MAGAZINE
N THE MOVE
MAI 2019 - #24 FEATURING
KYAN PALMER & NICOPOP. + DIGITAL FARM ANIMALS + DENNIS LLOYD: LIVE IN LA
MARTIN JENSEN THE ‘ORDINARY GUY’ GONE ‘CRAZY PERFORMER’
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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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ZOOM ON...
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REWIND
Greyson Chance, Joel Adams & Lizzo
34 Our best albums of April
INTERVIEW
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KYAN PALMER & NICOPOP. , dive into their eclectic world
COVER STORY
MARTIN JENSEN,
get to know the EDM phenomenon
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SUMMARY INTERVIEW
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DIGITAL FARM ANIMALS,
in the mind of the songwriter-DJ-producer
PHOTO REPORT
DENNIS LLOYD,
live at El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles
Are they worth seeing live?
The Hunna, James Hersey & Dennis Lloyd
OTM Mag : Meeting the team 61
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REWIN EVERYTHING YOU MISSED AND NEED TO KNOW
music videoS OF THE MONTH
Brendon Urie, Ariana Grande, Halsey, Snoop Dogg... You might not see their name on the charts but they all appear on one of the most popular songs of the moment. In order to save our planet, Lil Dicky brought all these artists on his charity single «Earth». Whether you like it or not, it’s a fantastic way to raise awareness and bring all of our favorite artists on a single track!
LIL DICKY EARTH
IT’S «ME» TIME FOR TAYLOR SWIFT After turning into a snake, Taylor Swift is back in full butterfly mode! After almost two years of silence, the singer left the darkness behind and came back softer than ever with this new era. Featuring Brendon Urie, «ME!» is an upbeat ode to individuality and self-love. Pop anthem filled with country rhythm, which take us back to Taylor’s roots and debut. We are loving the unexpected!
In Case You missed it
DOOM DAYS ARE COMING
otm playlist TAYLOR SWIFT FEAT. BRENDON URIE - ME! P!NK FEAT. KHALID - HURTS 2B HUMAN MARTIN GARRIX - SUMMER DAYS THE CHAINSMOKERS - DO YOU MEAN LANY FEAT. JULIA MICHAELS - OKAY LAUV - DRUGS & THE INTERNET ZARA LARSSON - WOW
Bastille released «Doom Days» the title track for their long awaited new album which will be released in June 14th. Talking about our modern anxieties - phone addiction, porn addiction, fake news addiction, climate change denial (to only name a few), Bastille made a bold statement with this song. They even created an online interactive space called «Doom Days Society» where fans can share ideas surrounding the album with the band.
IT HAPPENED 5 YEARS AGO SAM SMITH RELEASED HIS DEBUT ALBUM If «Stay With Me» and «I’m Not The Only One» made you cry, chances are you were listening to Sam Smith’s debut album «In The Lonely Hour» back in 2014. Years later, the British singer is still rocking it on top of the charts with singles like «Promises», «Dancing With A Stranger» or «Pray». To be honest, we can’t really get enough of his soulful voice! Bring it on Sam!
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Kyan Palmer & Nicopop.
Now this is a peculiar duo. Pop/RnB vocalist Kyan Palmer and electronic producer nicopop. joined forces and shared their musical influences to create flawless tracks. Combining emotive lyrics with upbeat and joyful, dancey production, they managed to be more than just another pop-dance duo. Whereas 2018 saw Kyan Palmer’s emergence as an impressive RnB talent, nicopop. has kept it low profile. With their new tracks «Antisocial Socialites» and «Headcase», Kyan Palmer and nicopop. are making their ways into the music industry. Let’s have a chat with Kyan Palmer and nicopop. before they make it to stardom!
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n The Move: For those who don’t know you yet, can you tell us about your musical journey, as solo artists and in this common project? Kyan Palmer: My name is Kyan Palmer. I didn’t get into music for a long time, I actually started working in the music business first. I knew that world as I worked in marketing at Republic. I went to school for marketing, started there, lived in New-York for a couple of years. And then put out my first song as a part of a college project, it was called «Burn Mona Lisa » and it kind of started my whole career. I did that for about two years and then, you know how things take a lot of time. As much as I learnt from there, I knew I had to leave and move to LA and to keep things going on a more professional level. My debut EP came out in October and now here we are. nicopop.: My name is Nick but I go by the name nicopop. I started making music when I was 12. I was making hip-hop hits with these others kids in my class, in middle school. We had such a fun time. And then, I stayed up until 5 am every night in my parent’s basement, making beats and it kind of took over my life. That was the only thing I could do. My parents were very supportive, they were like «Do it! Go for it! Make music! You can go to college, as long as you get a degree, you can do whatever you want.» So I went to college and I moved to LA because I knew that was where music was. It’s nice because I got to be creative all the time and I was making fine art and music on the side. But then I graduated and I really wanted to do it full-time. So I took it on myself to find a manager and I’ve been releasing music for 5 years now. I decided to make nicopop. its own thing with a different sound. Something that reflects me and the music that I want to make. It took a long time to understand what kind of musician I wanted to be. I met Kyan a year ago and we put on sessions in my apartment. We knew each other so we just sat down and made a song. It took us four hours to make the first song. Everything happened really fast and it was an easy session, so we started working together a lot. We’ve been doing a lot of pitch songs for other artists. We did so many, like my Soundcloud has hundreds of pitch songs. It’s really hard to land a pitch right. There were so many songs that we loved that we just decided to put them out and release them, to see how people were reacting. We have a lot of singles coming out and we are working toward an album.
