MAGAZINE
N THE MOVE
APRIL 2019 - #23 FEATURING
Nightly, NorthsideBenji, Dave, The Regrettes + The Jonas Brothers: a comeback
ALEX HEPBURN INTRODUCES YOU TO «THINGS I’VE SEEN»
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In the current music industry where radios, TV and streaming platforms are the big players deciding to spread the word about an artist (or not), it becomes more and more difficult for new artists to get their music heard if they don’t meet some criteria. It takes time, it takes patience, it takes 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, or 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
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7 REWIND
ZOOM ON...
Dave & The Regrettes
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28 Our best albums of March
INTERVIEW
NIGHTLY,
a bright future for the alternative band
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COVER STORY
ALEX HEPBURN,
gifted and uncompromising
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SUMMARY ON THE RISE
NORTHSIDEBENJI, the next gem from Toronto
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COMEBACK
THE JONAS BROTHERS, bringing a generation back together
Are they worth seeing live?
Shawn Mendes, Alessia Cara, Alice Merton & James Bay
45 What’s Up in France? OTM Mag : Meeting the team 47
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REWIN EVERYTHING YOU MISSED AND NEED TO KNOW
music videoS OF THE MONTH
Friends? Road trip ? Good music? Here’s everything we love. We asked and Khalid delivered. Featuring the infamous van from his album cover, the young artist showcases his care-free style by driving down a country road with friends. Living life on the edge and the American dream all at once. A feel good music video, just what we needed to get ready for the summer.
KHALID FREE SPIRIT
Bts X halsey boy with luv It’s no secret that the Korean boys from BTS are smashing it outside of their home country. To introduce their new era and the debut of their brand new album, «Map Of The Soul : Persona», they tapped Halsey for a collaboration. «Boy With Luv» is filled with pop vibes and Halsey’s peculiar voice on the chorus, as well as two rap breaksby Suga and RM. Don’t miss the hype!
In Case You missed it avicii feat. aloe blacc sos
Tim Berling might be gone but his memory and legacy live on. A bunch of dedicated collaborators joined force to give life to some of the tracks the DJ was working on before his death last year. «SOS», the first track featuring Aloe Blacc was supposed to be a part of his upcoming album, «TIM». A way to dance once again with our favorite Swedish boy and remember him.
IT HAPPENED 10 YEARS AGO
otm playlist SUGARTHIEF - I’M NOT YOURS HEY VIOLET - BETTER BY MYSELF KHALID - FREE SPIRIT SIGRID - DON’T FEEL LIKE CRYING GRETA VAN FLEET - WATCHING OVER JAMES ARTHUR FEAT. MARTIN JENSEN - NOBODY
LADY GAGA JUST DANCE
10 years ago already, a young artist was getting ready to take the world by storm. Under the name of Lady Gaga, Stefani Germanotta released «Just Dance», the first single of a stellar career. Written by Gaga, Akon and RedOne in under 10 minutes, the single topped the charts for weeks and was then followed by «Poker Face», «Love Game» and then «Bad Romance». Hats off Mother Monster!
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NIGHTLY Nightly is a part of this new generation of bands that keeps you hooked from the very first song. Made up of cousins Jonathan Capeci and Joey Beretta along with Nick Sainato, Nightly have released a steady stream of music since their 2016 debut “Honest EP”. The emerging alt-pop band seems to be on its path to success, selling out venues around the US on their own after supporting artists like The Night Game, K.Flay and The Struts. Let’s sit for a moment for a nice chat with Jonathan and Nick.
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n The Move: Hey guys! We’re happy to have you here! For those who don’t know the band yet, could you tell us more about yourself and how you started making music together? Jonathan Capeci: We’re 2/3 of the band Nightly. My name is John, this is Nick here, Joey is somewhere else right now. Joey and I are cousins so we’ve been making music together our whole life. We met Nick in Nashville about 3 years ago, while Joey and I were looking for a drummer. We met Nick at church actually. As soon as we heard him play, we knew we wanted this guy in the band. We had to beg him for a few months and he finally gave in and joined us! Nick Sainato: It’s a lie! (laugh) I was just playing drums around town before meeting them and I was looking to get more involved. On The Move: Jonathan, you mentioned Joey and you being cousins. What are the pros and cons of working with your family? Jonathan Capeci: It’s really the only thing I know. It seems normal to me. We communicate on a level that is really familiar and we instantly know what we talk about. We have a specific vocabulary. That’s the pros. I don’t think there’s any cons. Because we’re family, even though we fight, we get over it very quickly and move on.
« We found out what we like and what we don’t like through experimentation » On The Move: Why did you choose the name “Nightly”? Jonathan Capeci: We were trying to think of band names, which is kind of hard, and one of the first songs we’ve ever wrote was called “The Night”. So we were trying to find a band name with night and then we thought about “night loves you” and we liked that phrase, so we shortened in Night.LY and then it became Nightly. The two available names were either Nightly or Mustard Nuggets so…(laugh) On The Move: You released a new EP called “The Sound Of Your Voice” which is the follow-up of “Honest”. Can you tell us more about this new
project? And what do you think is the biggest difference between those two? Jonathan Capeci: For “Honest”, everything was done in the bedroom and from there, we’ve been growing so we step out of the bedroom to a slightly bigger studio. So we were able to experiment and expend our sound a little bit more. I think it’s a journey of where we’re going to and I think this is where this new music is going. I think the biggest difference is maybe the sonics and finding out what we like and what we don’t like through experimentation. Thematically, it’s pretty similar. The way of writing is pretty much the same. We did a circle, we started here and then tried a lot of experiments then we discovered that the way we love to do things is kind of how we started. That’s what I am most excited about with this new music, that is a concise clear vision of us and our sound. Sometimes you have to take a journey to find out you had something special where you started. “The Sound Of Your Voice” has only 5 songs but there were 25 songs that nobody has heard, that was us experimenting. On The Move: Is there a song that you particularly feel connected to in this new EP? Jonathan Capeci: I really love “Holding On”. There was something special about that song from the second I wrote it. I had a really rough voice memo on my phone, Joey and I wrote. I knew that it could be something special and it took a lot of time to get it to where it is now, but I remember sending it to my manager, to Nick and saying that I think it’s something sick. I probably have written 100 songs so when you have moments like that, it feels special. “Miss You Like Hell” is another one and still probably my favorite song to play live. Nick Sainato: I think “S.T.A.Y” is my favorite song to play live. John gives me like a 3-second drum solo so …(laugh) On The Move: You all moved to Nashville. Do you feel like moving there affected your craft and the way you create music? Jonathan Capeci: Everybody is really talented in Nashville. Almost everyone I mean (laugh). It’s like the A-game. You can go to any bar and the band playing would probably be better than 90% of any band you’ve ever seen - and it’s just a country cover band. And those guys would play so professionally and it sounds crazy but there are some of the best musicians in the
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world there. It makes you step up your game. People are really accustomed to the music lifestyle and going to shows and you have to really stand out in order to make a mark there. There are shows everyday, every night. For that reason, everybody’s expectation is so much higher. It takes something truly great to make an impact. In a way, it’s like training with people that are better than you, so it makes you better. Nick Sainato: There are more like-minded, younger people. I’m from Ohio and before I moved there were not many people my age who wanted to make music. It just helps to push you, grow a community, build relationships, get advice and try to be better. On The Move: How different do you think the Nashville music scene is compared to the one in LA? Jonathan Capeci: The way I perceive it, I find that Nashville is super professional in their musicianship and technical abilities and skill levels. They have some of the best players I feel. It’s hard to explain but in their songwriting, like they have colleges where you can get a degree in songwriting. It’s weird in a way because it’s almost taught to you in a textbook way, like this is the chorus, this is how you write… they are very skilled but to me - and I mean it as both positive and negative - but LA has a lot less of technical playing skills. Or music knowledge of theory, and all the rules. People can go to school for jazz and know all these chords but people in LA don’t have that - as much as in Nashville - but they have more creativity because they don’t know the rules. I feel like when you know the rules you play with them and you don’t do weird things that might turn out cool. You should never put a guitar through a tape recorder and then play it back, it sounds crappy... stuff like that where people are more free. So, people in LA are more free and experimental. The marriage of the two worlds would be perfect. You want to be able to play well but also have a free spirit. It’s a massive generalization but it’s how I see the difference.
