8 minute read
TURNOVER
CHANGE YOUR SCENERY,CHANGE YOUR LIFE TURNOVER
INTERVIEW WITH VOCALIST/GUITARIST TONY ESPOSITO BY NICHOLAS SENIOR
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The distance created when Getz’s own adjustment to his you move across the country cross-country move also became from everyone you know can intertwined with the music he was make it feel like you’ve placed creating. Moving with the intention a giant wall between yourself and of finding a new sense of peace, them. That could easily have been he found himself in a new place the case when Turnover’s vocalist with a whole new set of stresses. and guitarist Austin Getz moved from Things didn’t quite go as expected, Virginia to California solo. However, but a lot can be learned from the the distance between bandmates unexpected. instead offered them a new sense of freedom, forcing Turnover to get “I kind of moved to California thinkcreative with how they made music. ing ‘oh shit, I’m going to get away It was a motivational change-up from all these distractions, and it is that ultimately played a big role in going to be great for me spiritually, the band’s fourth full-length album creatively,’” Getz explains. “Coming Altogether, released on Nov. 1, here actually did the opposite, be2019, via Run For Cover Records. cause I left my comfort zone. I just started having all these new fears During the year-and-a-half that and anxieties and growing pains Turnover were writing the tracks that from making the move. Which ultiwould ultimately become Altogether, mately ended up being a way better the band members lived on opposite thing than I could ever have hoped coasts, exchanging ideas over the infor. Because through learning those ternet and finding new ways to make things, it makes you a more rounded the writing process work for them. person. It makes you grow a little bit.”
“When we’re all in the same place, I According to Getz, the change of feel like we always fall into this thing scenery also forced him to change where ‘okay cool, practice at this his mindset when it came to writing time,’ and then we’re like ‘alright, I songs. “Throughout my whole life, gotta dip’,” says Getz. “Now it was I’ve been like ‘oh shit, I have this kind of cool, because we went to idea in my head for some melody Portland for a week and we had a or some idea for a song,’” he says. dedicated writing session, and we “I think me being less in my comfort had some times in New York where zone and having more on my mind we got together specifically just to made that happen a lot less. So, I write. It was pretty fun. It was defiwas like ‘okay, I need to go sit down nitely different.” with a guitar and make myself play.’ range of influences when piecing together the album. With Altogether the band elevates their sound with a blend of moody and jazzy tones, emphasized with more diverse instrumentation.
“I feel like as I’ve gotten older, I’ve just learned so many different types of music that I truly love, and I was just trying to expand all of those influences. [I was] also thinking about ultimately assessing the reasons why we’re making music,” explains Getz.
Not only did the band desire to expand their sound, they also hoped to craft that sound in a way that captured more listeners. It was important to not only create songs that satisfied their artistic vision, but to do so in a palatable way.
PHOTO BY ALYSSA BYCHOLSKI
That was kind of a new thing. I feel like that was interesting, because when I would just sit down and do it, it made me feel so good.”
Turnover sought to utilize a wider No matter who’s listening or singing along to Altogether, the honesty and care poured into the record is bound to shine through. Getz and Turnover hope that people latch on to the album’s genuine charm.
“As long as [the music] feels real and it feels authentic to people, that’s all I can really ask for.” �� �� ��
PHOTO BY ALYSSA BYCHOLSKI
SAMMI LANZETTA INTERVIEW BY DOUGLAS MENAGH I ’m excited to put out the album,” says “I had some crazy life stuff over the past “It was like summer camp,” she says. “When Sammi Lanzetta of Ceiling Mirror, her few years,” she says. “I just moved to I was recording this album, I brought my first full-length. “It feels like I’ve been Brooklyn a month ago. I was living with homies, some good friends I had from pregnant for nine months.” someone, and I had to move out of her Virginia. They know me and know what I house because it was a less-than-ideal wanted the album to sound like.” A Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter situation. I had been through a couple by way of Richmond, Virginia, Lanzetta of break-ups and bad job situations over PHOTO BY JOEY WHARTON dropped Ceiling Mirror on Nov. 1, 2019, the years, and it felt like one bad thing through 6313 Records. The record is her after another. But I’ve been persevering follow-up to For Avery, released in 2017. through it and still making music.”