On The Move: Is your album the next step? Or do you prefer to release singles first? Kyan Palmer: I’d love to just put out an album like in the old days. It’s like a whole thought. That way you can be way more artistic. But the way the industry works now in the streaming space, you need content that are more snackable. If you are going to listen to a whole album then congratulation for doing that. But once you put these songs out, they’re not new anymore. Even algorithmically, if you’re putting an album out, you can only use one focus track. So it’s actually a lot better if you’re putting a new single every single week and then end up making a playlist. Artist like Lauv have done that. It’s hard to be an album artist. It’s different for indie artist to put out an album, a body of work, have people ready for it. Indie artists/ pop artists need content and content, something to stick to and remember you by. It’s oversaturated.
« we want to make music for people and give them something to enjoy » On The Move: You have so many new music every single week that people don’t know what to listen to. They listen to big artists but after that, their attention span is very short, so when you don’t stand out in a way, and if you don’t find the right channel to showcase your music, especially when you have an album coming out, they don’t see your what you’re up too. Kyan Palmer: So the more music you put out, the better your chances are at being seen. nicopop.: We’re shooting for a lot of singles. A lot of them. Kyan Palmer: We don’t know the number yet. Because we don’t stop making music, that’s the issue. We literally made a couple last week and we were like «this piece needs to be out!» It’s hard to wrap it up, and we don’t actually have to do it, so... On The Move: I feel like, you can write tons of music but you need to be specific of which songs you are going to release.
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nicopop.: You can release 800 tracks if you wrote 800. We want to make music for people and give them something they can enjoy. What we’ve been doing is making little playlists with possible singles to see what people like and see where we are in the music industry. It helps with making the decision of what songs we want to put out. Kyan Palmer: It’s actually funny to see that people who work in the industry know the least about what a single should be. People that are just consuming music are the one who do.
« You can constantly develop into the sound that you want. The smartest people pick up what they get from other people along the way » On The Move: At the end of the day, it’s about the fans and they know what’s best. It’s a very good strategy to ask for opinion from listeners. nicopop.: From the time you start making a song and the time it comes out, there are so many roadblocks. There are managers, lawyers, you have a label, you have so many opinions coming into the matter, we are just finding out what people want and what they like and we’re putting it out. Kyan Palmer: Also, you can’t put out a song that you don’t like. You can’t make it if you don’t like it. nicopop.: We had one song, we sent it around and I thought it was good and then they were like «I’m not feeling this one.» Now I listen to it and I know they were 100% right about it. Kyan Palmer: It’s good not to rush it too. Once you have it, you can sit with it. If you can still listen to it after months, and if you still like it, that means it’s good. On The Move: You were talking about your EP «Burn Mona Lisa» and Nick, you released different singles with different artists. What do you think your collaboration will bring to the music scene? Kyan Palmer: To me, I think us collaborating opened my ears to different kinds of music. I was more lured
toward that dark sound, this kind of trendy Spotify thing. Because it was the type of music I grew up with, pop music. When I started working with nicopop., I think I got exposed to a different kind of pop music. It’s almost like a throwback to really big pop songs in the past. When you’re going to go out to your friends, you’re going to listen to something that you’re going to dance to and drink to. And I know that on my own musical journey, I was definitely making music more for you to listen at home alone or drive in the car with the window down to. That’s where I was. That’s where our joint project comes in. My sound is so different from the «Burn Mona Lisa» era. I think that’s the one thing that can make you an artist, rather than just a writer. You can constantly develop into the sound that you want. The smartest people pick up what they get from other people along the way. If you’re doing what you ears want and you don’t listen to other things, you’re going to do the same song over and over again and it’s boring. On The Move: If you listen to albums from people like Bruno Mars, you realize each of them is so different. He’s taking inspiration from his idols and everyone along the way. You cannot get stuck into one box and one genre and do the same thing over and over again. nicopop.: My favorite thing is to see that my favorite artists and their albums show an evolution of sound. I listened to all of his albums today and he goes from so rock to a beautiful and pretty and easy listen. There is this huge arc. I want to be that type of artist. Whatever we’re doing now, it’s part of the journey and I’m sure like, 10 years down the line, we’ll be doing something totally different. On The Move: What can you tell us about the latest single «Antisocial Socialites»? Kyan Palmer: I love it. It’s very rare for me. It’s one of those songs we did a long time ago and I always liked it, as well as my friend. It’s a good change for me in my own artist journey. It’s the first pop banger that I’ve been a part of and I love it. It’s a commercially viable. At first I was really scared to do something like that because I think the stigma is to be this RnB trendy vibe type. But it is fun and I like it! nicopop.: That’s why I like it. In music you tend to sit down and listen to a song, notice every details and pick up lyrics you like. That’s why «Antisocial Socialites» is cool because you can put it on and have a great time, you can dance or just be cleaning your house. You can listen to it in the car, or whatever you want.
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Kyan Palmer: To me, it’s such a relatable song. I am that song. I’d rather just sit at home and drink a little bit than go out to the club. I feel like a lot of people feel that way but it’s fun. You really should dance and clean and drink some wine and then listen to it. On The Move: How did you come up with this contradictory title: «Antisocial Socialities»? Kyan Palmer: You can be in the entertainment in Los Angeles and not be a fake social but you can’t be antisocial. People want you to go out, they want you to show up but you really don’t want to go. You’re the star, people want you out but you’d rather hang out at home with wine and your dog. It’s a type of person that always gets invited to parties but loves to say no. That’s a social antisocial life. On The Move: What do you think of EDM artists collaborating with pop artists? Or EDM switching to pop music? nicopop.: There’s a lot of crossover now, which I love, I think it’s really cool when you mix two different genres and you can find something cool. But I feel like you shouldn’t make pop unless you want to. We naturally gravitate toward popular sounds and we also like the dancier stuff, so we also gravitate toward a more upbeat and happy production with drum beats and stuff like that. That’s where the EDM comes in. But dance music will never go away as people will always love to dance. The musical landscape is always changing. A great example is Zedd. He makes house music and now his sound is changing but he never lost the sound that he uses. There’s a lot of him still present but it’s also changing and probably doing more of what he wants to do right now, working with poppier vocals. I think it’s cool and I think that there are still a ton of people out there making EDM bangers and there is a huge market for that. On The Move: In France too, there is this huge EDM scene… nicopop.: I went to Europe, in Sweden, in October and we were listening to the hit radio and I remember everyone being just shocked at how different it was compared to US mainstream radio. It was much more dance orientated and way more melodic in general. I remember thinking «Oh my god, we are so in a bubble in LA but there is such a huge market for that, and people seem to love it so?». I think, whatever music you’re doing, there is a market for that, somewhere around the globe.
On The Move: A lot of DJs come from Norway, Denmark. It’s very huge there and they need to make it in their country before coming here. nicopop.: We’ve been in Asia, and there is this huge EDM crossover there. We see it happening with Korean pop stars and I think it’s really cool. One The Move: It’s really global now. You were talking about Kpop but now it’s happening here. They’re making it huge here as well. Kyan Palmer: That’s the advantage of streaming. It is global now. You’re seeing foreign artists on top of the charts. Which is also why I think there’s such a crossover in pop. I’ve actually found that my poppier song did better on streaming platforms than RnB ones. RnB is a very US sound, whereas pop is more global. Those songs, every single time, their market is not even in the US. For example, now it’s in Sweden. That’s the advantage of a more dance sound, you’re taking out the lyricism. Even if we’re listening to latin songs here, I don’t even know what you’re saying in this song but as long as I can drink and dance to it, that’s all I want to do. That’s why everyone is doing a dance sound because it’s more global. nicopop.: It is a global sound. Everyone likes to dance but it’s what they bring into it and their influences that matter. That’s the beauty of music.
« Dance music will never go away as people will always love to dance » On The Move: What are your influences? The songs you’ve been listening to a lot lately that inspire you? nicopop.: I really like Kim Petras. She’s a pop star from Germany and she’s in LA now. Her sound is really cool, it’s very like melodic, dancy-pop. I really like her, I think she’s a big influence for me now. Kyan Palmer: I grew up listening to 50 Cent and Céline Dion. That’s why I sound like both of them (laugh). Right now the pop-dance sound have my ears, so anything in that lane, I really like. I gravitate to vocals more than anything. That’s my own little thing. Even if somebody is mainstream, like Ariana Grande, she records really well, she has a great voice and she knows how to use it on a record. That’s what I’m hearing, more than anything.