On The Move: Do you have artists that inspire you in terms of live shows? Jonathan Capeci: Personally, I love going to shows. Joey doesn’t (laugh). I remember early on, there was a band back in the day called Mutemath, I saw them in 2004 and they put on an insane show. There are a couple of bands that do a great job like twenty one pilots, they are insane. It’s nuts and so fun. Then two years ago, we played at a festival and the headliner was U2 and for me it was really amazing! Those are my favorite songs of all time. Nick Sainato: To me, it’s Coldplay. I’ve never seen them live but I saw the videos (laugh). Anytime they play somewhere, we are somewhere else and it’s never lined up. I am waiting for the day I’ll finally be able to see them!
« In Nashville it takes something truly great to make an impact » On The Move: Who are the artists you are listening to at the moment? Jonathan Capeci: I think in the van there has been a lot of Kacey Musgraves, Maggie Rogers, and a lot of Coldplay. Nick Sainato: Our tour manager runs the playlists in the van (laugh)
Nick Sainato: There are a lot of LA guys who are moving to Nashville and a tons of Nashville people who are moving to LA because they’re getting sick of where they’ve been for the past 10 years. Jonathan Capeci: I think you need that balance. You need somebody in the room that is not afraid to break the rules but you also need somebody that knows sometimes when a creative person write a 8-minute long song, how to be like “throw this garbage away”.
INTERVIEW BY PAM charbit PHOTOS by catie laffoon
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ZOOM ON... With the power of the internet and social media, aspiring musicians now have a powerful platform in their hands to create music and make themselves heard. And, the public, on the other side, is one click away from discovering an infinity of talented young artists... Each month, the team of On The Move chooses some of them to showcase and bet on their careers, bound to take off in the near future!
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DAVE
THE HITMAKER OF UK RAP
The United Kingdom’s rap scene is packed with talents yet to discover and its last prodigy to date is called Dave. If you follow committed artists like Sam Smith, you probably already know the young rapper who has a gift for storytelling and wordplay. Indeed, big names of the music industry have shared his hit “Black” on their social media. This successful song, which can be considered as an anthem for the black community, is part of Dave’s first studio album which was recently released. Known as Dave, David Orobosa Omoregie is a British rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer who comes from South London. Having started his career in the music industry in 2015, when he was only sixteen years old, Dave self-released two EPs: “Six Paths”, in 2016, and “Game Over”, in 2017. Now, he is taking it to the next level since he just released his debut studio album, entitled “Psychodrama”, on the 8th of March. Opening with “Psycho” and ending with “Drama”, the opus contains eleven truthful and honest tracks. In fact, the album was like a “year-long therapy session” for the young artist. At the ceremony of the Brit Awards 2018, he declared “I’ve been going through a lot recently”. One of his brothers, named Christopher, was actually incarcerated last year and this hard time inspired Dave to create a very meaningful project: “The concept of Psychodrama actually came from the type of therapy Chris has been having in prison. The whole idea for the album, everything’s based off him”. The last track of the album, “Drama”, between the rapper and his older brother whom he misses a lot. Not only does Dave share his own weaknesses in “Psychodrama”, he also examines the human condition and conveys his genuine thoughts about race, violence, family and being famous. For him, this is an integral part of his responsibility: “The way to make steps forward is, I guess for me as a musician, trying to educate the people I can touch on what I can”. In this way, thanks to powerful beats, deep pianos, some electronic sounds and meaningful lyrics, Dave’s music really is striking. Even in his second EP, “Game Over”, the rapper had already tackled polemical issues like political discrepancies in the UK or knife and gang culture in working-class England. However, this time, Dave’s lyrics are even more personal. Song after song and line after line, we get overwhelmed by the daring of his songwriting. In “Black”, the music video
of which was released in February, Dave explains what it feels like to be black in our society, expressing both pride and anger. He then evokes cultural appropriation (“Black is so confusin’, ‘cause the culture? They’re in love with it / They take our features when they want and have their fun with it”) as well as police violence and discrimination (“A kid dies, the blacker the killer, the sweeter the news / And if he’s white you give him a chance, he’s ill and confused / If he’s black he’s probably armed, you see him and shoot”). Then, in “Lesley”, which is sadly relating the story of one of Dave’s relatives, the artist paints a picture of a battered woman. With violins and crescendo effects, the track, which lasts for eleven minutes, leaves us speechless thanks to thought-provoking and powerful lines such as “All the signs were there / But Lesley made it seem a light affair / Said it wasn’t right to share” or “In that train full of people that you’re taking / How many Lesleys are running from their Jasons?”. With “Psychodrama”, Dave was willing to educate people on difficult topics and that’s what he did. If you like a British accent and committed music, he definitely is the man for the job!
Listen if you are a fan ofLogic and Eminem’s powerful lyrics, wordplay and thought-provoking rap, his colleagues Burna Boy and J Hus who are part of “Psychodrama”.
One song to listen to“Drama”, one of the deepest tracks of Dave’s album. From the loss of his father and the absence of his older brother to violence in South London, “Drama” is like an overview of the whole project.
WordS by COLINE GAILLARD PHOTO: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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THE REGRETTES Fierce, feminist and unapologetic At such a young age, this Los Angeles-based band brings back hope to our world with acute lyrics addressing important issues of our society, such as sexual harassment or self-love and leads the way for the new generation to speak up and express their emotions and opinions in an unapologetic manner. Lydia Night (songwriter, vocals, and guitar) and Genessa Gariano (guitar) met in music school before forming the band in 2015 with two other friends who then left and were replaced by now band members Drew Thomsen (drums) and Brooke Dickson (bass). Frontwoman Lydia Night was meant to be an artist, she started to learn guitar when she was six and soon started to write her own songs as well. At home she was encouraged by her parents and was influenced by great artists like Elvis, Buddy Holly, The Rolling Stones, The Ramones,…By the age of 12, she enrolled in the Los Angeles’ School of Rock program where she met her bandmate Genessa. The same year the band was created, The Regrettes released an EP called “Hey!” which caught the attention of a Warner Brothers representative and it eventually lead to signing the band. Since then, they opened for renowned artists such as Kate Nash and Bleached and performed at festivals like South by Southwest, enabling them to build their own audience and gain recognition around the United States. They also opened for twenty one pilots on their “bandito tour” in Europe and proved that they know how to put on a show! The band moves beyond the boundaries between pop, surf rock, alternative rock and punk. They proudly write intrepid songs in which they show an attitude and a pop aesthetic reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s acts such as The Temptations or Buddy Holly. There’s a pure Riot grrrls vibe, we can tell! Early 2017, The Regrettes released their first studio album “Feel Your Feelings Fool!” where you can find empowering songs based on real experiences, whether it’d be experiencing falling in love and heartbreak, self-love,
personal insecurities or sexism as in “Seashore”: “You’re talkin’ to me like a child / but I’m not a helpless baby / not waitin’ on you to come save me / I’m like nobody else, so you can just go fuck yourself”. Pursuing the rebel spirit of the Riot grrrls, the Regrettes refuse to stay silent on the many issues that women face in today’s society. The song “Poor Boy” was inspired by the congressional hearings of Brett Kavanaugh (nominated by President Trump for the United States Supreme Court), where it was examined whether he had sexually assaulted Christine Blasey Ford: ““Poor Boy” was written at a time of being completely fed up and disgusted by all of the awful humans who think it’s okay to assault and rape others. This one is for Kavanaugh and all the other nasty men who think that this behavior is okay in any capacity. We won’t accept it and we will continue to fight against it.” The Regrettes is not just a band of young angry girls (and guy), they are one of the most politically-aware bands, which we need, using their creative platform to spread information and publically point out society’s issues to give courage to the next generation.
Listen if you are a fan ofPop-punk from the 60s with a message behind every song
One song to listen to«Living Human Girl» .
WordS by LUDIVINE DESUMEUR PHOTO: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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ALEX HEPBURN Her raspy voice is still in every mind. In 2013, Alex Hepburn hit a thundering success in Europe with her track «Under», mingling a heady melody to though lyrics. Her debut album «Together Alone» followed, strengthening that visibility. Then, some personal hardship imposed silence on her. We had to wait until 2018 and the EP « If You Stay » to hear her penetrating soul again. Her genuineness is intact and her values, stronger than ever. In her new record «Things I’ve Seen», she speaks open-heartedly -as if it could help her heal from her woundsand wishes to cut out all the most superficial aspects of the industry. Let’s talk with a gifted and uncompromising artist.
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n The Move: Hi Alex! Thanks for having us. You’ve been relatively quiet since the huge success of «Under» and your following debut album «Together Alone» in 2013. Why 2019 seems like the right time for you to come back at the front of the scene? Alex Hepburn: It is not specifically a right time. I’ve probably exhausted the recording budget if I’m honest (laugh) I just think it was too late anyway. It was too late because I should have come back a long time ago but I had personal reasons why I couldn’t. Because I stopped music for two years. But I feel like «If You Stay» was the right song to come back with.
« You should never be ashamed of life and of who you are » On The Move: Indeed, you came back with «If You Stay» last year. What’s the story behind the song? Alex Hepburn: «If You Stay» has a sample of the WuTang Clan in it. It was me like paying an homage, you know! To my heritage of hip-hop and soul. I started music on hip-hop beats and everything I listen to is trap, hip-hop and soul, no rock, no pop... I wanted to come back to why I started doing music in the first place. I didn’t want to let people drag me into pure pop, stuff that I don’t listen to and that I don’t like. So, I really fought to have my sound. Well, actually, I didn’t really fight because this song was good. I was given freedom. I think when you prove yourself on the first record, for the second one, you can kind of go your true way. So, this «If You Stay» song, it might sound happy and poppy but nothing I write is really happy. I’m basically saying... It’s about a booty call, if I’ve got to be honest, and women and men can start that and the woman can say : «Oh it’s okay, it’s just sexual, it’s fine» but we always end up falling for the same bullshit. Even thought we were like, we’re so sure we’re never gonna feel anything, we just want the company or whatever. There is this expression that says: «Women give sex for love and men give love for sex». That’s kind of what the song is about. Basically, in the chorus I say, «I don’t want you to stay with me, If you stay, you’ll leave, You’re only gonna leave me» and it’s like, everything you said is bullshit but I’m still falling for it because I need this love. That’s what the song is about and I think any age women can relate to it.
On The Move: Overall, your songs are always very personal. Do you feel like there is a moment where you need to draw a line? Is there any theme or emotion that you couldn’t express in a song? That coud be taboo or too intimate? Alex Hepburn: No, I have no reservation whatsoever. Telling people about stuff I go through or whatever. You should never be ashamed of life and of who you are! Never. Nothing is too intimate. We need people like this. Because if everyone just sits there and say «Ok, it’s great, we should party to forget this and that!» Then, what do we do with people who suffer, people who feel alone? What do we do with them? 90% of the people on this planet are darker than joyous. Because all of us struggle in a way. So, no, I think it’s good and important to have people who are not afraid to express themselves, no matter what. On The Move: Can you tell what are the main differences between your new record «Things I’ve Seen» and the previous one? Alex Hepburn: It depends on the songs but I feel like what I tried to do is to make them more about the vocals and less about the production. Unless you have a very good producer, I think it’s like a dick fight between who has the biggest sound. And then, a lot of the time, you lose your voice in it. So, this time, I really wanted my voice to be the strongest element. Kind of how Adele did where her voice was like «boom!», on top of the mix. I can imagine she had the same problem but she just found the magical people because I mean, songs are important . If you need to throw everything at them from the kitchen sink, they’re not that good. You just need something which is like a craddle to the song, who holds it, supports it but not overpowers it. So, we did that! The sound is much more soul, hip-hop. It’s an homage to Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Etta James, Alicia Keys... I tried obviously, this was my vision from the beggining. I tried to make the kind of music that pushed me to become a singer in the first place. On The Move: Your voice is your best weapon, a beautiful tool. Do you work on it a lot? Alex Hepburn: I don’t work on my voice. I should but I don’t. Now, I do warm-ups before I perform but I kinda don’t know because I didn’t do any school for music. And I kind of guess or I go on Youtube and I type «vocal warm-ups» and I pick something and I just go from there. But besides from that, no. Maybe I should. I think it would probably be a good idea (laugh)
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On The Move: We know you write a lot. In which conditions do you prefer writing? Alex Hepburn: I just need to be in the studio. I think that’s it. But «If You Stay», I wrote it in my bedroom when I was singing in bed with no music. I just literally started singing the melody and my ex was sitting next to me. And he was like: «Oh, that’s fucking good that hook» so I took it to a friend of mine and said: «Look, I’ve got this and I wanna do a sample of this» and that was it. It depends I guess. There is no rule for me. On The Move: What triggers creation? Alex Hepburn: Well, I don’t write about stuff that I don’t know about because then, I’d be full of shit and I think some people are good at acting and talking about other people’s lives but I’m not. A lot of singers - I don’t know who particularly, whatever -, they get writers that send them in tracks and then, they can act and sing something. If it’s just full blown party music, there is nothing much to it, right? No one really cares about the lyrics. This is just dancing, I guess. On The Move: Lyrically, there is a song that caught our attention: « Good Woman ». Alex Hepburn: Yes, it’s my favourite song on the album! That’s the first one I wanted to put out. Because I thought it had the same spirit that «Under» with more soul. But still, the same vocals, the same darkness. On The Move: You sing those words in it: «In this place, in this world, in your eyes, it’s hard to be a good woman». Who is this «good woman» to you? Alex Hepburn: I mean, I’m never good enough in anyone’s eyes. Not independant enough, not a good enough mother, not this, not that. It seems easier to be an asshole than to be a good person. And that’s what the song is about. It’s about relationship and how women... It’s not femen, or feminist or anything like that. I work with a lot of men and I love male company. But I feel like it’s typical: we’ve been working on equality which it’s great now because you think you’re equal but really you’re not. You don’t get the same pay, and there is this crap about you don’t employ women because they get 9 months off with the pregnancy... Cardi B is a beautiful example where she proved people that wasn’t true actually, she was able to have her baby and then still work till the last minute, and come back quickly and be like «fuck you!». I think that’s so important because we can do everything! Now, we work, we’re mothers, we are
this, we are that and marriage is going down the toilets so, ultimately, we get lumbered with more shit and I just think it is hard to be a good woman. It’s just that, yeah. It’s a beautiful song, I love it, it’s my baby! On The Move: Is there any other track that feel special to you? Alex Hepburn : I love «Solid Gold» but it’s probably the one I love to sing the most. I think it’s quite fun! «The Things I’ve Seen» is probably something really dark for me. The one that means a lot to me is the James Arthur song «Burn Me Alive» because it’s a subject he helped me write about. It’s about my little sister and her suicide and basically, the people left behind and the feeling that you will never be able to get over it. Because you can’t... I can’t even express how it feels. But he helped me be able to do it and he insisted on not being worried about talking about it. I just didn’t know if I could talk about it and not cry... I’m still on the edge everytime but yeah, it’s a really important song.
« what I tried to do is to make tHIS ALBUM more about the vocals And less about the production » On The Move : «Under» met a great success in France, in Germany, in Belgium, in Switzerland, in Poland, in Greece… but not so much in the UK, where you come from. Is it important to you to kind of conquer the British public with this new record? Alex Hepburn : Yeah, that’s why I wrote it. I am signed in France and there is always a problem with the French and the UK getting along, as usual. I find it really important you know, it is written all in England, produced in England, everything is English so hopefully... But it is also political stuff. On The Move : You’ve got such a special link with France? You speak French very well... What’s your story with the country? Alex Hepburn : Well, when I did «Under», I lived here for a while, and I have an ex whose French so, that’s how I learned it. But I mean both my parents are from Scotland, and I’m born in London. That’s pretty much it. But I love speaking it. It took me a very long time
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to learn it. It’s a beautiful language but it’s very very difficult. [Then, she says it all in French] My writing is bullshit! (laugh) The only thing I really struggle with is spelling, I’m like «Oh my god, what the?» and I get corrected all the time. But I was told a lot of French are not that good at spelling (laugh). On The Move : Do you already think about how you will transpose that album to the stage? Alex Hepburn : Yeah, I already have that, I want a DJ scratching hip-hop stuff onto the stage, just something fresh and simple, and two backing vocalists. No big band, it’s too complicated. I really want something stripped, fresh, two vocalists and the DJ. Super cool, a little family!
« What’s the most important? Artistic creativity and integrity »
Alex Hepburn’s debut album «Together Alone» (2013)
On The Move: Which advice would you give to a young artist that would like to make music as a living? Alex Hepburn: To not sign with a major. To go indie. I think it’s really important to be careful with people surrounding you, with managers. I think you’d better wait and be sure your producer is on point. You can also trigger your own buzz. You’d better take a PR company and do your own buzz. All you want is for people to find you and your music. If you can do that independently, do it. Because with streaming and all the internet tools, you can do that easily and make more money. You have freedom. What’s the most important? It’s artistic creativity and integrity, you know. But, it’s my vision!
Alex Hepburn’s returning EP «If You Stay» (2018)
On The Move: Who are you listening to at the moment? Alex Hepburn: I listen to a lot of hip-hop at the moment, I’m fond of hispanic stuff such as Arcángel. What else did I buy recently? I love the collaboration between Travis Scott and Tory Lanez. I really love Tory Lanez!
INTERVIEW BY CORALINE BLAISE PHOTOS BY NAZYM HERMOUCHE
Alex Hepburn’s new album «Things I’ve Seen» (2019)
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OUR BEST ALBUMS
OF MARCH Every week of the year, a bunch of records are thrown into the world, portraying the singular influences, universes and sounds 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 dove into what matters most : music! Whatever genre suits you, you’ll find something new to discover... Here are our favourite albums released in March.
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You would think that after more than 10 years in the music industry, you would become so comfortable that you would just reuse the same recipe over and over again. Well, good thing is that it’s not the case for The Maine! The American pop-rock band has put out its most ambitious album called “You Are Ok”. Frontman John O’Callaghan shows his vocals and songwriting skills, making you feel empowered and more importantly letting you know that you’re not alone in your struggles. The opening track “Slip The Noose” is catchy and will please fans of the first hour, “Numb Without You” sets the stage on fire, while tracks like “One Sunset” brings infectious beats for a bit of modernity. This new record remains cohesive and delivers a powerful message: you are okay and if you aren’t yet, you will be soon.
Top 3 tracks: Numb Without You, Heaven We’re Already Here, Tears Won’t Cry
The Maine – You Are Ok
Here it finally is! After breaking through all over the world with his timeless hit “Waves” released two years ago, the Australian singer-songwriter, that we introduced you to in our 4th issue in May 2017, has now released his debut studio album called “A Place We Knew”! We usually don’t like to compare artists but between us, if Ed Sheeran and Vance Joy had a son, it would be Dean Lewis. The record transpires honesty and heartfelt lyrics from beginning to end, beautifully emphasized by romantic piano-voice ballads (“Half A Man”) or even built-up euphoric folk vibes (“Stay Awake”). Throughout the 12 tracks you want to love, you want to laugh, you want to dance, and you even want to cry. And that’s what music’s supposed to make you feel, right?
Top 3 tracks: 7 Minutes, A Place We Knew, Be Alright
Dean Lewis – A place we knew
For almost 15 years, Foals have been establishing themselves as one of the most popular indie bands of the Anglo-Saxon scene. 4 years after “What Went Down”, which had won Best Album at the NME Awards, and with one band member less, the band is back with their 5th album “Part 1 Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost”. The second part is set to be released in fall but first let’s focus on this part. It definitely feels like a fresh start, as the quartet introduces us to new sonorities such as heady electronic layers as in the intro track “Moonlight” or even pure 80s synth vibes as in the dancing “In Degrees”. The drum-fused track “White Onions” is invigorating while “Syrups” slows everything a bit down thanks to the pretty languid electronic bass. The record is rich, neatly produced and the rhythms are ever changing, keeping us coming back for more. We can’t wait for round 2!
Top 3 tracks: White Onions, On The Luna, Cafe d’Athens
Foals – Part 1 Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost You may recognize him from the comedy Pitch Perfect or from different Broadway musicals but Ben Platt is now starting a singing career! Before releasing his debut album, the American artist unveiled four singles: “Bad Habit”, “Ease My Mind”, “Grow As We Go” and “Temporary Love”. We then discovered a really mature and sincere pop music. With strong instrumentals including jazzy melodies on some tracks and powerful backing vocals, Ben offers us a true masterpiece and deep personal lyrics. “Run Away” then pays tribute to his parents’ relationship whereas “Hurt Me Once” is about the end of a love story when you want to be honest without hurting the loved one. Some tracks are obviously more lighthearted such as “Share Your Address” where Ben happens to be way too involved in a burgeoning romance. One thing is for sure: Ben Platt delivers an impressive vocal performance in every single song. We bet you will fall in love with “Sing To Me Instead”! Top 3 tracks: Grow As We Go, New, Older
Ben Platt – Sing To Me Instead
Last summer, the 17 year-old artist released the first single off her new album: “you should see me in a crown”, an empowering track. With a music video featuring spiders, she had explained that “when we all fall asleep where do we go?” would be related to fear. She kept surprising us with the ballad “when the party’s over”, “wish you were gay” and teased the album’s visual with “bury a friend”. The tracklist does contain some delicate melodies such as “8”, a ukulele song where Billie’s voice is manipulated to sound childish. However, most of the tracks are brass-heavy and include more electronic sounds such as “bad guy” which came with an unexpected music video. Billie’s new body of work is also characterized by deep dark lyrics, ending in a dramatic three-song series. “listen before I go” tackles suicide and is followed by “I love you” in which we can hear beautiful harmonies performed by Billie and her brother Finneas who co-wrote and produced the entire album. Finally, “goodbye” picks a line of every song. Once again, Billie Eilish shakes up the pop music industry with this intriguing masterpiece that has already conquered the world! Top 3 tracks: i love you, bad guy, when the party’s over
Billie Eilish – when we all fall asleep where do we go?
On March 8th was International Women’s Day and to celebrate, Maren Morris released her second studio album: “Girl”. The Grammy Award winner is also about to release a documentary on her journey as an artist with YouTube. Mostly influenced by big names of the country music industry, the American singer-songwriter really enjoys pop music too. This is probably why Maren Morris’ music is so special: “I think last year really opened my eyes to the reach that my version of country music could have”. Although a couple of her new songs like “All My Favorite People” ft. Brothers Osborne or “To Hell & Back” sound like classic country hits, Maren Morris doesn’t really put a label on the kind of music she creates. She even described the lead single “Girl” saying: “I feel like it became its own genre”. With a lot of sensuality in “RSVP” and “Make Out With Me”, honesty in “Girl” and an enthusiasm that can remind us of Meghan Trainor in “The Feels”, all that Maren Morris wanted was making a record which would make people feel something good and she did it!
Top 3 tracks: Girl, RSVP, Common feat. Brandi Carlile
MAREN MORRIS - GIRL
On the 1st of March, Tom Walker’s debut album “What a Time to Be Alive” was released and what an amazing way to start the month! In 2017, Tom Walker released an EP called “Blessings”, which was followed by two singles: “Heartland” and “Leave a Light On”. This last song was his most successful one: “It’s so moving that “Leave a Light On” has connected with millions of people worldwide”. Now this hit as well as “Blessings” are on his album, alongside eleven other tunes mixing pop, folk, electro and rock sounds, two of which are featuring the young Zara Larsson and Rudimental. If you love a good Imagine Dragons vibe, there’s no doubt you’ll love this opus full of beautiful lyrics and powerful choruses. From “Cry Out” and its gospel-influenced instrumental and the delicacy of “Fade Away” and its violins, Tom Walker’s music really is full of strong emotions.
Top 3 tracks: Leave a Light On, Dominoes, Fade Away
TOM WALKER - WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE If you’re craving some rock’n’roll attitude and 80’s vintage sound, Wallows might be exactly what you’re missing. While their debut work «Sping EP» captured their eclecticism, their new release «Nothing Happens» is what truly showcases the talent of the Californian trio: heartbreak, teenage memories and summertime fling, the album embodies everything that make this band great and manages to capture this vintage feeling, enhanced with guitars strings and dynamic piano touch. On «Are You Bored Yet?» Dylan Minette and his bandmates explore a much more dreamy sound compared to the band’s usual alt-rock stomping grounds. Lying underneath those soft tunes and tracks, there’s also a more serious tone with songs like «I’m Full» or «Do Not Wait». Whatever you’re looking for, there’s a chance that Wallows has something to offer!
Top 3 tracks: Scrawny, Are You Bored Yet?, Ice Cold Pool
Wallows - Nothing Happens 31
ON THE RISE
NorthsideBenji C
anada has been a synonyme of musical talent for the past couple of years. Drake, The Weeknd, Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber, Alessia Cara, Alanis Morissette… they all come from the same country! As you might know already, at On The Move, we are focus on finding the next artist who is gonna rock your world and we might have found one. Northsidebenji comes from an area outside of Toronto where he has been interested in music from a very young age. «I couldn’t go to sleep without listening to the radio. My brother did music and I started taking it seriously after I got into trouble in high school. I had time to work on my music.» Said the young rapper in our recent interview. When it comes to the Toronto scene, it looks like there are some disparities and rivalries between the areas and suburbs causing some difficulties for artists to really showcase their talent. However the growing scene is really promising: «The Toronto scene is building. It’s not anywhere near the States but it’s building. A lot of people from different areas are doing good shit with the music. Other than Drake and The Weekend there are a lot of underground artists that are making moves». Making moves is what Northsidebenji do! He might be relatively new in the game but still can deliver a strong and coherent body of work. His debut album «Caviar Dreams» is a sneak peek of what the rapper can do. When asked about the name, he said that it’s something quite metaphoric: «Everything that we are doing right now is to get somewhere higher. It’s like the caviar, it is expensive, and luxurious with high quality. That’s what we strive to be.»
Northsidebenji is using his past to shape his future which makes the project even more confessional and sincere. «The influences of the album is my life. All the stuff that I went through as a kid and what led me to this music stuff is what inspire me». If he only has just one collaboration on his album, the rapper is definitely open to work with artists and learn from them : «I usually start searching for beats and if the beat can hit me before I got the lyrics, then I know that’s the one! I usually write my stuff but I recently started doing features and collaborations. I try to work on my craft.» As he’s just at the beginning of his career and still learning the pros and cons of the music industry, Northsidebenji admits that his dream collaborations would be Future, Young Thug, Kehlani or Ella Mai. Only crazy good artists in this list, and we cannot wait to see this happening in the future. If you’re wondering what the young artist is listening to at the moment, go check out NoCap, Rylo Rodriguez, and Houndini after diving into Northsidebenji’s own world. If you’ve been reading us for a while, you know that we never miss: when we say an artist is gonna blow up, they often are and we are telling you right now: there will come a day where Northsidebenji will be everywhere, and this day might come sooner than you think. You’ve been warned!
WORDS BY PAM CHARBIT PHOTOS: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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THE STORY OF A COMEBACK :
THE JONAS
BROTHERS 35
BRINGING A GENERATION BACK TOGETHER Don’t go looking for your neighbor Peter’s time machine because it’s finally true: the JoBros are back in action. And if you don’t think that’s a perfect excuse to bring back flip-phones and baggy jeans for a day, you’re probably lying to yourself.
and so honesty within what we do as a group was really important. I came to the table with the guys just before we were prepping to leave for tour, and I shared my heart with them, my feelings. It was the first time we really had that real conversation. It was a few days of working through it.»
Way before Zayn left One Direction, there was another sort of heartbreak. You’re 13, jamming along to «S.O.S», crying to «When You Look Me In The Eyes», wishing that a boy could love you just as much as Nick Jonas did back in the day, when on October 2013 the Jonas Brothers called it quits, just days before canceling their tour. Back in the days the news came as a shock to the fans for several reasons : first, the band was set to go on a 19-date tour across the United States, second they were rumors about a fifth studio album titled «V», then they were one of the most popular music acts since their debut in 2005 and finally they ARE brothers. How can you split up a family that is that popular you ask? Well, turned out it was Nick Jonas fault all along.
So what’s next? Well, music, but another kind of music. Closing a chapter, Nick was the first to open a new one right after the break as he started working on his second solo album, «Nick Jonas», introduced by the single «Jealous» that would become his first top ten hit as a solo artist on the Billboard Hot 100.
The youngest of the trio originally initiated the conversation about splitting up saying at times, «It feels like we’re best suited to do our own individual things, all things we’re passionate about, and choose to be brothers first.». Kevin then added, «I think it was time, and for us it took some time getting there, but we feel like it’s time that the Jonas Brothers come to an end». He continued, «We’re family first, and that’s always been our main priority,
In 2016, the youngest of the band released his next album «Last Year Was Complicated». Unfortunately, the album didn’t generate the same success as the previous one. But the disappointment didn’t last as Nick went on to co-headline a tour with Demi Lovato, served as Bruno Mars’ opening act in 2018 and landed a Golden Globe nomination with his song «Home» for the movie Ferdinand. A soaring music career, as well as an acting one as Nick made his way onto the big screen, starring alongside big names such as Dwayne «The Rock» Johnson and Jack Black in Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle. A nice transition from teen idol to Hollywood’s hottest male. But then, it was time for another brother to go down the solo route. While some were expecting Joe to be the first one to release an individual album after the split, he
actually found success in 2015 with his brand new band DNCE. With «Cake By The Ocean», the quatuor rose to fame and embarked on The Greatest Tour Ever Tour after the release of their debut album.
In the same way Nick was the one to initiate the talk, he was also the one to address the chance of a come-back. Surprisingly enough, Joe took some time to make up his mind about the situation.
In 2016, they serve as the band in the musical event Grease: Live, Joe taking on the infamous role of Johnny Casino. The start of a TV career as the singer also served as a coach on the US Version of The Voice.
Coming back after five years isn’t easy. Pop music evolved. Fan grew up. Other artists took over. But still. They came back.
As for the oldest brother, Kevin was ready to go behind the scene for a while. «I’m going to be going back my first passion, which was the business side of things,» he said. «I’m in the first round of funding for an entertainment fund that will position brands to target millennials.». Of course, along the way, Kevin married his long time girlfriend in 2009, and became a father, welcoming Alena Rose in 2014 and Valentina in October 2016. Behind the scene, Kevin dove into the business world. In 2014, he founded JonasWerner, a real-estate development and construction company and is one of the CEOs of The Blu Market Company, a social media influencer marker company. Using the lessons he learned from the band, Kevin said: «Being in a band is very much like a startup. You start in a garage. You hope to get interest from investors, like a major record label. Once you get an investor on your side, you work your ass off building the product, like recording an album. And then you need to sell it, hope the audience likes it and ultimately buys it. It’s pretty much the same thing as a start up.»
«Sucker» benefits from a moody trap and a pop-rock energy filled with Nick’s falsetto in the chorus. There’s something insanely catchy in this song that doesn’t immediately sounds like the Jonas Brothers. Yet, it serves as a «cool» introduction to their upcoming album, «Happiness Begins» which will be out on June 7th. A hidden message? Maybe! They took the time they needed to refill their batteries and came back stronger than ever. For anyone who wasn’t a fan before, you sure need to give them a listen because they matured and so did their sound! In a world where The Backstreet Boys are touring again, it seems that nostalgia is hitting right in the feels lately. Maybe it’s for the better! As for us, we’re still eagerly waiting for a N’SYNC Reunion. Yes, we’re looking at you Justin Timberlake.
WordS by LénAELLE FONTAINE PHOTOs: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
And after five years of complete silence, whispers of a reunion began in 2018 when the JoBros’ social media accounts had been slowly reactivated. But once again, Nick was quick to shoot down the rumors : «We hung out for a weekend all together then I guess our Instagram is restarted or reopened. But I can tell you there’s no reunion planned, but I can never say never. You never know what’s going to happen.». Something that implied the three bros were cooking something up for a long time. But really, they just needed time. A lot of time if you ask us. But in the end, it was all worth it and Nick, Kevin and Joe managed to brush many of their past issues under the rug. A way to keep their family close. «A situation like this makes you wake up and appreciate the ones around you. Just spending time together can be the best coping mechanism.», admitted Joe and Kevin.
The Jonas Brothers’ new album «Happiness Begins» wil be released on June 7, 2019.
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ARE THEY WORTH
SEEING LIVE ?
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SHAWN MENDES T
wo years after the Illuminate Tour, which had already led him to Paris, and one year after the release of his eponymous album, which was very well received by critics, Shawn Mendes is back for a new world tour. The young Canadian was recently in the French capital to perform at the AccorHotels Arena, where he already was two years ago. To open this first French date, Shawn Mendes opted for two very effective tracks, starting with «Lost In Japan», a song with funky sounds. The cheers of the delirious crowd turned the arena into a dancefloor. With his guitar still under his arm, he carried on with «There’s Nothing Holding Me Back». Despite not feeling too well in the last few days, the young singer offered us an impressive vocal performance. Shawn then continued with two other singles: «Nervous», a lively track with a falsetto chorus and «Stitches», which remains one of the greatest hits of his first album «Handwritten». Keeping up with the same atmosphere, the young Canadian sat behind his piano to perform an extract of his collaboration with Camila Cabello, «I Know What You Did Last Summer». We then discovered a brand new version of this song but also Shawn’s skills as a pianist. Time for the emotional sequence of the night with «Mutual». The track is rather energetic but the fans made this moment particularly touching. Indeed, thousands of signs rose during the song, on which we could read the following message: «Our Love Is Mutual».
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY Déborah gaillard
Live from Paris, France Then went «Bad Reputation» and its meaningful lyrics and «Never Be Alone» on the piano: a moment eagerly awaited by his fans. During his previous tour, we had already seen the emotion generated by this track. The AccorHotels Arena turned into a cocoon for a moment and we witnessed a moment of intimacy between Shawn and his audience, which was in charge of singing the last notes. Then, on a second stage placed at the back of the pit and topped with a gigantic rose, the artist appeared to perform four ballads. After «Life Of The Party», the main track of his first opus, and «When You’re Ready», Shawn chose to sing «Like To Be You». Usually performed with the talented Julia Michaels, we discovered an equally effective solo version. Before returning to the main stage, he performed «Ruin», from his second album «Illuminate», offering us beautiful notes and an impressive guitar solo. The third and last part of the concert opened with «Treat You Better» and «Particular Taste» with Shawn leaving his comfort zone, dancing on stage without his guitar on his back. He then performed «Where Were You In The Morning» and «Fallin’ All In You», once again demonstrating his head voice skills. Time for «Youth», a powerful song that Shawn Mendes recorded with Khalid. Inspired by the attacks that have occurred in recent years, the track aims to bring us together. Shawn wanted to send us a message before asking the audience to sing the chorus as loudly as possible.
«I’m talking about the word that describes the feeling, the feeling of happiness and the feeling of freedom [...] every single person in this arena, no matter how old or how young you are, you are the people that have the power to change the world.» Shawn then performed «Why» sitting in front of the stage before singing «Mercy». Then came the moment of a cover and not the least. After singing Ed Sheeran’s «Castle On The Hill» during the Illuminate Tour, he now chose to cover Coldplay’s «Fix You». A track that suits him perfectly and that captivated the AccorHotels Arena. To close this Parisian show, Shawn offered us «In My Blood», the successful debut single of his eponymous album, and a rain of confetti took the audience by surprise. After taking a moment to greet the first rows of the pit, he went back on stage the concert came to its end. This first French date of the «Shawn Mendes The Tour» was a unanimous success. A setlist of twenty songs and a brilliant scenography. Everyone received a luminous bracelet at the entrance, which allowed them to illuminate the arena. The young Canadian spoiled his French audience and there is no doubt that he will do the same for every single show of the tour!
« every single person in this arena, no matter how old or how young you are, you are the people that have the power to change the world »
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ALESSIA CARA T
o support him on this gigantic tour, Shawn Mendes chose Alessia Cara, making «Shawn Mendes The Tour» a 100% Canadian show! Alessia Cara posted her first cover on YouTube when she was only 13. Then, she really gained popularity in 2015 thanks to «Here» and its relatable lyrics, which became a real anthem for her introvert fans: «it’s a song for all the antisocial, awkward, and miserable party-goers of the world». Now, she’s promoting her second album, called «The Pains Of Growing», which was released in November. As she took her first steps in the spotlight with «Here», Alessia Cara then opens the ball with it and the Parisian audience quickly joins her. Then, the young singersongwriter performs ten other songs, mixing moments full of strong emotions and more rhythmic choruses. After «Growing Pains», the single that introduced the whole concept of «The Pains Of Growing» and her now traditional large suit, Alessia Cara performs «7 Days», a song full of derision about our society and what God must think of it: «I was raised in a Catholic household and I wanted to have a conversion with whoever is up there». Following the politically charged «7 Days», the Canadian artist brings us back to our childhood days with «How Far I’ll Go» from the original soundtrack of the Disney movie Moana, a track that perfectly matches Alessia’s soft voice as well as the thousand other voices in the arena. Indeed, the song gives rise to a beautiful moment of complicity between the singer and the audience who sings their hearts out during the choruses.
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY COLINE gaillard
Live from Paris, France During «Out Of Love» and «A Little More», which are both soft songs from Alessia’s latest opus, the audience then illuminates the room, making both performances magical. A moment which is even more moving for the artist since, a few weeks before the show, she had announced that «Out Of Love» was her brand new single. Indeed, the music video was recently released. After this beautiful moment, everybody knows what’s next when the young Canadian says: «this is kind of the song that changed my life» and makes a little speech about self-love. Of course, this is the unifying «Scars To Your Beautiful», a hit that especially led to one of the most beautiful performances of Alessia Cara, at The 2017 MTV VMAs. Now, it is the Parisian audience’s turn to chant the powerful message of the song! Next, she sings «Trust My Lonely», the second single from «The Pains Of Growing», an optimistic track with a simple message: if someone doesn’t make you happy or put you down, you don’t need that person in your life. Trust your instincts. Sometimes, we are just better on our own. Just like in the music video, Alessia Cara is very dynamic and smiley while singing the song and we love it! Finally, the singer ends her set by transforming the AccorHotels Arena into a real dance floor thanks to «Stay», her irresistible collaboration with Zedd. This worldwide hit, which was released in 2017, is part of the original soundtrack of Everything Everything and allowed the artist to gain even more popularity. The electronic sounds and the frantic beats of «Stay» win the audience’s hearts and perfectly set the mood for Shawn Mendes’ show.
ALICE MERTON W
e’ve got to be honest on this one... That night, in Paris, we really went to Alice Merton’s show with no specific expectations. We just made our way to the Cigale venue with the thought that the «No Roots» performer must have had some other bangers on her setlist that were worth hearing live. And well, the show was actually much more than that! The singer and songwriter hits the stage with a striking energy, rocking a cap the color of her «Mint» debut album that was released early this year. She opens the set - like her record - with the cheerful «Learn To Live». Its positive motto just sets the mood for the night: «I wanna learn how to live without the consequences». A bit darker, the following «Speak Your Mind» diffuses a sultry atmosphere in the room, before Alice Merton introduces her whole band to an already charmed audience. The very recognizable first notes of «Trouble in Paradise» fill the room and bodies are already adjusting to the rhythm. What is so enjoyable with Alice Merton’s music is that, even when you don’t know her tracks that well, all you need is a few seconds to get caught in their energy and to even remember some crucial lines. «Paris, we’re having a wonderful time, you’re as cool as you were last time»: we’re not even half way there and the artist seems to truly enjoy her time with the French public. After the groovy «Keeps Me Awake», she even invites the crowd to join her on a jumping trip. With its electric chords, «Make You Mine» is the perfect occasion to lose yourself to the music and to test the resistance of the floor under your feet. And Paris really did shake up that room!
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY CORALINE BLAISE
Live from Paris, France Taken from her 2017 «No Roots» EP, «Jealousy» (almost) brings a time of rest during that storm. The unstoppable performer then introduces the bittersweet «Honeymoon Heartbreak» saying «I’ve been through so much for the past 3 years, and over love, I chose my career» causing some cheerful responses from the crowd. Still going down that personal path, she carries on with «2 Kids» : the touching story of how she met her best friend and manager, and how they support each other unconditionally ever since. After this sweet and vulnerable moment, «Hit The Ground Running» goes back to an empowering message and melody. With its distorted voice, «Funny Business» is then surrounded by a playful spirit. «It makes me happy to see you dancing» states Alice Merton at the end of the heady track. «Homesick» is another take on a theme that is also central in her hit-single «No Roots»: her ever-travelling life. After the powerful «Lash Out» - channelling a feeling of revolution -, it’s time for people to gather their skills and sing their hearts out on «No Roots». The multigenerational audience there seems to have a deep affection for the track and its author - which isn’t afraid to eventually show how grateful she is for it all: «You guys are amazing, we’ve got to come more often. It means the world to us!» To finish on a carefree note, Alice Merton ends the night with «I Don’t Hold a Grudge» and the lighthearted «Why So Serious». «My home is not in one place but it’s with people.» Well, for an hour or so, Alice Merton’s brilliant personality and undeniable talent really did radiate a sense of home between these walls. Be sure you’ll always feel welcomed to one of her shows... as long as you dance to it!
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JAMES BAY Y
ou’re probably no stranger to the British crooner James Bay. After touring with Hozier in 2014 and unveiling his 2x platinum album «Chaos and The Calm» one year later, the 28 year-old singer-songwriter appeared as one of the most promising new artists coming from Great Britain. You probably still listen to the hits «Let It Go» and «Hold Back The River» very often and we do too. Jame’s raw vocals and touching songwriting swept the world off its feet. Last year, James Bay finally unveiled his sophomore album “Electric Lights” including the single «Wild Love» and the retro «Pink Lemonade» and decided to come back to America for his «Electric Lights Tour» where he reunited with his growing fanbase. We managed to attend to James’ sold-out show at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. Last time we saw James, it was in 2015 right after he released his GRAMMY nominated debut album during his very first showcase in Paris. What a pleasure to see him evolve and become the artist he is now. As his opening act, label mate and up and coming artist Noah Kahan took over the stage to give a glimpse of his vibe but also forthcoming debut album «Busyhead» out June 14th. After a too short - 30 mins something set, Noah left the stage while the audience was impatiently waiting for James to arrive. The singer and his musicians arrived on stage and started their set with “Pink Lemonade” taken off the latest album. He cleverly picked up songs from this two albums going from well-known bangers such as «If You Ever Want To Be In Love», «Wild Love» and
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY PAM CHARBIT
Live from Los Angeles, CA «Hold Back The River» to less-known but still good tracks «Us», «Move Together» or «When We Were On Fire» and «Just For Tonight». James Bay also gave us the pleasure of playing his new song, the great «Peer Pressure» featuring Julia Michaels, and explained how this song came about before trying a new song on stage in order to see the audience’s reaction. What a song! We wish you could hear it but the singer affirmed that he has a new album coming out soon. It’s just a matter of time! While working the room and make the audience involved in the show, we witnessed (again) James’ incredible vocals while he sang some parts of «Let It Go» a cappella and we couldn’t be more delighted! To finish off on a great note, we got the pleasure of hearing a cover of The Beatles’s «Come Together», making the crowd wild. James Bay definitely knows how to deliver and how to please his fans. We want more and can’t wait to see him again very soon!
WHAT’S UP
IN FRANCE ? Seemone, The very essence of delicacy
© Asa Mader
MAËLLE PISTOIA’S GRAND DEBUT
As surprising as it may sound, Léa Simoncini, aka Seemone, started singing by chance. Indeed, after she was told to take singing lessons in order to find the appropriate tone during a drama class, she met up with Fabrice Mantegna ‒ her singing teacher and now manager. This is a true revelation since he is the one who encouraged Seemone to sing! Thanks to his help and the sound engineer, musician and producer Alexandre Mazarguil, Léa became Seemone. Leaving the nest, she released the upbeat «Nightbird» ‒ her first single ‒ and the beautiful «Que reste-t-il de nous ?» in 2018. However, this is thanks to Destination Eurovision 2019 ‒ a televised contest electing the artist who will represent France at the Eurovision Song Contest ‒ that Seemone started to make a big name for herself. Even if she didn’t win the show, the young Parisian got the second place and left a lasting impression with the moving «Tous les deux», a song that she dedicates to her father and the relationship she has with him.
She is the only female winner of The Voice France, but also the youngest one. In May 2018, at only 17 years old, Maëlle Pistoya won the musical TV competition, coached by French singer and songwriter Zazie. The young prodigy had made an impressive display of her vocal abilities during blind auditions and then showed, weeks after weeks, a talent and maturity way beyond her years, whether it was covering London Grammar, Chris Isaak or The Korgis. After granting the promise she made to her parents to keep up with school exams, she is now finally back in the spotlights to propose her debut single. Called «Toutes les machines ont un coeur», the song was produced by the famous singer, songwriter and musician Calogero and written by Zazie for her little protégé. The track dives deep into society matters tackling our ambiguous link with technology, between usefulness and addiction. Expressing the idea that «all the devices have a heart who beats inside», the lyrics remind us of the humanity -and possible vulnerability- hidden behind any screen, account or username. Tinged with a delicate rock spirit, this anthem points out that the whole issue is not so much about digital tools themselves, but what we - as humans - choose to do with it. A clever and dynamic start for Maëlle!
WORDS BY COLINE GAILLARD AND CORALINE BLAISE
© dr
«A voice is born.» This is what André Manoukian ‒ one of the jury members ‒ declares after Seemone’s beautiful performance. In fact, due to a vocal malformation she was born with, the 21-year-old artist has a cracked deep voice, easily identifiable. Now, this distinctive feature definitely is Seemone’s strength! Keep your eyes open, she is probably going to be someone to remember within the French musical landscape.
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OTM TEAM founder, 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.
PAM
CORALINE
graphic designer, co-editorial director Writing about architecture and urban planning by day, writing about music by night. Getting the best of both worlds. I am in love with matter, melodies and words. Drunk with british indie-rock and pop-folk. 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. If not at a gig , I’m probably spending the night building this magazine for you.
LéNAELLE
LUDIVINE
COLINE
déborah
HALEY
Khaty
writer If it were possible, I would probably live in a concert venue! Gigs are, without any hesitation, the events I appreciate the most. Addicted to pop music, tattoos, Youtube, The Greatest Showman original soundtrack, TV shows and Disney movies, I always love to discover new artists and talk about them with my friends. Professionally speaking , my biggest dream would be to have a fashion or music-related job. I guess I just need art to be part of my life!
writer A few words about me? In the future I would love to work as a community manager or a web journalist but for now I am just an ordinary student who has always loved writing and wouldn’t consider living without music. I am quite shy in my everyday life but surprisingly become the most sociable person when attending concerts, which I could do every single day. Other than that, I love travelling, making videos, tattoos, cheesecake and think that a whole crowd singing is the most beautiful thing in the world!
writer Meet the youngest of the crew ! A spiring 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 2008.
writer An aspiring entertainment reporter, I am constantly caught between covering the world of pop culture and reading about it. After graduating from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, I moved to Los Angeles to embed myself in the heart of the entertainment industry. If I’m not watching a movie, at a concert or reading the latest celebrity news article, I probably am at the beach.
writer Who am I, in a nutshell? I am a daydreamer, a traveler at heart, a concert addict and I see beauty in everything. Music is my escape route and my best friend. People say that have an eclectic taste in music which is true although you’ll see me mostly at rock shows. Fun fact: I actually own a guitar since I was 4 and I still 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!
writer I listen to music from morning till dawn. Literally. Working in a speaker store has its perks. My playlist consists mainly of Soul, R&B and Hip-Hop (Western and Eastern: I don’t discriminate)! When I am not immersed in music, I am probably reading or watching some baking videos, because let’s be honest food is life!
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