ON THE MOVE MAG - APRIL 2017 by On The Move

INTERVIEW

Kensington, the Dutch storm to watch

COVER STORY

Loïc Nottet, the new pop

mastermind

ZOOM ON... Frenship, Asgeir and Tash Sultana

Twenty One Pilots : The end of the Blurryface’s era

of March 34 Our Best AlbumsINTERVIEW: Jasmine Thompson 44

‘‘

In the current music industry where radios, TV and streaming are the big players deciding to spread the word about an artist (or not), it becomes more and more difficult for a lambda artist to get his music heard if he doesn’t fit some kind of criterias. It takes time, it takes patience, talent but above all it takes a lot of hard work. At On The Move Magazine, we give a particular attention to talent no matter where you come from, your musical genre, the amount of followers/views/fans you have got. We don’t talk quantity, we talk quality. We talk quality because we love music with the big M. We carefully choose the artists you’ll discover in this magazine to introduce you to «la crème de la crème». You’ll find big names, you’ll find unknown names. You’ll love what you’ll listen to, maybe you will hate it but at least, you’ll give our artists a chance. Because at the end of the day, every success story began with a chance given. ‘‘ Pamela Charbit, founder of On The Move

EDITORIAL

JP Cooper, a heart and voice

Are they worth seeing live?

INTERVIEW of gold

INTERVIEW

James Maslow, from TV star

to musician on the rise

What’s Up In France ? 54

OTM Mag : Meeting the team 57

SUMMARY 3

KENSINGTON We followed them from afar creating a true musical storm in their home country and even introduced them in our previous issue. The dutch rock phenomenon Kensington finally went past their own borders to bring their unstoppable energy abroad. During their european tour, we were lucky enough to talk to Jan Haker, Niles Vandenberg and Casper Starreveld, members of the band. With honesty and humor, they freely opened up about their influences, their creation process or the way they handle a career with different speeds. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paint the picture of future worldwilde superstars !

On The Move Mag : You’re playing for the first time as headliners in France. How do you feel when you perform for the first time in a new country? Jan Haker : It’s always exciting ! Niles Vandenberg : Yeah it’s exciting ! Especially if the venue is sold out like tonight. People are waiting for us... On The Move Mag : Do you already have some special connexions with your french fans ? Casper Starreveld : Well, we got a lot of fans from France. I heard that they were really happy that we finally came to their country. In the past, we had shows planned in France but they didn’t happen for numerous reasons. But now, we are finally able to make it and... Niles Vandenberg : One of our first tour was actually in France. Casper Starreveld : Yes, our very first tour abroad was three shows in France, in Lille... Niles Vandenberg : It was a long time ago. Jan Haker : Almost ten years ago. Casper Starreveld : Valenciennes or something... I just remember I was really drunk because I drank absynth for the first time in my life and I woke up on the floor. Niles Vandenberg : In the venue. Casper Starreveld : And I tried to throw a bottle at your head Niles Vandenberg : And we’re still together ! (laughs) Casper Starreveld : So, I think it took us ten years to recover from that and now, we’re finally able to come back in France. On The Move Mag : How do you handle the fact that you are preparing 5 sold-out shows in a row in the biggest venue of your country and yet, at the same time, play intimate venues to promote your work in foreign countries, on the same tour ?

Jan Haker : Intimate is a good word I think because we like playing... we still like playing in small venues because it’s very personal. There, you can see people’s faces. It’s very charming sometimes to play for really small crowds. Casper Starreveld : And I think like yesterday, in Antwerp, we did a really big show. It was almost 8000 people. And the day before we were in Switzerland, it was 7000, in Budapest it was like 2000. So it goes all over the place in terms of capacity. But that keeps it really fresh for us. Yes, you always have to change your show a little bit so you can adapt to the circumstances And of course, in Holland, it’s a total different story than for instance tonight but I think the variation makes it very nice. I think if you see bands who only play arenas, there is a sort of like mechanic, they become sort of machines. If you make a little mistake in a small venue, it doesn’t really matter because it’s sort of part of the game. Maybe, I don’t know, you’re pushing to hard or... But in an arena, a little mistake can have like really big consequences so there is so much more pressure on everything and that’s why we also like the really smaller places because it’s so much more relaxed. The vibe and the connexion with the audience is much more direct. I think that’s a big plus. We just really like the variation. On The Move Mag : How do you explain being this successful in your own country and yet not being very exposed in other european countries? Niles Vandenberg : I think we just work hard for it. In our country, we also started by playing really small clubs in front of our friends first then for 20 people then for 100 people. It just grew and grew and grew. We put a lot of time and effort in it. We’ve been touring Europe for a couple of years now but we’re also building it up. We’re really seeing that this tour is the actual first tour where the venues are sold out and there are more people coming to our shows. Casper Starreveld : I think it has to do with the fact that we are always one album behind in Europe. And it sort of explain the kind of success we have in Holland... hopefully (laughs). Holland is quite a compact country of course. It just really takes time and effort before you make it in other countries and for instance, an english or an american band, when they get signed to a label, they get signed worldwide to that label, they send them out on tour in every

country they sort of know. But, for a dutch band, it’s totally different because we are from a small territory so we sort of have to conquer the new countries ourselves and that takes a little bit more time than, for instance, an english band that is thrown out there. So, I guess that’s quite the difference and I think the fact that we’ve been so successfull in Holland sometimes even means that you have so many things going on in one country that you sometimes have to find the right time to go abroad. Fortunately, these past year, we’ve been abroad a lot so we get better and better at it. The fact that we do these big shows in Holland also mean we can spend more time on these kinds of tours and now, we see that it is really paying of, all the shows are sold out. And we have a lot of festivals this summer all over Europe so yeah, it’s good.

« We like to make things difficult for ourselves each time. » On The Move Mag : After four albums in seven years, do you feel like you built a particular creation process or does each record feel like a new adventure ? Casper Starreveld : I think it’s both. We got some routine I guess, we like to go abroad to record. We don’t want to be stuck in our daily routine in Holland. But we also see every record as a new thing. For instance, with « Control », we went to Rome and chose an adventure, working with a new producer who was from the States. We brought him to Italy. And it was kind of a chaotic experience but it was really cool in the end, as well. We were really proud with the result. I think the main thing with making records... I think if it gets too much routined then they will probably tend to sound the same. It will be a little bit more boring. So I think we will always try to do something else but still within our own like work flow, you know. We like to record in a certain way. We like to work in a certain way. But we are never to shy to learn or you know... I don’t know. What do you guys think ? (laughs) Jan Haker : It’s very true ! We kind of like to make things difficult for ourselves each time. Just because

we don’t want to repeat ourselves again and again. And I think that’s a good thing. Sometimes that’s really hard, sometimes it’s painful to make records in that way but I think it’s for the best. To push ourselves to do different things. Get better. Yeah, it’s very important to go out of your comfort zone. On The Move Mag : Speaking about the process of working abroad... You recorded « Rivals » in Berlin, « Control » in Italy. How did you choose those destinations ? Were they random somehow or did you choose them for specific reasons ? Niles Vandenberg : Berlin was not random. It was more like... We worked together with a friend of ours. And he moved to Berlin. And actually yeah, that’s why we hooked up with him again, in Berlin. We made a couple records with him. And then, with this new record, we thought like « we’ll have new experiences, with new producers, new energy ». And also, new cities because we were like... Maybe we don’t want to be stuck in the same sort of feels. So, we chose Rome. We brought our american producer to Rome and it was one big adventure. A lot of downs, a lot of ups... Casper Starreveld : A lot of pasta, a lot of wine... But I think, we recorded two records in Berlin and going back there agin would feel then too much of a routine, you know. « Oh we’re back to Berlin, let’s make a record ! » No, it’s good to do something totally different this time around. But that meant we had to learn a lot of things again, you know. We couldn’t go to our favourite restaurant around the corner... New places to eat and to work. But that’s kind of the fun of it anyway. On The Move Mag : It feels like these travels are literally translated in music in your different records. Your previous albums play with mixed influences. Some tracks like « Done With It » on « Rivals » seem to mix sounds from different cultures. Where does this come from ? Casper Starreveld : That’s a very good question. I think, first, we were raised with kind of music that can influence that. For instance, like « Done With It » has probably a sort of... Niles Vandenberg : … African vibe...

Casper Starreveld : African/Paul Simon/Vampire Weekend-ish kind of groove. I don’t know. And Eloi is... when he thinks of vocals, he has sometimes a really staccato, almost african way of doing things. And he is half egyptian, so... that should make sense. He has a sort of staccato way of creating some vocal lines. And yeah, it definitely has to do with it. When we jam, we sometimes tend to move more towards either really loud rock or groovy stuffs. So, I don’t know, I think it’s really important that you push yourself to create those kinds of variations. Because, well, I think the listeners agree that it makes the record more diverse and it has a longer life spend than when it’s like « Oh yeah, that’s eleven kinds of the same song. That’s fun. Let’s listen to something else now ! » And with « Control » even, we pushed ourselves harder to be even more diverse, in terms of volumes and bigness as well. With « Storms » and « Sorry » you start really small and with songs like « St Helena » or « Do I Ever » that’s like full on rock. The contrast makes it more interesting and... Some bands just do it really well, doing the same thing over and over again. Like, I don’t know, Green Day or Metallica or something. They just do their thing and it works. But I think we are a band that needs a little bit more variation.