“When I made For Avery, I was listening to a lot of singer-songwriter music,” says Lanzetta. “When I was making this album, I wanted it to be a grungy, Strokes-vibe, ’90s throwback, rock ’n’ roll type of album.”
Songs like “Nude Hugs, Love Keith” display those rock elements, with fuzzy riffing and laid-back drumming. Lanzetta’s music also has a comedic touch. On “House Plants,” for instance, she sings, “I just want some house plants even if I kill them.”
“I started in the comedy world, when I was really young,” says Lanzetta. “I try to write songs that are tongue-in-cheek and funny, and also things I couldn’t say to these people in person.”
Concurrent to making Ceiling Mirror, Lanzetta underwent a series of life changes. Lanzetta’s songwriting is emotionally honest in a way that is raw, skirting the line between punk and hardcore. On “Pat,” for instance, Lanzetta sings softly over an acoustic guitar - “what do I do now that you’ve got me figured out? / I will barge through your goddamn door/ And you look me in the eyes as if you’re fucking blind and say/ I don’t love you anymore.”
“I was in this band Venus Guy Trap, which was like a more punk, riot-grrrly band,” she says. “I really liked that band. It was fun. I also wanted to make singer-songwriter stuff happen on my own and under my own name.”
Ceiling Mirror was recorded in Massachusetts, and by Lanzetta’s account, “it was awesome.” On recording vocals, Lanzetta reflects, “I feel like everyone else hates vocal tracks. I’m like, ‘I’ve got this. I’ve been singing in showers since I was eight years old.’”
PHOTO BY VANESSA VALADEZ
Sammi Lanzetta is currently set to tour with Boston-based band Leopard Print Taser. “I’m nervous and excited,” she says of touring. “I’ve never done a true headlining tour before, so I hope people see me!” �� �� ��
INTERVIEW WITH NEIL BERTHIER BY NICK SENIOR PHONY being himself and playing exactly what he wants. It just so happens that what he wants is multi-faceted, continuously interesting, and engaging indie punk. Running the gamut from grunge, jangly pop, and more traditional indie rock, Songs You’ll Never Sing might be the most misleading title in recent memory. These are masterful O ne of the toughest parts of growsongs from a guy who has honed-in on a ing up is realizing it’s easier to wonderful and captivating musical idenjust be yourself than trying to fit tity. The music plays with the push and pull in to others’ expectations – except, who of expectations vs. reality. the hell am I really? What do I actually want to be? Identity and self-discovery “As far as the dichotomy and expectations, are central to what makes PHONY’s that’s what I feel like music is all about,” Smartpunk Records debut such a rousing Berthier says. “That’s why I love it so much. success. Started up by Neil Berthier after It always baffles me when people limit his other band, indie darlings Donovan themselves to one thing. My mind doesn’t Wolfington, broke up, PHONY doesn’t work that way, so how can that be an honplay coy. Berthier clearly is at home est representation of me? �� �� ��
WISH YOU WERE HERE INTERVIEW WITH NEIL BERTHIER BY NICK SENIOR L A’s Wish You Were Here is a wonderful reminder of the power of music the way past generations defined it. While Jesse Barnett is most known for his time with hardcore vets Stick To Your Guns, I’m afraid you’ll go into this record disappointed if you’re looking for fiery riffs and powerful hardcore shout-alongs. However, if quality songcraft and warm melodies are your thing, I’m Afraid of Everything may very well be your thing. Regardless, this may be the perfect record for cozy winter weekend mornings, as Barnett’s soulful, soothing vocals rise over moving acoustic compositions. If the record feels old school, that was the intention, according to Barnett. “This kind of music has always been in my life,” he says. “This predates punk or hardcore in my life by a long shot. I grew up in a very musical household, and I was raised on a lot of Paul Simon, James Taylor, Bill Withers and so on. So, although this seems like something new from me as an outsider, it is very much the root of who I am musically.” Rarely has a side solo project felt so essential and commanding. This is powerful stuff. �� �� ��
