanding of one another works well for their live shows. “We love it when the audience participates with us,” they noted. “When we went to Glasgow we were amazed when they all started singing along to our songs. It was a great feeling having them all join in. We’d hope that people would expect entertainment as well as a good fun live performance from our shows.” Being interviewed by Terry Wogan, being on BBC Breakfast and being on the playlist for Radio 2 have been some of the girls’ biggest highlights so far. They have loved making memories and playing summer festivals, but most importantly they say they “have a fab time doing everything” and that’s refreshing to see. “We love entertaining people even from when we were four years old. We’re not only twins, we are very close friends and we love making music together. We hope that our music can make a difference to people, and if our music can make people happy then that is really the best achievement we can hope for.” The girls are currently on tour in support of their album and are already working on playing more shows around the country in autumn. They are always writing new songs and are looking forward to creating a second album in the future. We think they have the drive and determination to make it big, so follow along with their journey by using the links below.

FACEBOOK.COM/WARD.THOMAS4 @WARDTHOMASMUSIC

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anberlin PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

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every time i die PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

I N TER VIEW

Philippa Hanna SHEFFIELD SINGERSONGWRITER Philippa Hanna has been inspiring many audiences all over the world with her faith-inspired music since 2007. Since releasing her debut album ‘Watching Me’, Philippa has published a book, won awards for her music, supported Lionel Richie and became somewhat of a figure for the gospel music world. We found out about how she got started and what else she hopes to achieve. “I was brought up in a musical family,” she begins. “My dad is Irish and grew up in a huge travelling family show. Pretty much everyone in my generation ended up being musical! It’s the first thing I remember, seeing my dad on stage in clubs and music venues. He was always my inspiration. He pulled me up on stage from 18 months old, and I’ve been there ever since!” Granted, coming from a musical background has its perks, but Philippa has spent a long time establishing her sound, currently describing it as “acoustic soul with some country and folk mixed in.” She went on to say that “there’s a very spiritual element to it as my faith is very central to who I am and my perspective. I try to be very honest in my lyrical content and connect with people.” And connecting with people is an art form that Philippa seems to have mastered, if the success of her latest album ‘Through The Woods’ (which was released year) is anything to go by. It has been praised by many, especially for it’s realness. “It’s definitely my most folk album to date,” she mused. “There’s

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a fairytale theme running throughout, with songs about biting into poisoned apples and being pursued by wolves. The overall theme is that we all walk through dark times, but we just need to head towards the clearing because there is light awaiting us on the other side.” To accompany ‘Through The Woods’ Philippa published her second book titled ‘Following The Breadcrumbs’ as she believes her music is very broad and open to interpretation. “I wanted to write something very direct so that if people want to know what’s really going on behind the music they can read the journey of my life this past decade. It’s about my difficulties with anxiety and depression, finding true love, new faith and a career in music,” she explained. Her career in music is certainly on the rise, as she began 2014 opening up for Rebecca Ferguson. “It was an awesome experience. The venues were beautiful and Rebecca’s fans were superstars. They made me feel so special, it felt like a wonderful fit,” she recalls. “Sometimes I perform solo - just me and my guitar which I love. But I have an INCREDIBLE band that join me for some events. Either way, the focus is always storytelling and ultimately the audience! It’s all about them. I pray before every show that they’ll be blessed and find something in my experiences that they can relate too.” When it comes to being on the road Philippa simply explained that she loves it, and believes it’s in her blood. “I’m happiest when I’m on my way somewhere,” she said.

Speaking about her biggest musical achievement so far, Philippa said: “We just finished a small headline tour which went so well! It felt amazing because there was a real mixture of people there. People from all walks of life with different musical tastes singing together. That’s what I love.” But it has taken a while for Philippa to be comfortable in her own skin. “Everyone has an opinion about what you should do to achieve greater success,” she explains. “It’s difficult, but you have to hold onto what makes you unique. There’s no point in smoothing off all your edges only to become a generic aspiring artist. Be you!” Philippa has recently become involved in Rocket Fuel, a crowd funding platform that encourages fans to help their favourite artists ‘take off’. “As I mentioned, it’s a challenge to stay unique, and inviting big industry powers into the mix makes it even harder. Rocket Fuel is a way of staying independent. It’s a funding platform which allows fans to give monthly support in return for rewards! It means they can really be a part of your journey and be the catalyst that takes you to another level.” As for the rest of 2014, Philippa plans to write more music and get the ball rolling for her next album, alongside some large tours in 2015. She ended our chat by saying: “I’d love to say that there’s no shame in failure. Everyone significant in history made mistakes in pursuit of their dreams. Don’t worry if you’re not where you want to be yet, just keep on driving.” FACEBOOK.COM/PHILIPPAHANNA @PHILIPPAHANNA

“IT’S DIFFICULT, BUT YOU HAVE TO HOLD ON TO WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE.”

DIS COV ER

FARAO

MEET ONE OF THE MOST TALKED ABOUT UP AND COMING UK BANDS OF 2014

WORDS BY: BEKKA COLLINS PHOTO BY: KARL ERIK BRøNDBO

Farao is the pseudonym of the Norwegian-born singer-songwriter Kari Jahnsen. After moving to England at the age of 19 to study music, the now London-based musician is certainly finding her feet within the industry. Well travelled and well versed in music, her project known as Farao was launched early last year, and has allowed Kari to embody her talent as a singer-songwriter. As a multi-instrumentalist known for playing drums, bass and piano, Kari is also involved in multiple side projects including a shoe gaze act called Hella Better Dancer, but has noted that Farao is her main priority. Her debut EP which consisted of four 30 | MISTREEMAGAZINE.CO.UK

tracks was released in February and has certainly helped put Farao on the map. Recorded with Mike Lindsay of Tunng, amid the wintery backdrop of Reykjavik in Iceland, the inspiring but intense recording process saw Kari both sleep and work in the studio for a period of ten days. Playing almost all of the instruments across the songs, the EP dissects love, life and mortality. It is presented in a captivating folk-pop fashion but never strays too far away from nomadic influences or rich delivery. Kari has the travel bug and loves to spend time on the road. Last year she brought her sound to several festivals including The Great Escape, Secret Garden Party and several established venues across Europe.

This year she has scheduled shows in Norway and Sweden, but will be appearing in the UK for the Green Man Festival. At the beginning of September you can catch her in Germany supporting Highasakite and she’ll be back in Iceland in November. Farao offers an unusual but addictive blend of folk-pop that is compelling and delicate. She has an honest way with words and we just can’t seem to get enough of her signature sound. Here’s hoping more people join on the Farao bandwagon throughout 2014 and beyond. FACEBOOK.COM/FARAOMUSIC TWITTER.COM/FARAOMUSIC

D I S C OVER

breton

FILM-MAKERS TURNED MUSICIANS, BRETON OFFER SOMETHING TRULY UNIQUE.

WORDS BY: MELINA SCARFO

Breton are more than musicians. Hailing from South London, the five piece were originally an artist collective, producing films and multimedia projects under the name of BretonLABS. After struggling to gain exposure they reformed as a band, meshing together genres to create glitchy electronica meets art rock and tropical pop. Earlier this year the band released their second album ‘War Room Stories’ which was recorded at Funkhaus Studios in Berlin. The building used to house communist workers who wrote and broadcast propaganda. Breton however are spreading nothing more than cleverly structured and energetic music. ‘War Room Stories’ refers to Churchill’s

war rooms during the Second World War and is about ‘locking yourself away and trying to process every idea’. This calculated way of thinking makes for an intricate record, comparable to Foals with its angular rhythms. Opening track “Envy” is a stand-out with jittery guitar, lush synths and sporadic drums. Brenton are always pushing boundaries. During recording they hired a 44 piece orchestra who appear on five tracks. The strings magically fit in between industrial beats and bright electronica. They also sampled sounds of insects and wildlife surrounding the building which can be heard on the last track “15 Minutes”. This willingness to experiment produces some of the most interesting music

we have heard in a long time. Naturally Breton’s music videos are obscure and thought provoking. Being film makers as well as musicians allows them to express themselves visually. However, the band don’t object to collaborating. The artwork for ‘War Room Stories’ was taken by Brooklyn photographer Alastair Casey. Breton offer something truly unique to the world of music. Not only can they fuse together any sound but they have the gift to translate this into film. Currently on a summer festival tour, we cannot wait to see what they get up to. FACEBOOK.COM/BRETONLABS TWITTER.COM/BRETONLABS 31

FOR TODAY PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

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THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

the summer set

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IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH The Summer Set then I’m not quite sure what you have been doing with your time for the past seven years. The American pop-rock group from Scottsdale, Arizona is made up of Brian Logan Dales, John and Stephen Gomez, Jessica Bowen and Joshua Montgomery. They released their debut EP ‘Love The Love You Have’ in November of 2007, and have continuously built upon their sound since then.

and spent the first half of 2014 performing their first ever headline shows in the UK as part of ‘The Legendary UK Tour’. Eight months into the year and they have already spent a great portion of their time on the road, including playing main stage at this years Vans Warped Tour. We managed to have a chat to the band about their experience of the tour this year, and what we can expect from them in the near future.

Their second EP ‘In Color’ followed in June of the following year, while their third EP ‘Meet Me On The Left Coast’ was released at the end of 2008. They released their debut-full length album ‘Love Like This’ in 2009 and this is where things began to pick up. Previously signed with The Militia Group before moving to Razor and Tie Records the band received several mainstream opportunities including playing the entirety of the Vans Warped Tour in 2010.

“You can’t really prepare for Warped since every day is totally unexpected and without routine,” explained Brian. “I love it because of that though. My favourite thing this summer was when we crashed Bowling For Soup’s last show, stole their instruments and covered ‘Girl All The Bad Guys Want’ in their own set!”

As time progressed so did the bands exposure. They were going on worldwide tours to help promote their second full length album ‘Everything’s Fine’ which was released in mid 2011. But it is their fourth, and most recent full-length release, ‘Legendary,’ that has garnered the most praise. After hauling themselves up in a house together, their communal living offered a unique opportunity for the band to work with one another and is one of the reasons behind the fun-loving nature of the album. ‘Legendary’ was released in April of last year via Fearless Records, their new permanent home. To coincide with the release of ‘Legendary’, the band created the Half Moon Kids, a community forum that supports the bands creative fans and surrounding community. This also sparked the term ‘be legendary’, which was a key element to the bands ‘Legendary Moment Campaign’, which saw the band help each other but also their fans achieve longtime goals and dreams. Now the band have surpassed over 336,000 fans on Facebook

As mentioned, this was the bands first year on Warped’s main stage, with Brian noting that it has been “amazing”. “It’s been such a privilege, and we really wanna thank Kevin Lyman. We’ve really seen our whole profile change since ‘Legendary’ came out, and since we played the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the iHeartRadio Festival. I think it’s really shown at Warped Tour this summer too.” After six million votes were counted, The Summer Set were crowned the Rising Stars of Macy’s iHeartRadio competition and were able to share the stage with the Backstreet Boys and Sheryl Crow. Their performance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was also televised and really helped with the bands exposure and confidence in their live shows. Though ‘Legendary’ has been out for a year, the band have an impressive backlog of material and it can certainly become difficult to decide which songs to play live. “We ran into this problem with Warped Tour this year,” admitted Brian. “When we do headlining tours we play for an hour and a half, so it’s not as difficult. We only get 30 minutes on Warped, so we really have to play our seven most popular songs.

It ends up being two or three from each album. We actually changed our set two weeks into Warped this year too because we realised we had more popular songs that we weren’t playing”. At Warped this year Brian really loved watching Bowling For Soup, K. Flay and PVRIS play, but he also opened up some what too. Speaking about time on the road he said: “I don’t really know life off the road, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We live in close quarters and know everything about each other. We definitely fight, but we know how to solve it when we do.” Known as a band with a strong work ethic, fans will be pleased to know that plans for new music have been slowly set in motion. “I’ve written about 100 songs in general since ‘Legendary’ came out,” explained Brian. “We’re trying to see if any of them fit the vibe of the next album and then we’ll go from there. We plan on diving in this fall.” Though before we get ahead of ourselves, Brian mentioned a few of his highlights from the past year, explaining that without a doubt the iHeartRadio Festival and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade were his best moments. “I never thought we would get to open for Queen, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake and more. They are my heroes.” With a new album in the works, Brian talked to us about the things he would really to achieve as part of The Summer Set. “I just want to keep getting bigger,” he said. “I want to have a song that reaches a million people and not just the Warped Tour world we come from. I also want to play the Greek Theatre in L.A and sell it out.” So it looks to be a very exciting time for The Summer Set; a band that never quits. We feel very lucky to say we have stuck by them since ‘Everything’s Fine’, and suggest you join them on their journey because it only gets more exciting by the day. FACEBOOK.COM/THESUMMERSET TWITTER.COM/THE_SUMMER_SET

the summer set PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

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PAVILIONS 42 | MISTREEMAGAZINE.CO.UK

I N TER VIEW ALT-ROCK FIVE PIECE PAVILIONS who hail from Wirral are gearing up to release their debut fulllength album ‘The Future’s Mine To Make’ on August 11th. The quintet have garnered huge support in the run up to the release, and have noted that their post-hardcore sound has been influenced by acts such as Don Broco, Sleeping With Sirens and Emarosa. We spoke to the band about their formation, the recording and writing process of their new album, collaborations and future plans. “We’ve all been playing music for quite some time, but Tel probably started the earliest. When he was a young child his parents took him to motorbike rallies all over the country and abroad where he had his first experience watching bands perform live. Soon after his parents bought him a drum kit and he has never looked back! Tel, Coop and Tezz became friends and began writing together in 2009 with their first band. As they started to become more musically mature, Pavilions was formed in 2011 with the debut following that summer. It’s so strange remembering how long ago the EP and ‘Science & Gods’ (single) were released. We all personally just love playing music but after hearing the feedback from our EP we all thought that this band could blossom into something pretty great. It will never feel like a career, it will always feel like 5 friends playing music they love,” they explained. Their sound is a fairly difficult one to pigeonhole having formed from a variety of influences. “One thing we all said when we began writing in this band was that we didn’t want to just stick to one style of music or stick to any certain structure. In fact one song on the album only has one chorus,” they noted. “There are some melodic dramatic songs on this album like ‘Futures’ and on the other end of the spectrum some really poppy, happy songs like ‘A Stitch In Time’. I guess we would be classed as a post-hardcore band, but hopefully when people hear our album they

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hear something original. A lot of our influence is derived from so many bands of different genres and styles, some of our guitar influences come from bands like Emarosa and Pierce The Veil, but we have drum influences from bands like Everything Everything and Haim. It’s moulded and cumulated into something we’re all really proud of and hope everyone else will love to listen to.” A bands first full-length album is always a big deal, but Pavilions told us the theme behind the album was never something that was preconceived. “There was no outstanding catharsis, just an intention of writing music that we lived and breathed, surrounding chord structures with stories both personal and relatable,” they said. “As we found ourselves halfway through the writing process we found a common theme and expanded on that for the remainder of the album. It became an album about making the most of your opportunity on this planet, and the realisation that the past may stay the same but you have the

“IT WILL ALWAYS FEEL LIKE 5 FRIENDS PLAYING MUSIC THEY LOVE” ability to decide your future. We’ve embodied the albums message fully in our single ‘Futures’”. When it came to recording the album the band headed to London to work with Dan Lancaster. “After hearing his work with bands like Mallory Knox and Don Broco we all mutually decided he would be the person to bring the best out of our debut album,” they explained. “Working with Dan was a big honour for us as he’s worked with some of our favourite bands and we grew up listening to his band Proceed. At the beginning he was difficult to work with and things got a bit heated, we were on the verge of leaving his studio and the album was almost not recorded. But things were resolved and we

had a great working relationship from there on. Every morning in the studio he would pick up an acoustic guitar, look Coop in the eyes and sing John Mayer to him,” they laughed. “Dan actually had a lot of input into the backing vocals - he’s a genius when it comes to vocals. He had an input throughout the whole album, but we never just let him have his own way it was a case of compromising certain things. Although the start was difficult, in the end we enjoyed our time recording with Dan and I’m sure if anyone has ever met him you’ll understand what we mean when we say he has a unique sense of humour.” There are two collaboration tracks on the album and the band were lucky enough to work with Jonny Craig of Emarosa and Charlie Bass of Violet. “We were so lucky to have two fantastic vocalists guest on our debut album,” the band exclaimed. “They add so much diversity and personal style to the songs they are on and it’s a real blessing. We have been very good friends with Charlie and his band Violet since we toured with them back in 2011, and there’s no one else we would have considered to add that harsh aggressive tone to Pavilions. He screams on our track ‘Moron Mountain’ and we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Jonny Craig on the other hand was an artist we thought we would never have the chance to collaborate with. It was a dream come true. When Coop and Tezz began writing together, listening to Emarosa’s second album they would say ‘imagine if we could ever get the opportunity to ever work with him’, and we all thought it would never happen! We just sent him an email and never thought he would actually say yes. It felt to us like ‘The Wave’ was written for his distinctive voice. He recorded his parts for ‘The Wave’ over in Hollywood and when we first heard the rough tracks it confirmed everything we thought. It’s one track on the album we are extremely eager for everyone to hear.”

As previously mentioned, Coop and Tezz do a lot of the writing. “They will come out with an idea or sometimes a full song, and we all sit down, play it together and change it from there,” they explained. “The great thing about it is none of us are afraid to say if we don’t like something or want to change something because it helps us grow as a band. It’s an incredibly personal album and all of the stories come from our life experiences. There is a tragic story behind Pavilions. We lost one of our very dear friends Mike Hammond after he took his own life shortly after we started this band. He was a great influence in our music when we started out. He was such an inspiration to us as people, and as musicians. It was a horrible shock and something that still affects us today. We commemorated his memory in our song Fallen Hero, the name is taken from the band that Mike

was in with our singer. The lyrics of this song are a message to him; ‘I wish I could turn back time, to save you from your demons the way you saved me from mine.’” Pavilions are not only passionate about deeply personal songwriting, but about giving an electric live performance too. They told us we could expect a lot of energy and a lot of fun from one of their live shows. “There’s no better feeling to us than to perform and show people what we’ve worked so hard on, and I think that comes through when we’re on stage. But don’t take our word for it, come down and see a Pavilions show!” they added. Like all bands, Pavilions have goals but they are humble enough to accept the opportunities they have already been given. “We never even considered we would be releasing a debut album, so to come this far is such a blessing,”

they explained. “We do hope one day we will sign to a label, get to travel the world and play shows, and make friends with as many people as we can. But if it were to all end tomorrow we would all still say ‘I had an amazing time with my friends playing in this band’. As for the rest of the year, Pavilions are hoping to get out on the road and play their album to a crowd, and to as many people as they can. They have just played alongside the Blackout in Liverpool, and have a few more shows in the pipeline. It sounds like it is a very exciting time to be a part of the Pavilions journey and we’re excited to be tagging along for the ride. Check out our review of ‘The Futures Mine To Make’ in our review section. FACEBOOK.COM/PAVILIONSBAND TWITTER.COM/PAVILIONSBAND

four year strong

PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

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REVIE 48 | MISTREEMAGAZINE.CO.UK

EWS PHOTO BY: DYLAN RAZO 49

the maine PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

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albums

REV IEWS

AIR DUBAI ‘BE CALM’

3.5/5 Air Dubai’s latest offering ‘Be Calm’ is a massive progression from their debut album ‘Wonder Age’. Unsurprisingly they have a stronger grasp on their crossover rock-rap sound, which will appeal to a mainstream audience rather than solely rap fanatics. It is a bright, bold and dynamic album that has experimented with riff patterns, textures and structures. It is a great second release which is sure to do well.

EXAMPLE

‘LIVE LIFE LIVING’

3/5 ‘Live Life Living’ may be difficult to pronounce, but it is not difficult to digest. It is an album that celebrates 90s rave culture through samples, memorable beats and old-school structures. It may not be what we’re used to from Example but the album is about having a good time and it definitely includes some hits. 52 | MISTREEMAGAZINE.CO.UK

LA ROUX

‘TROUBLE IN PARADISE’

Sexuality” and “Silent Partner”, the latter being one of my favourites.

Synthpop was all the rage back in 2009 with London duo La Roux being at the forefront. Made up of singer Elly Jackson and Ben Langmaid, their debut album received a Grammy and hit singles “In For The Kill” and “Bulletproof” were on the radio for weeks. Four years on and Langmaid has departed from the group, but the now soloJackson is back with her sophomore effort, ‘Trouble In Paradise.’

“Paradise Is You” is a softer balladlike track balanced with enchanted vocals and delicate chords, while “Sexotheque” is genuine. The whole album is genuine in fact, but “Sexotheque” is one of the most addictive pop-tracks on this record, and with a chorus so beautifully confident it’s a complete and utter banger. The deep baseline of “Tropical Chancer” will draw you in and “Let Me Down Gently” will make sure that you stick around with its polished sound and infectious melody. The album closes with “The Feeling” which I would say is the weakest addition to the album with messy vocals and a lacklustre vibe.

3.5/5

Though the album is only 9 tracks in length, the minute you hit play on opener “Uptight Downtown” you’re lunged into a comforting sense of familiarity. The double-track vocals, energetic percussion and nu-disco vibes are all there, but so is an overwhelming sense of maturity. “Kiss And Not Tell” further proves my point, baring resemblance to previous chart-toppers but presented with more of a bouncy-pop, and charming manner. Though Jackson’s fierce edge seems absent at first, it starts to weave it’s way back in through tracks such as “Cruel

Overall ‘Trouble In Paradise’ is a success. The album has built upon La Roux’s addictive synth-pop sound and produced some memorable tracks, but the maturity and polished vibe is what makes this album worthy of praise. That, and it’s willingness to experiment. Though it didn’t work out every time, and this may not be the most ground breaking album or comeback, it is certainly a welcomed one.

ANBERLIN ‘LOWBORN’

OWL JOHN ‘OWL JOHN’

JENNY LEWIS

‘THE VOYAGER’

4.5/5

4/5

As a big Anberlin fan I’m undoubtedly sad that their 11-yearold story has come to an end, with their seventh, and final full-length album ‘Lowborn’. The album has a sense of finality sure, but there’s no flashy exit or real emotive goodbye. We know this album is their last though, and for that reason they’ve taken the highroad and exited smoothly. After a solid few listens, this album has grown into one of my favourite pieces of work from the band, though it is the slowest and packed with the simplest instrumentation we’ve heard from them in a long time. Yet they are always channeling the dual elements of power and heart, which makes ‘Lowborn’ one of the most sincere and intricate albums of their discography. “Armageddon” wears an electronic sleeve backed by a atmospheric beat, while “Hearing Voices” is one of the most lyrically fuelled-tracks on the album. “Dissenter” brings the grit and the heaviest percussion and “Harbinger” ends the album on a chilling note. Anberlin may be parting ways but this album will remain a firm favourite of mine.

Owl John is the side project of Frightened Rabbit’s frontman Scott Hutchinson. The self-titled debut is familiar sounding but that can only be attributed to Hutchinson’s unique vocals which we all know so well. The landscape of the album however is broader, with more room to explore, and the sound as a whole is new(ish), drawing from different influences and a darker tone. “Cold Creeps” opens the album with it’s progressive sound that fuses fuzzy guitars, harsh percussion and electronic elements. “Hate Music” is the albums lead single and is full of grit. It delves into a very cathartic track unlocking a new chapter to Hutchinson that we didn’t know was there. This certainly seems to be an album of self-reflection and dismay at the outside world, yet Hutchinson always manages to evoke some sort of warmth from his sadness, which to me has always been an impressive trait. This new found freedom in his music has allowed Hutchinson to truly experiment and in turn create a great product that is as captivating as we’d hoped.

Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis is back with her latest album ‘The Voyager’. The ten track album is soaked in summery California-pop, but the lyrical depth of the album is underrated. Whether the songs are autobiographical or not, they are probably some of her most relatable pieces of work to date. Filled with personal signifiers, ‘The Voyager’ has universal appeal as it unfolds as a storybook of broken relationships and personal struggles. “Head Underwater” is a soothing eight-pulse track that is so sonically captivating that it’s almost easy to ignore the deeper meanings. I’ve found that a lot with this album, Lewis’ indie-pop melodies are so fun and light-hearted that you really have to listen to understand just how personal this album is. With tracks like “The New You”, “Love Forever” and “Late Bloomer” you’ll be smiling from ear to ear while getting lost within the simplistic riffs and delicate vocals. ‘The Voyager’ is really pleasant to listen to and as a whole it flows so well and so seamlessly that you’ll just want to keep on listening.

PAVILIONS

‘THE FUTURE’S MINE TO MAKE’

5/5

Post-hardcore act Pavilions have really nailed it with their debut album ‘The Future’s Mine To Make’. The band have created a 10 track release that is a joy to listen to from start to finish, and then all over again. Packed with radio-ready singles, their sound is hard-hitting, chaotic and energetic. Opener “Tidal” will captivate you with its harsh vocals, while “A Stitch In Time” is an anthem that will get you on your feet. Featuring collaborations with Charlie Bass of Violet, “Moron Mountain” channels aggression through his solid screams, while ex-Emarosa vocalist Jonny Craig lends his soulful voice and passion to “The Wave.” The album’s lead single “Futures” is all about embracing the opportunities life gives you, wrapped up in intricate riffs and pounding percussion. The album ends with “Fallen Hero”, a touching tribute to a friend who lost their life. It shows the endearing side of the band, and their versatility as artists. ‘The Future’s Mine To Make’ is an excellent debut that needs to be recognised worldwide.

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REVIEW: NEWCASTLE, UK || FEBRUARY ‘14

"VIOLENT SOHO ARE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MAYHEM, GRUNGE & GRIME" 54 | MISTREEMAGAZINE.CO.UK

violent soho Violent Soho has been tearing it up with their grunge rock for a decade. The Brisbane quartet is still riding the high from last year’s release ‘Hungry Ghost’ and completely sold out all fourteen dates of their national tour. Playing in Adelaide for the second time, the all ages crowd were a mass of skull logos and heightened anticipation. Dr Piffle and the Burlap Band could be mistaken for a crew of drunken sailors with their washboard, harmonica and banjos. The twelve piece sound like Mumford and Sons on steroids with raspy vocals and stomping rhythms. Next up was Tasmania’s Luca Brasi who played a lengthy set of melodic punk rock. Intense and hard hitting, their virtuosic guitar work was particularly impressive but the crowd were waiting patiently for Violent Soho. The lights dimmed and Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” hyped up the eager crowd. Over yells of “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me” Violent Soho launched into album opener “Dope Calypso”. These guys are no strangers to the stage. Front man Luke Boerdam is quietly confident while

the guitarist and bassist furiously headbang in a blur of hair. They powered through “Lowbrow”, “In The Aisle” and “Fur Eyes” which set the crowd ablaze, if you know what I mean. The crowd needed no encouragement, fuelled by pent up energy and large amounts of testosterone, they moshed, headbanged and screamed every lyric. Older songs such as “Love is a Heavy Word” and “Jesus Stole My Girlfriend” received just as much love. But it was “Covered in Chrome”, the anthem of a generation, with its chorus of “HELL FUCK YEAH” that set the crowd off. Closing with “OK Cathedral” the band crowd surfed, exiting in a drone of guitars. Violent Soho is so good at what they do because they are the right amount of mayhem, grunge and grime. They are the most important rock band in Australia right now and we still have a lot more to see of these guys. Rock is not dead. FACEBOOK.COM/VIOLENTSOHO TWITTER.COM/VIOLENTSOHO

REVIEW BY: MELINA SCARFO

the word alive PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

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the story so far PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

we are

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the in crowd

PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

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YELLOWCARD PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

M ISTREE

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