On The Move Mag : Along the way, you created you own label « Kensington Records ». What pushed you to do so? Niles Vandenberg : When we’re making a record, we’re licensed to a label so we attempt to have our own creativity in the studio so nobody actually tells us what to do. We think that’s really important. Jan Haker : We want to own our music. Niles Vandenberg : Yeah, own our music and just create what we wanna create and then, this is finished, get it out. Casper Starreveld : This is our vision, this is our music. And that’s really cool that we work with people who understand that. Some partners who you might wanna record with, they want to have a lot of influence but that doesn’t work with us. We just want our freedom, we want to give you what we made and... Niles Vandenberg : We don’t want people to tell us what to do. Jan Haker : Record labels tend to do that.

Casper Starreveld : Plus, when there is like money and power involved... People say they don’t but they always influence the process. And we wanna keep that that as far as possible from our... art (laughs) On The Move Mag : Can this become a tool to produce and promote other artists in the future ? Niles Vandenberg : Maybe, maybe... Maybe yes. Casper Starreveld : I think, right now, we are far too busy doing our own thing because we have the luck of being a successful band. Then it’s quite hard to do a lot of things aside from that but I could definitely imagine, in a future, we could use your own, i don’t know, power to promote new young cool artists that have trouble or didn’t make it or are just really talented. Yeah, it would be really cool to have a platform for that. But right now is now really the case, yet. On The Move Mag : You never had any featurings on your albums. But you collaborated with Armin Van Buuren on the track « Heading Up High ». You even toured with him. Can you talk to us about this special experience ? Niles Vandenberg : Yeah, it was a totally different experience. We did a world tour with him. We were actually playing four Kensington tracks on the set. We mixed our sound with his sound. And it was for a total different audience. Sometimes, at the end of the set, we played « Streets » and he was not mixing it, it was only the band and sometimes, people were like « hum, this is different, I thought I bought a ticket for electro » But that’s cool because we got a chance to go to other countries, also to stand for different audience that normally maybe not go to our Kensington concert. So yeah, I think it’s cool ! Casper Starreveld : Yeah ,it was kind of an experiment for us I guess to try to see what it’s like and Armin is a really nice guy so, we’re glad. On The Move Mag : In the future, do you want to do that again ? Do you have any artist you want to collaborate with ? Casper Starreveld :I would love to have Rick Ross on our next record. Sometimes it can really work you know. But for bands, it’s kind of a weird territory.

When you see Daft Punk working with the Weeknd, it makes total sense because they can really, I don’t know, help each other. Niles Vandenberg : They can make the beats, he can make the lyrics. Casper Starreveld : And we are pretty... It was quite challenging to work with Armin. Because at some point, you do have to compromise. In a band of four people, you already have four people... Niles Vandenberg : It would be interesting to work with another band.(laughs) Casper Starreveld : Really weird ! Niles Vandenberg : I wanna drum this part ! (laughs) Casper Starreveld : That’s why it has never happened because it won’t work. Sometimes you had like Jay-Z and Linkin Park but that was... Well it was cool. Niles Vandenberg : But they were playing his song and the other way around as well. So never say never but yeah... that could be interesting. Casper Starreveld : Rum-D.M.C and Aerosmith, of course, it was a cool one, a classic track ! On The Move Mag : What can we expect from the Kensington show tonight ? Niles Vandenberg : Yesterday we played for 8000 people so we’re still a bit hyped up I think so it’s going to be a heavy rock show for 500 people. It’s gonna be loud ! Casper Starreveld : And it’s the last show of the tour so we have to end it in style of course. Yeah, I don’t know... A lot of Kensington songs, all of them. Niles Vandenberg : No, no, no... but we ‘ll actually play a lot of songs from our new record. Hopefully, people will know it. Casper Starreveld : And I don’t know, hopefully a great start of something beautiful in France !

WordS by CORALINE BLAISE AND ELODIE DUBOIS PHOTOS BY Rahi Rezvani

ZOOM ON...

Each month, we can see a few of already settled artists making their return into the spotlights. At the same time, a lot of people with a genuine passion for music and some amazing skills strive for their music to be heard. On The Move Mag loves to save some lights for these ones. May have they already drawn attention or may their name still be unknown, here are 3 artists we want to showcase and whose careers are bound to take off in in the near future !

FRENSHIP

AN AMERICAN DUET ON THE RISE

Nowadays, EDM artists can easily make themselves heard and open their productions to other genres. Synthetic beats are mixed with a lot of different sonorities, on a sometimes surprising cocktail. No need to present Martin Garrix, Kygo, Kungs, Zedd or The Chainsmokers, as each succeeded -in a smashing way- in developping an unique identity on the same field. With such a competition in EDM, it can be difficult to sound innovative or different from the others. Yet, the duet we’re about to introduce seems to play their cards right and with baffling ease. FRENSHIP is an indie/electrop-pop duet coming from the USA. Created by the brilliant James Sunderland and Brett Hite, FRENSHIP gives a new breath to the genre. If you don’t like EDM that much, hold on because there is more than this to the band and they have the serious potential to shine bright on the musical scene. After falling in love with each other’s productions, the two artists began to collaborate. Rapidly, they crossed paths with great EDM figures such as Matoma, the norvegian tropical house producer - who collaborated recently with british phenomenon The Vamps - on the track « Knives ». After the song was welcomed well, FRENSHIP published « Nowhere » and « Carpet » : two very different tracks, which demonstrate that the new guys have a lot of varied things to offer. But FRENSHIP only needed one collaboration to make the great jump onto the mainstream scene ! With the heady « Capsize » featuring singer-songwriter Emily Warren, the duet made themselves heard by a wide audience, even outside the american borders. The track has now over 300 millions streams on Spotify and is played a lot on radios or even TV shows and adds. This addictive and fresh song had an electro background, obviously, but can become a whole other thing if you search a bit on Youtube. Indeed, James and Brett recorded stunning acoustic versions of «Capsize» with Celeste Tauchar, a young and talented singer who also tours with them. With such exposure, FRENSHIP was able to release a first EP called «Truce» in September 2016, under Columbia Records. Composed of 5 tracks, the EP brings together two of their earlier success : « Carpet » and « Capsize » but also « 1000 Nights », another catchy anthem.

« It’s pretty incredible to think some songs we made can have that effect on others. » And if FRENSHIP freely uses electronic sounds, they’re not the kind to perform behind a turntable. Brett Hite and James Sunderland compose their own instrumental and play them live, sometimes supported by other musicians, with energetic sets ! Europe was indeed charmed by their particular charisma when they supported british band Bastille on their Wild, Wild, World Tour, earlier this year. You couldn’t get bored, even for a second, in front of such wild and happy moves from the two performers. Rumor has it FRENSHIP is preparing their first proper album. If like us, you’re way too much excited about it, there is still some precious tracks to discover on their Spotify platform. Let’s hope we won’t have to wait much longer for new materials.

Listen if you are a fan ofThe duet mixes with ability different sounds coming from pop, rock or electro. They’ve got the coolness of The Chainsmokers and the boldness of Miky Chance somehow. Hard to label.

One song to listen to« Kids » acoustic version. Between soft verses and a catchy chorus, a particular side of FRENSHIP’s diverse universe appears on this track. And there is nothing better than an acoustic version to gives justice to a notable voice.

TASH SULTANA AUSTRALIA’S BEST KEPT SECRET There are artists that are shaped by others and there are those who just build themselves. With passion, boldness and authenticity, Tash Sultana emerged on the scene by the sole power of her talent and a determined will to make herself heard. Everything she does is just raw and honest, a quality some tends to lose. She does not seem afraid or ashamed to open up to the public about who she truly is and take the time to build the music as she wants it, not following radios standards. Open your eyes and ears, this young impressive lady is gonna go places ! Tash Sultana is only 22 years old and yet her success is viral. Not so long ago, she was performing on the streets of Melbourne, Australia and posted YouTube videos of herself playing music in her bedroom. Nowadays, she plays sold –out venues in front of passionate crowds. The young self-taught multi-instrumentist has developed a unique style and has got a warm, raspy and enchanting voice one can only remember Tash is also a guitar virtuoso with some serious beatbox skills and clearly has a gift for melody She began music really young but it’s only after a dark period in her teenage years that Tash Sultana really dug herself into music and fell in love with it once again. Like a therapy, she started composing and recording videos in her bedroom to post them online or performed in any openmic nights you could find in Melbourne, her hometown. Gradually, she drew attention to herself until “Jungle” which she posted in May 2016: the video has now more than two million views and is definitely the trigger of her ambitious musical career. « I just have this real love and connection with what I’m doing when I’m playing music » The single then regularly airs on Australian radio stations which announces the start of something unknown yet great for the young artist. After creating her own label called Lonely Lands Records, she released independently “Notion”, her first EP last September, which ranks first in Australia’s Itunes charts. The EP features six unique tracks, each different from the previous one and floating through many genres, which makes it difficult to define her style. Tash is a real powerhouse on stage and is creating a major impact in the musical industry with her talent.

She plays solo with all her heart and soul and accompanies herself thanks to the techniques of looping and layering sounds. Inspired by reggae and folk, the artist was able to quickly seduce her fellow citizens and now plays sold-out shows one after another. She never stops and also performs overseas and at the most prestigious international festivals, such as in the USA where tickets sell out fast. As you may have guessed, there is a bright future ahead of the young Australian artist who surely knows how to make the most of diverse influences to create her unique and original soundscape.

Listen if you are a fan ofYou’ll find waves of Selah Sue or Asaf Avidan on the voice and the power of multi-intrumentist Jack Garratt on the way Sultana juggles with her musical tools with an astounding ease.

One song to listen to«Jungle» if you wanna understand what put the world at Tash Sultana’s feet. «Synergy» for a smooth, eerie and powerful musical trip.

ASGEIR

ICELAND’S CHILD PRODIGY

Even if Iceland only got a population of 333 490 souls, it seems like it is home for some people bred with the most elegant musical sensibility. After Björk, Sigur Rós, Ólafur Arnalds or Of Monsters and Men, the international scene welcomed, a few years ago now, a child prodigy that you can no longer ignore. Ásgeir Trausti Einarsson is one of those musicians who built a career for themselves. It is even more striking when you know he grew up in a tiny island of North Iceland, with only a few inhabitants. There, he paradoxically developped a passion for music and some specific inspirations in silence and frugality. At the age of 6, he was already drowned in the sound of rock icons, from Nirvana to Johnny Cash. He formed his first band at 11, then went for sport before coming back to music and playing guitar and piano with a consolidated will. In September 2012, the release of his first album, in his mother tongue, « Dýrð í dauðaþögn » turned him into a rising star in Iceland. It is said that 10% of the icelandic population has bought the album. And this exposure also allowed him to export his work in no time accross the borders of his island and through the seas surrouding it. By translating and transposing the same record to English, becoming « In The Silence » in 2013, Ásgeir gained an international recognition. The american author and composer John Grant has adapted the lyrics, which were originally written by Ásgeir’s father Einar Georg Einarsson, a famous icelandic poet. It was bold but it brilliantly worked... « King And Cross », « Going Home », « Higher » : Ásgeir mixes acoustic folk, tinted with melancoly, with electronic melodic accents. His « folktronica », irresistible in studio version, moving in acoustic version, is very easy to identify thanks to a high pitched yet virtuoso voice. Vibrant, almost like it is going to crack, his vocals never miss a note and often fades away in floating silences. The record « In The Silence » met a great audience in Australia, United-Kingdom, Holland, Belgium and France. More than 3 years after the release of this first album, a second named « Afterglow » is due to be out in May 5th.

A first track « Unbound » was released a few weeks ago. Playing with sounds closer to synths or even a bit of R’n’B, the vocal identity stays the same but the musical turn is clearly electronic : «What was holding me back was mostly myself, putting too much pressure on myself with this album and I think when I made this song, I was being relieved of that. (…) The first [album] was quite acoustic and with a lot of horn parts and guitars but this one I think it’s a bit more electronic.» Ásgeir also offered a second single « Stardust », which goes on pushing the diversification of his sound. More soul in the interpretation, a light and constant beat with a groovy side... The synths continue to spin round. Ásgeir tends to move away from what charmed us at the very beggining, but the evolution doesn’t feel unnatural and seems do him well ! Ásgeir will be on tour through Europe on May 2017.

Listen if you are a fan ofBon Iver, James Blake, Ben Howard, Nick Murphy (a.k.a Chet Faker), Jeff Buckley

One song to listen toThe artist is defined by his «folktronica» sound : we’d go for « In The Silence » on the folk side, « Unbound » on the electronic one.

LOIC NOTTET We all have a reason to listen to music. It could be a way to get your mind off your daily life, to get entertained or to party with your friends. It could be your next hobby because it’s «hype» but it could be more. Music is an obsession for some of us, a need, something we can’t run away from. If music means something different for every one of us, we all agree on one point : music triggers feelings. Sadness, happiness, joy, worry. The music industry is saturated with artists wanting to trigger emotions and while many of them fail, a part of them managed to put Art into their music in order to make you feel. Loïc Nottet is one of these artists. The 21 year old Belgian singer and dancer represented his country in the Eurovison Song Contest in 2015 just released his debut album «Selfocracy» last month, which is one of the musical gems of 2017. Meet the new pop mastermind.

OTM Mag : Your debut album «Selfocracy» came out last month. Is it a relief to know it’s finally out after you spent more than one year working on it or did you want to keep it for yourself a little bit longer ? Loïc Nottet : It’s kind of both to be honest because I‘m really happy it’s finally out but at the same time, I felt bad and depressed the day before the release because «Selfocracy» is my baby. I had to give it out to the world and maybe a part of me still wanted to keep it for myself, but it was finished and I felt like I did my best. There’s no song on here that I regret. It was its time to come out but at the same time there’s this fear to release it and make it public. There is a part of selfishness I guess, that Iwanted to keep it for myself but at the same time there was a lot of excitement because I ‘ve been working on it for more than one year and a half and I was looking forward to hearing the feedbacks, but at the same time I didn’t want to hear them (laugh). It’s an ambiguous situation because if the critics were set to be positive, I wanted to have them but otherwise I wanted to skip them( laugh). OTM Mag : From what I saw, they are positive ... Loïc Nottet : That’s true and it feels good. It’s an amazing recognition from the media but also from the fans that the album is so well welcomed. It’s a mixed feeling because Ihave a lot of ambitions with this debut album so I ‘m afraid that the feedbacks are not the ones Ihoped for and wanted. My mind is still a little bit tortured about this (laugh) OTM Mag : «Selfocracy» is 100% in english. Is exporting your music in english-speaking countries such as England or America one of your ambitions and goals ? Maybe following the paths of a fellow Belgian artist - Stromae - who sold out the Madison Square Garden ?

of Sia with Maggie Siegler’s dancing skills. What do you think of this ? Loïc Nottet : This is an incredible compliment to me, but Idon’t know how she would take it (laugh). I think her projects are just mind blowing because she exploited the potential dance has to offer, the right way. I have to be honest though, when I discovered «Chandelier» in 2014 I felt like my idea and the concept Iwanted to use were taken away from me because it was something I wanted to do for a long time. I’ve been dancing since I was a kid and Iwanted to link dance and my songs. In fact, after Sia did the «Chandelier» thing with Maggie Siegler Ialmost gave up on dancing in music videos and Ididn’t want to do it anymore because Ididn’t want to do something that already existed. At the end of the day Iwas kind of frustrated and decided to not give up on this because Ilove dancing as much as Ilove singing and Itold myself that I could do it my own way, the way Sia did for herself.

« I don’t like mirrors as an object of pride.» OTM Mag : You have a couple of shows coming up in France and Belgium. Can we expect you to dance on stage just like you did on your music video for «Million Eyes» ? Loïc Nottet : This is going to be real shows, we are trying to gather the dance and the vocals. There will be real musicians with me on stage and I worked with visual artists to create something good for the stage and the screens. I can’t wait. O TM Mag : «Selfocracy» kind of has a cinematographic side, would you like to write some tracks for movies in the future ?

Loïc Nottet : It is actually one of my biggest dreams to promote the album in those countries. I’ve been watching tv shows, movies and everything in english since Iwas a kid. I love the culture and it would be a dream come true if the album could be promoted overseas but Iknow the market is very different from ours, very complex and there is a lot of competition but yes it would be a big dream.

Loïc Nottet : I would really really love that. This is actually one of my ambitions to be able to write the soundtrack of a movie. I really loved to practice it on the album with the first track and the interlude. They are both instrumental tracks, really focused on the melody. I did it myself and I had a lot of pleasure to write and put together those two songs.

OTM Mag : After your single «Million Eyes» came out, a lot of people started to compare you to a mix

Loïc Nottet : My mentor is Danny Elfman who often works with Tim Burton, I really like Tim Burton’s

OTM Mag : Who are your favorite composers ?

world. There is also Hans Zimmer, one of the best of course but I find myself in the childish and lyrical side of Danny Elfman’s compositions. OTM Mag : Let’s talk about your next single «Mud Blood», do you have a music video coming out soon ? Loïc Nottet : I already know what I want. We have the ideas that we are going to develop soon but we prefer to focus on «Million Eyes» first for now and make sure everyone in France knows the song (laugh). I don’t know when the music video will be ready because we have a lot of things coming up with the tour but we already know how it is going to be. OTM Mag : Speaking of «Mud Blood», does it have anything to do with Harry Potter by any chance ? Loïc Nottet : (laugh) This is so funny and Ireally loved the coincidence but it’s not something Idid on purpose. When Iwrite songs, Iusually sing in doggerel and I can hear the name of the song. In the melody which has no lyric yet, I can recognize some sounds and lyricsI want to add. For instance, I knew from the start that the song I was humming will be named «Mud Blood». Harry Potter is one of the only movies I watched in french because my mum brought me to the cinema to watch it when Iwas a kid so I had no idea ofwhat «Mud Blood» was, and of course I didn’t read the books (laugh). One day I was in my bed and I was thinking about the songs and I suddenly made the connection. It was a total coincidence but it is a great one because I‘m a huge Harry Potter fan and I‘m a big fan of J.K Rowling’s world as well.I grew up with the world she created. OTM Mag : In your song «Cure» you say music is your remedy. How did the music help you during the your early teens and in your daily life ? Loïc Nottet : Music helps me to escape. When Iput my headphones on I‘m away, I can imagine and create my own world with my own characters. I’d love to write a book because I love this world Icreate when I go away. That’s what I do when I don’t feel good, I lock myself in this world where I write and create thing in my mind and it helps a lot, that’s why I said that music is my therapy. OTM Mag : In both of the songs «Mirrors» and «Selfocracy» you talk about mirrors and what they reflect. What do you see when you’re in front of a mirror ?

Loïc Nottet : Well, when in the morning I see this weird sleepy guy (laugh). Symbolically I like looking myself in the mirror when it helps me to get better. For instance I like to see myself in mirrors when I’m dancing because it helps me to see every detail and what is wrong, or what Ineed to improve. On another hand, I don’t like using m irrorsas a object of pride and being like «Olala Lo’ you’re so handsome» (laugh). I see mirrors as a tool that could be essential to someone ifit helps to get better. Watching themselves in mirrors can help someone psychologically , tofeel confortable in your skin without being self-centered and think we are better than someone else.

« I sell my voice, not my body. » OTM Mag: Speaking of this image and reflection, don’t you think that images are necessary in the music industry ? Loïc Nottet : Of course they are. Nowadays I feel like it is 50% about the music and 50% about h ow you look. That’s why I pay attention to my looknow. For example we have an interview today, I wouldn’t come to you with short trousers and a long t-shirt (laugh) because we need to respect the people in front of us. You came to have a talk with me, Ineed to have the decency to look acceptable. Same thing when I’m on stage or when I meet my fans. I am not someone who is superficial, I just dress, I like black clothes. I sell my voice not my body. It’s a way for me to wear my cloak of invisibility in some way (laugh). Let’s talk about Adele for example. She’s classy, she doesn’t need to show off or pretend to be someone else and she’s like one of the most talented artists in the world. OTM Mag : In your song «Millions Eyes» you talk about the fear of rejection. Aren’t you afraid of critics and everything your job entails because being in the public eyes means being constantly judged no matter what you do ? Loïc Nottet : Of course Iam and that’s why - before getting myself into this world - I just sat and thought about it for a while. I asked myself if I was ready to face the critics whether they are good or bad. I accepted all of this because my love for music and for live shows are so strong that they overcome everything. I love being on stage so much, I get so much pleasure and so many feelings that I‘m ready to accept the judgments to keep living those moments.

Interview by PAM CHARBIT ; PHOTOS BY DAVID FITT

ONE PILOTS TWENTY

The end of the Blurryfaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s era live from Australia

This is it. After almost two years of touring and more than 230 shows all over the world, the American musical duo twenty one pilots have put an end to the “Blurryface” era, which had begun with the Blurryface Tour in 2015 and has finished with the Emotional Roadshow World Tour in 2017. The album which was released in May 2015 has sold over 1 million copies in the USA and was certified triple platinum. “Blurryface” received abundant positive reviews and critics and is seen as the trigger to the duo’s fast ascending success and rise worldwide. The singles “Stressed Out” and “Ride” reached number two and five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the record won the category of “Best Rock Album” at the Billboard Music Awards. Thanks to genredefying songs and incredibly deep and interesting concepts behind every tracks, music videos and performances, the Grammy award winning duo takes you on a journey, giving you one new experience, unique for each and every one of us. This experience, On The Move Mag was able to be part of it. The band closed the era, in Australia beginning of April and we were in the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney with around 20,000 other souls, allowing the band to just blow our mind. You can clearly see they have mastered their performance one show after another, which in a way doesn’t let a much room for spontaneity. But the experience is so unique that you simply forget about everything else. Josh and Tyler alternated between two stages, changed costumes a few times between songs, marking the evolution in the concepts supporting “Blurryface” and also integrated some magic tricks which had the crowd going wild. In between songs, Tyler Joseph interacted with the crowd, asking if they were doing okay but also guided them into being an active part of the show. It goes without saying that Tyler has some true showman skills, you just have to see it with your own eyes to believe it. The duo is also providing rich visual content with meaning behind it throughout the whole show, leaving a feeling of authenticity, deep-thinking and complementarity to the album. Even though their success is massive, twenty one pilots remains those two humble guys from Colombus, Ohio and we can feel it when they are on stage. You could think after so many shows, and so much recognition worldwide that they would lose their authenticity but their fanbase is what’s most important to them, what keeps them going. As Tyler said during the last song of the show “Trees”, writing songs, making music and connect to people were the band’s only goals. He reminded us that they were not really comfortable with the category they were put into and that they will remain themselves for what’s next. The Blurryface era has been nothing but a beautiful ride for them (pun intended) and it’s just the start of something even more beautiful!

WordS AND LIVE PHOTOS by LUDIVINE DESUMEUR

JP COOPER JP Cooper stole our hearts away since the release of his single «What Went Wrong» in 2014. After conquering the UK, opening for Stevie Wonder and appearing on the soundtrack of «Fifty Shades Darker», the british sensation is about to soon achieve several other milestones. On The Move Mag met with the very humble self-taught musician to talk about his influences, his dreams and his upcoming debut album, that will definitely seduce you. Be prepared to be swept off your feet.

OTM Mag : Hello JP, this is such an honor to have you with us in Paris today. How are you doing ? JP Cooper : Hello On The Move, I’m very happy to be here with you as well. I’m in Paris, it’s sunny outside so i’d say i’m good today (laughs) OTM Mag : How did you start off in music ? JP Cooper : I began my musical journey quite young. I grew up in Manchester in the nineties - I was kind of becoming a teenager in the nineties - and Oasis and bands like this were huge everywhere in the world. Oasis are from Manchester so everybody that was quite young had a guitar in their house. I played music with my friends, we wrote little silly songs and that was the beginning, that was the spark, and then it progressed from there. But that was definitely the beginning and then I spent most of my teens and early twenties making music. OTM Mag : So it was kind of natural for you to make music your full time job ? JP Cooper : Yeah I think straight away, I just fell in love with music, like completely. I was really into sports also but music just took over and I am on a huge romance with music ever since. OTM Mag : You were a little bit skeptical about doing the song «Perfect Strangers» with Jonas Blue, why ? JP Cooper : In the beginning I was a little bit worried just because I’d never done anything kind of commercial, so I was a little bit concerned about how my audience would feel about that but one of the things that I really cherish is freedom. So in the name of freedom I was like «let’s do it and just see what happens!» and I thought it would do well but I didn’t expect it to do as well as it did, it’s crazy numbers. Now it’s opened up a lot of doors and a lot of people have looked a little bit further into who I am and it’s only been positive for me so I’m happy. Jonas Blue is also really talented so i’m glad we worked together. OTM Mag : What is your favorite thing about working with someone who’s musically very different from you ?

JP Cooper : For me the joy of it is taking two completely different styles and bringing them together. I think you have to have a mutual respect for what the other person is doing, I think you both have to respect each other’s art, be open-minded and be willing to try something new. For me the great thing about collaboration is two people getting together and making music, so I think the main thing is just to be open and free and enjoy it. Music is like a toy for me, it’s like playing with a friend. Don’t take it too seriously. OTM Mag : Are there some artists you’d like to collaborate with in the future ? JP Cooper : Obviously I have crazy dreams but half of them are dead so (laughs). But right now I’d love to get in a room with Chance The Rapper, he’s just super creative, amazing with words, seems like a cool guy and obviously is just killing it at the moment so I’d be very excited about that.

«the most important thing is to focus on your qualities and how to express the best with what you have.» OTM Mag : Will we be able to hear some other collaborations in your upcoming album ? JP Cooper : Not really features, it’s definitely my record, I’m being a little selfish with it (laughs) but there’s a lot of different colors on there. There’s a little bit of hip-hop influences, a lot of soul influences, a lot of kind of straight up singer/songwriter. But it isn’t just kind of one style throughout the record, there’s a lot of different flavors in there. But no features, just me! OTM Mag : Do you already have the name of the album ? JP Cooper : It’s called «Raised Under Grey Skies». As I said I grew up in Manchester and it rains a lot so I have a song called «we were raised under grey skies» and that song kind of sums up my childhood so it is very autobiographical and it’s that idea that we were raised under grey skies but also there is kind of a metaphor in there as well.

OTM Mag : How would you describe it ? JP Cooper : Well, it will make you cry, it will make you dance, it will make you smile, it will make you think. It’s a real heartfelt beautiful record that is basically just mostly about human condition. A lot of relationship songs. I’m so proud of it. I don’t know how I would describe it sonically but it’s honest, it’s human, it’s beautiful. OTM Mag : An honest album your audience could relate to ? JP Cooper : It is something that I aspire to indeed. I think in any kind of art, whether it’s visual art or any kind of creative work that you do, I think the best thing is to try your best to be completely honest and completely raw with the way you say things because we’re humans, we need that, we need to feel like other people are feeling the same as us and if we just keep it inside ourselves then we’re never going to have connection. That’s what music’s about so sometimes it’s difficult, especially if I’m singing about things that are happening now in my life but the aspiration is to be free with that and just allow myself to be honest, definitely. OTM Mag : Do you prefer recording or touring ? JP Cooper : I’m more comfortable in the studio because I feel like naturally I’m a bit more introverted. It takes me a little while, if I’m on tour, after 3 or 4 days I’ll be like «I’m good now». I don’t get really nervous but I’m a bit of a perfectionist so it’s more of an anxiety kind of thing. But I love the live thing, coming out and see the real engagement with people. At the minute I can’t wait to get out and play live because I’ve been doing so much studio work that I’m ready to just take it and meet some people. OTM Mag : There’s a tour coming up then ... JP Cooper : In May, we’re doing a European tour and we’re coming to Paris so that should be good. And then we have a big show in London and lots of festivals.

Interview by PAM CHARBIT WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF LUDIVINE DESUMEUR PHOTOS BY DAVID FITT

OTM Mag : Talking about your life in studio, what’s your writing process ? JP Cooper : I’m always kind of, even just in every day, I have a notepad and I’m always writing down anything, even if it’s just a word or if I watch a movie and then there’s like one line that I’m like «that’s amazing», it just makes me think something. I have lots of starts but I don’t like to elaborate too much on lyrics because you try to squeeze it into a melody. I think of starts as little sparks that I catch and put them in a box when I get a song or a melody or a guitar part or something that I feel has the same spirit as that little idea, then I try and fit it around the instrumental. But often I’ll begin with an instrumental piece. Then I’ll look through my notes and see if there’s anything. OTM Mag : Have you got any advice for young and new singers/songwriters ? JP Cooper : I have three points. When I was younger I began singing, I wanted to be the best singer. I didn’t care about how the other kids in my school sang. I was listening to Lauryn Hill and Aretha Franklin and Donny Hathaway and be like «I want these guys to be my teachers» but that was just singing. Later I joined the gospel choir and I realized I was never going to be the best singer, it was never going to happen, I could only do with what I have. So I learned that the most important thing is to focus on your own qualities and to make the most of them to really figure out what it is that’s special about you as an individual. Don’t look at everybody else, you know to appreciate that and learn from that but don’t worry about it. Do your thing. So that would be the one: focus on your qualities and how to express the best with what you have. Then, it would be : collaborate, work with the community around you, whether they’re making the same music or they’re making different music. Ten voices are louder that one so if you can have a lot of your work with different people then that allows you to be a part of their community. First of all, it’s an amazing way to learn, to see how they work, to see how you work and how it works together. Also, the music industry is built on relationships. And leading on from that the relationship thing is, there’s a recording studio in London and there’s a big poster behind the doorway that says «work hard and be nice to people» and that would be my third point.

OUR BEST ALBUMS

OF MARCH Every week of the year, a bunch of records are thrown into the world, portraying the singular influences, universe and sound of artists. Do you get lost in the numerous releases ? On The Move Mag is here to help. This month, as always, we opened our ears and dived into what matters most : music ! Whatever genre suits you, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find something new to discover... Here are our favourite albums released this March.

Ed Sheeran is back! After months of waiting, the third studio album from british singer Ed Sheeran is here. From beautiful ballads to hip-hop vibes, Ed showcaseshis talent on a dozen of various songs. The album has already produced big hits like the bouncy «Shape Of You» and the foot-stomping «Castle On The Hill», and because Ed likes to take risks, he delivers the experimental «Galway Girl» which is an audacious mix of Celtic fiddle and rap. Later when Ed’s voice breakson «Supermarket Flowers», it’s impossible not to be moved. Ed Sheeran dares and his talent is undeniable! As an oldfashioned ballad, «Perfect» has the potential, according to Ed, to be better than «Thinking Out Loud»: «There was a scare that this song would define me and my career so I wrote a lot of songs trying to beat it and now I think I have beaten it.» Keep your eyes peeled on the credit, as Ryan Tedded from One Republic cowrote Happier, another ballad with mature lyrics and an original twist.

Top 3 Tracks: Shape Of You, Supermarket Flowers, Eraser

ED SHEERAN - DIVIDE

What a breath of fresh air ! “Location”, his first single, had received great recognition worldwide and now the 19 year-old Texan artist is on his way to rise in the R&B scene with his debut album “American Teen”. The record is pretty consistent and neatly produced, offering light sunny melodies combining his soulful and gentle voice. What’s the secret ? Khalid is young, raw and honest. He’s just a teen talking about teenage problems – mostly relationships- and moments of joy which enables him to really connect with his audience and generation. So sit back and relax because everything feels good with this little bundle of warmth !

Top 3 tracks: American Teen, Location, Cold Blooded

Khalid – American Teen

After several EPs and one studio album, Charlotte OC has released her second LP called «Careless People», a magical bundle of unique songs, one after another. We had warned you about her, she’s like a tornado, able to blow away everything on her way... But that doesn’t keep her from being vulnerable like in «In Paris», a beautiful heartfelt track, where she is trying to save a relationship whereas the lover isn’t making any effort. Her enchanting pop, combining electro beats, soulful amazing vocals and R&B groove form the perfect recipe to this somehow dark record. Inspired by strong women, she sure is powerful!

Top 3 tracks: Blackout, I Want Your Love, Where It Stays

Charlotte OC - Careless People After a three-year hiatus following his last LP «Trigga», Trey Songz is back with a brand new album simply called «Tremaine, The Album» which is his most personal project to date. The 32 year-old R&Bone shows vulnerability on his 15-track project and decided to drop the mask. The singer known to be a womanizer forgoes his usual debauchery for a more soulful sound which has carved his reputation a while ago. «Come Over» or «Playboy» could easily be included in our bedroom jams while «Animals» and «She Lovin It» show that Trey hasn’t abandoned his wild side and party ways. Trey Songz manages to pour out his soul into the incredible ballade named «Break From Love», where his lyrics ring with sincerity, in order to close the album on a strong note. This hybrid project shows Trey’s new found maturity - which suits him well - and will definitely satisfy the singer’s fans, showing he still has what it takes to make a good R&B album.

Top 3 tracks : Playboy, She Lovin It, Break From Love

Trey Songz - Tremaine The Album

In a few years, the author of the infamous «You’re Beautiful» has managed to reinvent his sound and his balladry by means of RnB filters and a few other things. Judicious use of auto-tune, guitars grooves and an irresistible honesty, here’s what «The Afterlove» is made of. While «Bartender» is catchy and joyful, James Blunt gets real on «Make Me Better», a song he wrote with another british singer who made an impressive comeback : Ed Sheeran. This album proves once again that the singer has not lost his way with sentiments and is a wonderful step outside his comfort zone. This fifth full-lenght album also features the participation of Ryan Tedder from One Republic on several songs.

Top 3 tracks: Make Me Better, Bartender, Courtney’s Song

James Blunt - The Afterlove

More than ten years after releasing their very first album, in 2005, the members of deutsch band Tokio Hotel are reinventing themselves in a brand new opus. This return is definitely surprising and different from what we previously heard from the four boys. «Dream Machine» is a cocktail of efficient sonorities, very pop-electro oriented. The band signs their first auto-produced album -by the Kaulitz brothers themselves- with lyrics and melodies which power is drawn from personal experiences. Composed by 10 tracks, the album juggles between varied propositions, between destructured and explosive compositions to retroinfused songs. Their original darker identity still floats over some of the tracks. From teenage stars to grown musicians, Tokio Hotel seems to have reached a new level of maturity.

Top 3 tracks: Something New, Elysa, As Young As We Are

TOKIO HOTEL - DREAm machine

With “Different Creatures”, Circa Waves offers an ambitious second album, definitely heavier and more meaningful than “Young Chasers”, the first one. The vigorous first track “Wake Up” immediately sets the tone while only one ballad – acoustic - is to be listed on the record. Maturity is also one of the things that struck us while listening: the Liverpool-based indie-rock band addresses themes like immigration, depression or dysfunctional relationships. Maturity is also to be noticed in the sound, darker and heavier thanks to the confident energy of the guitar parts. Circa Waves know where they’re going, that’s for sure !

Top 3 tracks: Fire That Burns, Stuck, A Night On The Broken Tiles

Circa Waves - Different creatures Be prepared to be blown away. 21 years old belgian Loïc Nottet unveiled this month his highly anticipated debut album «Selfocracy» after the well acclaimed success of his single «Million Eyes».This debut album dives us into Loïc’s world made of cinematographic influences mixed with Sia, Imagine Dragons and Florence + The Machine flavors. The hauntingly impactful opening track «Selfocracy» gives us goosebumps as we listen to the singer giving a thoughtful speech about mirrors and reflection, which is a taste of the album’s main theme. Do not expect Loïc Nottet to talk about irrelevant things, as the singer chose music to express himself and gives an insight of the battles he had to fight. In «Million Eyes» and «Poison», the young singer showcases his incredible vocals and poured his soul out into every single line. Music is Loïc’s cure and he definitely knows how to put feelings into words. From the minute we heard Loïc Nottet on the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2015 we knew he was a vocal superstar, set to take over the world. «Selfocracy» strengthened our belief that - at only 21 - Loïc Nottet has what it takes to sit with the best.

Top 3 tracks : Mud Blood, Cure, Million Eyes

Loïc Nottet - SelfocracY 37

JAMES MASLOW You know his name and you definitely heard about his former band. After touring the world and making hits with Big Time Rush for years, it’s time for James Maslow to trace his own path. After releasing his debut solo album «How I Like It», James started his first european tour as a solo artist and played his very first show in Paris. We met with the artist to talk about our favorite subject : music. Meet the talented James Maslow.

OTM Mag : Hey James ! We are really happy to have you today with us in Paris. You’ll play tonight here at Les Etoiles for your very first show not just in Europe but as a solo artist. How you do you feel about it ? James Maslow: Hello On The Move ! Thank you for having me, i’m happy to be here as well. I look forward to playing tonight, no pressure just fun. (laugh) OTM Mag : You previously did many different projects going from Big Time Rush, to Dancing With The Stars along with a couple of movies you played in. Did all those projects help you to create your debut album “How I Like It” ? James Maslow : Everything I’ve done until now, I did pretty consciously, as a stepping stone. Big Time Rush, the TV shows, the band and even the movies I’ve been doing recently have been giving exposure to my own music and eventually my own films. I’m actually hoping creating, producing and have more control in the future. That’s kind of a rare thing in my industry to have control over your own art which is why getting to play my first show in Paris and hopefully many more of my own music is more rewarding than I can explain. OTM Mag : When you first started with Big Time Rush, was it your goal to pursue a solo career at some point ? James Maslow : Of course yes. I love the guys from Big Time Rush, I love the experience, I’m so grateful and I’ll never say a bad thing about it, but I didn’t create it. The band was cast: the TV show, the band, we auditioned for it. Long auditions, years, it was difficult and it was awesome to get it but it was never 100% mine. Even though I wrote music and we all very much contributed to what it was, it wasn’t completely mine so yeah, it was always the intention to be able to do my own stuff in music and everything afterwards. OTM Mag : So it was kind of a natural thing for you to do after the band split.. James Maslow: I always thought about it. We were so busy when we were in the band, even as a collective we all focused on the band. There’s one thing that was cool about everybody is that we weren’t trying to

break the band. It was never an intention, it just kind of ended. We focused on Big Time Rush but since then, and it’s been 3 years now, I’ve been working to figure out my sound and write music so really, it took a couple of years of me just writing a ton of music that I’ll never release. To figure out what I wanted to talk about and also just experiencing life as a young man, getting to see what it was like to be 23, 24, now 26, being single for that period of time, touring the world, going on vacation with friends which inspired this album. This album came together in the past nine months, I was working towards it but I had to live a little bit of life first. OTM Mag : And now here you are ! James Maslow : And now here I am (laugh) in Paris right before my very first show. Crazy.

« I’VE BEEN WORKING TO FIGURE OUT MY SOUND SINCE THE BAND ENDED » OTM Mag : Since you had the opportunity to do both in Big Time Rush, did you prefer the acting part or the singing part ? James Maslow : I love both but I think that getting to travel the world, as I’m not getting to do it again, was the best part. It’s very unique to get to meet fans in other parts of the world and be able to see some beautiful places like Paris as your job! It’s a really unique situation and I’ve always wanted to be able to do that and that’s probably half the reason I want to keep touring now. OTM Mag : Speaking of Big Time Rush, are you still in contact with your former bandmates ? James Maslow: yes, in fact I know Kendall was just on tour with his band, maybe you met him when he was here ? Oh you did, fantastic ! He texted me a couple of suggestions in terms of coffee, food and places I had to try and see and I will hopefully try to make time to visit some places.

OTM Mag : How would you like to describe your sound ? James Maslow: I’ve asked a lot of people who they think that I sound like and nobody has given me a really specific response. That’s perhaps what I’m most proud of. I wasn’t trying to be anybody else, I found a sound that was authentic to me and I found a way to sing that is the easiest and best and most fun for me, so I ran with that. I was trying to be unique without copying anybody or anything, just creating something that I thought was cool. OTM Mag : “How I Like It” is your debut album as a solo artist, did you have some kind of pressure while making it ? James Maslow: It was a different experience for sure. There wasn’t so much pressure in terms of writing the music because I didn’t tell my management “Let’s do this!” until it was pretty much done, until I said “This is it!”. And then it was done but the pressure, which is really different than the last time, is that every single aspect was on my shoulders. Whereas, when I was in Big Time Rush and found an idea for an album cover, I would say “Hey look at this” and they’d give me 20 examples the next day because we had a hundred people working for us at the label. And now if I have an idea for an album cover, I tell my management and they go “Great, let us know when it’s ready!” (laugh), so I have to create it and so it was pressure but it’s also why I’m so proud of it : each single, picture, note or word on this album are mine and I’m very proud of that.. I had help but not a lot, a couple of producers and co-writers.

that during the songs that are quieter, they’ll respond to it. And I think they will, especially in venues that are smaller, it’s more intimate. They’re going to see the most authentic side of me. OTM Mag : Talking about sides, what are the differences between James from BTR and James Maslow ? James Maslow : They are both me. That was a version of me but I always had to be much more careful about what I said and what I did. Now, and I’m not saying I’m going to go off the edge, but I’m a 26 year old single guy and the life that I live, meeting people in Paris and stuff, that’s super exciting to me because I don’t have to hide anything anymore. I drink Tequila! (laugh), I’m a big fan of it and I might have a drink with the fans because that’s more than allowed! I encourage people to express themselves as they are and I get to do that so expect to see me, don’t expect to see the kid from Nickelodeon.

« I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AS THEY ARE. »

OTM Mag : It’s like your baby James Maslow : Yes, exactly! (laughs) More pressure but I’ve learned more about backline and tech than I ever did before: I learned how to DJ, which is a part of the set we’re doing every night, because I think it’s cool. I’ve learned so much, it’s been kind of stressful but now that we’re here, I know we’ll have fun and people will see skills I didn’t have in Big Time Rush. OTM Mag : What can your fans expect from the tour ? James Maslow: I just want everybody to be singing and dancing. Not every song is a beat so I’m hoping

OTM Mag : Who would you like to collaborate with in the future ? James Maslow : That’s a good question… I think Ellie Goulding is pretty rad. We did a song with Snoop Dogg a long time ago and I think it’d be cool, if that ever make sense again, to do a collab. As a solo artist it could be sexier and dirtier. He loved the song we did, “Boyfriend”, and he loved the show because he had kids and they were fans. We had a lot of fun but I think he’d also love doing something that is a lot edgier. OTM Mag : Did you try to reach him out ? James Maslow : I’ve seen him in New-York but I haven’t asked him yet. I know he’s working on his own music so when the time is right maybe I’ll ask him. Tonight is my first show and I want to get more exposure, play a bunch of shows and get more people to listen to my music to the point where when I call him and say “Yo I have this song”, he’ll be like “I heard your last song and I love it, I’m in!” That’s why I want instead of asking for a favor. James Maslow at the time of Big Time Rush.

OTM Mag : if you had to convince people to listen to your music, what would you say ? James Maslow : Another good question! If you like to move and dance, you can find that on the album. If you like something you can relate to, there are several songs like “Who Knows” which is a situation we’ve all been in. I have to work on this speech probably because I didn’t think about it much, I was too busy creating stuff! (laugh) I think the music in many ways speak for itself so I’ll probably just say “Hey, if you like this, you’ll like the rest of it.” I wouldn’t even care which song I play because I’m proud of all the songs on the album. OTM Mag : What’s your favorite song from the album ?

James Maslow’s debut album «How I Like It» was released on March, 3rd 2017.

James Maslow : Such a though question! “So Bad, So Bad” has always been one of my favorites. I think it’s one of the most unique songs on the album. “Addicted” is a lot of fun too and the way that we did the song for the tour is actually really cool. We build a DJ set before it, we kind of created it on the spot so it should be fun !

JASMINE THOMPSON Are you ready for Jasmine Thompson ? The 16 year old singer is just getting started. After making waves in the industry with the song «Ain’t No Body», Jasmine is ready to show the world that - despite her young age - she has what it takes to sit with the best. It is time for you to find out more about this new british pop superstar.

OTM Mag : You started posting covers at the age of 13. Was music something you were serious about at that age or was it just for fun ? Jasmine Thompson : I started properly getting into music when I was at quite a young age, I learned to play piano and I was always singing when I was younger as well. I think I kind of knew it was something I really enjoyed and at that time it was just a hobby, like when you like to draw and you’re passionate about art, you grow up and you just think “Can have a real career with it? Can I spend the rest of my life on it?” But even if it wasn’t my job, I’d still be spending the majority of my time on music. OTM Mag : Your videos ranked up millions of views, is it not scary for the young artist that you were at that time to post videos and just let everyone knows who you are ? Jasmine Thompson : For some reason I wasn’t scared at all! I really just wanted to put it up. It was quite funny because it’s almost like I didn’t realize how big the world was, I didn’t realize how many views my videos could potentially get and I just wanted to upload those videos of me singing in my bedroom and just have fun with that. And when people did come back, viewed the videos, and gave me really nice and positive feedback, I was so overwhelmed with love. I keep in touch with the majority of my followers and some of them have known me since I was ten and they become like a little family so I was just super happy, it was crazy! (laughs) OTM Mag : You then self-released your debut album «Bundle of Tantrums», why did you choose this name and what can you tell us about this ? Jasmine Thompson : Me and my team collected most of my successful covers that I posted on YouTube at the time and I was like “oh we could make a little bundle of albums”! My old YouTube name was called “tantrumjas” so we were like let’s just call it “A Bundle Of Tantrums”. A lot of my followers were asking if I was ever going to sell them on Itunes or anything like that and if they could have a collection because it’s just easier to play on the CD in the car as a whole instead of scrolling through YouTube (laughs).

OTM Mag : Was releasing original music a way to steer away from the Youtube persona ? Jasmine Thompson : Yeah! A few years later I released an EP of my original songs called “Under The Willow Tree” but I didn’t see it as a way of getting rid of my YouTube posts, it was more putting up original music because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do as I’ve been writing songs since I was quite young and I think I was waiting for the moment when I thought I was ready for it. So I was writing a lot with a couple of writers I know in London and I was really proud of these four songs and I wanted to make music videos for them and do all that kind of stuff so I was like “let’s just put this out”! I was really proud of it.

« I ONLY COVER A SONG IF I HAVE A CONNEXION TO IT. » OTM Mag : You became the biggest DJs’ favorite voice, working with artists like Felix Jaehn, Avicii, Robin Schulz... was working with EDM artists something you wanted/planned to do at some point ? Jasmine Thompson : I grew up with quite an open mind so I always want to try new things and do something that might not necessarily work out well but when Robin Schulz approached me and asked if I wanted to sing on the “Sun Goes Down” track, I was like “Yeah sure!”. I’ve never been on EDM before, the majority of the music that I had sang before was like piano songs on YouTube and then I was like “oh this could really work!”, it’s kind of a melancholic song so I can see how my voice would suit the track and so I thought “I want to try it!”. It opened up so many doors for me. I’m so grateful to Robin for experimenting a different type of voice so I’m super happy with how it went (laughs). OTM Mag : Is there someone you will see yourself collaborating with ? Jasmine Thompson : If I could choose anyone I would love to collaborate with Florence + The Machine. I love her so much, she’s like my hero!

OTM Mag : You’re back with «Mad World» which is a cover of Tears For Fears, why did you choose to cover this song in particular ? Jasmine Thompson : I think it’s a song that a lot of people know, it’s a quite catchy song and the lyrics mean a lot to a lot of people. I could literally relate to it as well at the time when I sang it because the whole second verse is about attending school and not really knowing who you are, what you’re supposed to do in this world. When I decided to sing it I knew I could give it a lot of emotion because I related to it a lot. I only cover a song if I have a connection to it and if I think I can do it justice. So yeah it’s one of my favorite songs and I wanted to sing it!

«FOR SOME REASON, I WASN’T SCARED OF POSTING VIDEOS WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN. OTM Mag : Are you working on new original music ? Jasmine Thompson : I am actually! I’m working on a new EP at the moment, well I finished my EP and we’re in the process of putting it out so I should be having new music out really soon. I’m so excited, I started the past year writing with lots of different writers from LA, some from London and it’s such a relief to finally have new music out because there are stories. I think that what some people find interesting about my project is that since I started when I was ten, people have watched me grow up. When I was ten I started posting on YouTube, when I was thirteen I started releasing my own original music and now my sixteen year old self is just informing all my followers what kind of happened in the past year, what I see my life turning into and explaining a couple of things but through a song because all of the songs are based on subjects that I relate to, personal experiences…

made and put out from my original songs. I think it’s basically piano and vocal with a beat behind it and trying to make it have an interesting form, trying to make it as emotional rollercoaster as possible. OTM Mag : Do you have a name yet ? Jasmine Thompson : It’s called “Wonderland”. One of the songs on the EP is called “Wonderland” so the EP is named after it and “Wonderland” is basically a song about how me and my friends have grown up in London and it’s about a lot of things: about how I see my home city as this place of wonder and undiscovered things and lots of things to experiment, try and see. You could spend hours walking around London and you still wouldn’t know everything and I just think it’s an incredible concept. On the other hand, it’s also about how a lot of people when they grow up, they never show what’s really going on and nothing ever seems to be okay and it’s just seeing life as a whole wonder and just being like “what on Earth is going on?”. Also “Wonderland” was a really special song to me because I wrote it with Florence + The Machine’s keyboardist called Isabella Summers and Florence has been an inspiration since I started doing music, she was the first albums I bought, listened to and memorized. I love her. And the fact that I wrote that song with her keyboardist was incredible because I was in her studio and I saw Florence’s writing on the walls and I almost cried, I love her so much! I got so excited. And we found the music video for “Wonderland”, it was filmed in places me and my friends actually go to, my real friends are in the video so I’m super excited to release it because it’s something I’m super passionate about. OTM Mag : So it will be 100% Jasmine ? Jasmine Thompson : Yeah it’s incredibly real! I really hope that my followers appreciate it. It is 100% me and I wanted to release it the day I wrote it. I wrote it during the summer and I’ve just been waiting and waiting to put it out like I can’t wait until it’s released, I’m really super excited! (laughs)

OTM Mag : How would you describe this new EP you’re working on ? Jasmine Thompson : I’d say it’s a mid tempo kind of piano pop ballads. There are two remixes that we

Interview by PAM CHARBIT WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF LUDIVINE DESUMEUR PHOTOs BY DAVID FITT

ARE THEY WORTH

SEEING LIVE ? 51

BUSTED This is something we never thought we’d be able to say. The british pop/rock band Busted was in Paris last month to play their very first gig in the french capital after the band got back together this year, 10 years after their split. If you’re a 90s kid and you’ve never heard of Busted before, you probably have lived under a rock during all of your childhood years and we feel sorry for you. Formed in 2002, the band consisting of Matt Willis, James Bourne and Charlie Simpson released two albums and had four number ones singles in the UK. Literally everyone knows the lyrics of their hit «Years 3000» in the UK, it’s not even a joke. After winning two Brit Awards and sold over 5 millions albums worldwide, the trio decided to split, leaving behind millions of heartbroken fans. Charlie Simpson decided to pursue a career fronting the pop-hardcore band Fightstar, then released two solo albums «Young Pilgrim» and «Long Road Home». James Bourne founded the band «Son Of Dork», in which we could sometimes find his former band’s influences, then decided to pursue a solo career under the name Future Boy (Back To The Future, anyone ?). Matt Willis also decided to continue writing music and released his album «Don’t Let It Go To Waste» in 2006. Last year, after Matt and James formed the supergroup McBusted with their longtime friends McFly, it was announced that the original trio was recording their new album after deciding to get back together and that’s how «Night Driver» is born. Busted quickly announced an UK tour along with an European one and the fans were

WORDS AND PHOTO by PAM CHARBIT

delighted to see that Paris was on the list. The fans were both excited and anxious to see Busted after listening to their new album - which was great - but totally different from what they were used to produce. Say goodbye to the old pop/rock sound and hello to the electro/pop sound. Is the setlist going to be mainly focused on this new found musical direction or is the band going to play the old tunes that had craved their reputation a while ago ? Our worries faded away when we saw that the trio cleverly picked up songs from every single album available going from rocking the stage with «Air Hostess», «What I Go To School For», «Who’s David» and «Year 3000» to messing up with the fans’ feelings and creating a melancholic atmosphere with «Meet You There». We had the pleasure to discover for the very first time «Thinking Of You», «Night Driver» or «New York» and «I Will Break Your Heart» taken from her latest album. The band looked really pleased to meet their french public for the first time as they didn’t hesitate to shake hands, take pictures and engage with the audience. Busted gathers hundreds of people in the UK and is used to play in big venues so we think it was refreshing for them to play in a more intimate place this time. The crowd left the venue with smile on their faces and stars on their eyes so we guess it was a winning night for the band who will play the legendary Glastonbury this year along with their first ever headline show in the US at Le Troubadour on June 2. Busted is back for good whether you were ready for it or not.

LUKAS GRAHAM April 4th, 2017 marked a milestone for Lukas Graham. On the same day, danish formation composed by Lukas Forchhammer, Mark Falgren, Magnus Larsson and their musicians went gold for selling 500 000 copies of their hit-single « 7 Years » in France and played live for the first time on a parisian scene. If their commercial success is undeniable, are they keeping all their promises live ? Our team was at the show and can tell you they did ! A stage set with an industrial touch is waiting in the shadows while young australian Hein Cooper performs as support. His set is seriously good -diverse melodies, stunning voice, nice confidence- but what we are all waiting for is for the lights to shine and colors to burst... Here comes Lukas Graham ! The first track of the night feels like a premonition : « I’ll take the world by storm ». We don’t know about the world but Paris ? Definitely ! With a pianist, a drummer, a bassist, a trombonist, a trumpeter and a saxophonist, the show can only be quite wild and vocal leader Lukas Forchhammer had an amazing back-up. If we loved his particular voice on their opus «Blue Album», the studio recordings seem very bland compared to the vocal range of the artist live. Lukas Forchhammer is impressive, whether he flirts with rap on « Mama Said » or does more classical vocal pirouettes on « What Happened to Perfect ». This is the subtle balance between energy and emotions that gives so much power to the show. There is funk, hiphop, rap and pop in Lukas Graham’s sound. And also a lot of soul ! When you listen carefully, you notice that

WORDS AND PHOTO by CORALINE BLAISE

every lyric from Lukas Graham are very personal and performed with the same genuineness . The music comes from the heart of every band’s member, willing to give the maximum to their public. Even a serious feet injury doesn’t prevent Forchhammer from jumping around. Shirts are falling on stage as the applause grows more intense. And Lukas Graham likes to make their audience participe ! The band invites to sing « Hayo she wants some » as one, on the eponymous track. The crowd clap their hands frantically on « Strip No More » and sing loud the end of « Happy Home »’s chorus. And we certainly felt at home at that point. This sense of family also comes from the leader, which tells his own story to the audience between songs or speak about the strong link that connects the members of the band. The crowd clearly doesn’t want this synergy to end. That’s nearly an ovation Lukas Graham receives when they leave the stage, before going back for an encore. Two very awaited tracks have been kept for the end : bittersweet « Funeral » and anthemic « 7 Years ». Every lyric are sang by the crowd and too soon comes the final note. Visibly moved, Lukas Forchhammer shouts « No fucking show without fucking audience ». Here is a proper and touching thank you. The venue wasn’t even full that night and that is a shame because Lukas Graham put up one of those shows to remember. With a festive, efficient scenography and the great acoustic of the venue, Lukas Graham’s generosity could be heard as intensively on the sung than on the played parts. And the smiles of Forchhammer, Falgren, Larsson and band don’t lie. Every person here will remember this moment for a long time. What a refreshing night !

WHAT’S UP LAST TRAIN GIVES A NEW SPARK TO ROCK MUSIC

IN FRANCE ?

Words by L.FONTAINE, P. CHARBIT AND C. BLAISE

A GLOWING TOUR FOR VIANNEY

Rock is not dead and Last Train is surely bound to revive it ! The four guys, coming from Mulhouse, came together in school more than ten years ago. So, despite their young age (they are all in their early twenties), they’ve got the alchemy and experience of quite an old band. Jean-Noël Scherrer (vocals and guitar), Julien Peultier (guitar), Timothée Gerard (bass) and Antoine Baschung (drums) released their first proper EP « The Holy Family » in 2015, already drowned in heavy rock and rough energy. Ever since, they never stopped improving themselves, especially through a lot of stage experiences. They already toured Europe, and even put a foot in China, until the point of crossing paths with one of the most important figures in French musical landscape : Johnny Hallyday, and ending up supporting him on a show in Paris. The « Fragile » EP in 2016 proved their music is all but frail. Last Train somehow mastered a sound bearing the ardour of pure rock, punctuated with rare yet irresistible pop elements. A balance they try to apply live, confiding « As long as we break everything around, we’ll keep our alchemy. That’s a good sign ! » although « This is not only about songs and power, we’ve got to convey some emotions as well ». The members of Last Train have got a strong link and want to build a proper career for themselves. To pursue this, they created their own label and touring agency named « Cold Fame Records », giving them the freedom to release their material the way they want to and even promote other young artists. Lately, they’ve been rewarded with the «2016 French Revelation » price at the OUÏ FM Rock Awards -organised by one of the most important and sharp french rock radio stations... A clear sign that their career is just on the edge of something even bigger. Last Train will be playing at Le Bataclan in Paris on May 9th. Their first album « Weathering » will be out on April 7th.

Nothing seems impossible to achieve for Vianney ! In 2014, his hit « Pas là » signed the beginning of a beautiful adventure with the french public. Whether you like or not, you couldn’t stay indifferent to this heady chorus. Since then, the 26 years old singer-songwriter released two albums « Idées blanches » in 2014 and « Vianney » in 2016. Track after track, the artist proved his elegant ability to play with words and sing it like heartrending and personal stories. Alone with his guitar, Vianney succeeded in charming both the public and his peers, winning two « Victoires de la Musique » along the way. But the place where he shines the brighest is undeniably on stage, spreading humble and positive energy around. Vianney is currently on a huge tour around France. To complete it with a highlight, he just announced he will end this journey with a special night, in front of 20 300 people. Vianney will be playing at the AccordHotels Arena in Paris on June 9th, 2018. Adressing his fans, he said it will be « the last. A special date, even more different... thanks to you ! » And you better get yourself a ticket now because they will sell fast !

MOSIMANN IS ON HIS WAY BACK !

TIM DUP TURNS EMOTIONS INTO MUSIC With particularly well-written songs, beautiful musical arrangements and a fragile yet strong voice, Tim Dup already has what it takes to be huge in the near future. Influenced by some of the greatest french artists as Jacques Brel and Léo Ferre, the young promising artist manages, at only 21, to put his soul and emotions into his songs. Without really trying, Tim is able to draw the attention with intensity and rare spontaneousness. His first EP «Vers les Ourses Polaires » holds four tracks on which melancholy meets Tim’s piano. His secret ? « I’m constantly learning. I never stop until I’m able to make the sound and the song mine.» In fact, it only took him one hour to write his first single «TER Centre» inspired by his daily life.

You know and love Mosimann, you know you do. The 29 year old DJ and producer ranked in the top 100 of the best disc jockeys for the 4th consecutive year by DJ Mag is playing shows and festivals all around the world alongside the biggest EDM artists in the world. Mosimann is set to have huge year as he recently signed a new deal with Parlophone / Warner Music and released this month his brand new track named «Never Let You Go» featuring Joe Cleere. The Swiss born artist who calls Paris his home brought this house/dance-pop signature into this new cocktail of sound and is set to release new songs while returning as a coach in The Voice Belgium. «To my opinion, it’s essential to be open to any kind of music, it feeds the inspiration and during my own story it was a part of the growing.» You’ve been warned, Mosimann is not the kind of artists to be put in a box and his versatility as a DJ, producer but also singer and songwriter shows he’s more than just the guy behind the turntables.

The outside world, a conversation, a memory, everything is a source of inspiration and can lead to a song for the young man and artist that is Tim Dup. As a « souvenir chaser » , the singer is always looking for something to talk about in his songs. Honest and realistic about the world he’s living in, the singer isn’t the one to stay quiet when it comes to write his songs. « My message isn’t political or committed. It’s the expression of my feelings, my emotions. If people can make it theirs and understand it as they want, then my job is done and i’m happy about it. » If the piano holds a special place in Tim’s songs, Dup does not forget about the lyrics and the importance of arrangement. Sometimes electro, sometimes urban, the musician easily plays with his inspiration and easily mix them in order to deliver a pure and unique sound.

Keeps your eyes peeled for Tim Dup’s debut album, we have a feeling that this guy will go places !

OTM TEAM PAM

editorial director I spend most of my time apologizing to my favorite streaming platform for ripping off their «add to playlist» button. When i’m not looking for new artists to talk to you about I drown myself in a sea containing a mix of old R&B and punk-rock sound. Sometimes I go to concert venues more often than I go to bed and I listen to music even when I sleep. I’ll be probably deaf in 40 years but knowing you’ll discover new artists through this mag makes everything worthwhile.

ELODIE

writer Longtime writer for OTM, I love being able to talk about my favourite tracks and artists online. Got a passion for pop, indie and rock bands, Harry Potter and photography. You can usually find me at venues, front row, next to the following curly girl. Spending way too much money on those travels and gigs. But, we only got one life, better get the most out of it !

CORALINE

graphic designer, writer

Wannabe architect, musical writer by passion. I am in love with matter, music and words. Drunk with british indie-rock and popfolk. I guess my wildest dream would be designing and building a gig venue, for which I would decide the opening line-up. In the meantime, I am the curly girl with too much hair, front row.

LUDIVINE

writer

Who am I, in a nutshell? Daydreamer, traveler at heart, sees beauty in everything, concert addict, Germany lover. Music is my escape route and my best friend. Fun fact: I actually own a guitar since I was 4 but I don’t know how to play. I am also the girl that’s like “Hey you gotta listen to this!” and 2 hours later we’re still on YouTube… Oops!

LENA

writer

Meet the youngest of the crew ! Aspiring music journalist and communication student, I spend most of my free time surrounded by books and hot chocolate. Basically obsessed with british pop music and indie artists, if you’re looking for me you’ll probably find me singing my heart out at a concert. if i could turn back time, i’d definitely pop to the Panic! At The Disco show in Chicago in 2006.

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