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On The Move: That’s actually a good way to put it and actually listen to the music. For you, what is your collaboration process? Do you like working from scratch together or do you bring ideas after working separately? Kyan Palmer: One of us would have a melody out of nowhere or we would start with a base and a beat and start writing into it. Sometimes we also just hop on a microphone, sing gibberish and we find a good melody, piece them together and start thinking of a concept and what would work with the sound of the track. We have a good rhythm. nicopop.: There are some days that are different. I write down everything I hear, anything that somebody says that I think is interesting, I’ll write it on my notes for concept titles and possible piece. I could just have this line in my head, I’ll try to sing it and make it work the way people want to hear it. There’s a lot of writers who would write the lyrics first and then sing after and add melody, but I learnt that it’s not my favorite. If you’re singing on the microphone, the goal is to convey an emotion and if you’re just singing non-sense, you’re still feeling something. And that’s why that style of writing is what I prefer and what works best for most people. nicopop.: We have a couple writers that we really like to work with and they get where we want to go in terms of sound and lyrics. Everyone has random phrases and sentences written everywhere, and they can become lyrics, song title, and a piece of the song. It does change every time. You could sing the melody in the room with everybody and think you really like it, but the second it’s recorded you’re thinking that something else would work. Kyan Palmer: Sometimes, whatever feels natural is what is going to be and if we need changes, we’ll change it later. I’ve been to a lot of session where you get stuck on one little part in the collaboration. Like, this melody is a little off, but a lot of time you can’t even tell it on the moment because you’ve been there for hours and hours. It’s good to let it breathe and when you listen to it in the morning, you know immediately what needs to change. nicopop.: We have a song that we did the chorus 8 times. We re-did the chorus 8 times. We couldn’t get it and we went back to the third one we did and realized it was the one. But it took all those 8 times to realize what was working. Kyan Palmer: Even our next single that is coming out. We re-did it.
On The Move: Tell me more about your next single. Now you mention it. Kyan Palmer: It is a pop song, it’s very fun. It’s dancey! nicopop.: It’s has kind a disco turn to it. It’s very funky for sure! Kyan Palmer: It’s almost like «The Jonas Brothers meet Charlie Puth.» When you’ll hear it, you’ll get it and be like «for sure!» (Laugh). It’s really fun and it’s a great summery follow-up single. But it’s different, so you’re not going to be like «oh it’s the same thing again.»
« Everyone likes to dance but it’s what they bring into it and their influences that matters » On The Move: So when is it coming out? nicopop.: It’s coming out very soon. That’s all we can say. We try to get our songs out quickly as we want people to stay updated and keep on hearing new stuff from us so they don’t get bored. On The Move: Are you guys planning to actually play live the songs that you’re putting out? Or for now, is it just a project with singles and songs? Kyan Palmer: Funnily enough, I think I’ve actually played the first three single live before, a few times. I’ve definitely played the next single live, so some people have already heard it, they just don’t realize it. More than venues, we want to play at clubs and dance-clubs. Something different, as if we just happen to be playing there, rather than being «oh that’s their show.» nicopop.: Having a night out and then seeing something that you really like, it’s different. It’s hard to get people to go out just for you. You just want to show up and be like «hey we’re here!». I’m sure we’ll do more independent live shows if there is a serious demand for one.
INTERVIEW BY PAM charbit AND LéNAELLE FONTAINE PHOTOS by JONATHAN BENBARUK
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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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GREYSON CHANCE From his viral cover to his second album Almost nine years ago, he was publishing his viral “Paparazzi” cover on YouTube. Today, he is back with a new body of work to conquer the world after a break from music. At only 21 years old, the American pop prodigy is ready to start all over again and show his true colors. After releasing the first single at the beginning of the year, he revealed his second full-length album “Portraits” in March. Let’s get to know Greyson Chance! Born in 1997 in Texas, Greyson Chance grew up in Oklahoma with his older sister and brother, who were both playing music. Thus, the youngest of the family naturally started learning piano. At the time, singing lessons were not at the forefront of his mind but he quickly became inspired by several artists such as Christina Aguilera, Elton John, John Legend or Lady Gaga. 2010 is the year that will change his fate. In April, the young singer and pianist made the decision of his life by uploading a cover of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” on his YouTube channel, which was recorded at a school show. Since the video was not getting many views, his older brother decided to send it to a famous talk show presenter: Ellen Degeneres, who invited him twice to perform on the show and signed him to her brand new label Eleveneleven. In a few weeks, Greyson’s cover went viral. His very first single, “Waiting Outside The Lines” was released in October and followed by his first album “Hold On Til’ The Night” the next year. Despite his young age, the prodigy didn’t stop here and revealed two EPs in 2012 and 2016, respectively called “Truth To Be Told, Part I” and “Somewhere Over My Head”. However, after a couple of collaborations, Greyson took a break, resuming his studies at the University of Tulsa. Far from the pressure of the music industry, being back to a basic life and making new friends helped him to gather his thoughts and feel inspired again. With an emotional Instagram post, Greyson also came out as homosexual, which led to very supportive responses. He took the time to find himself and develop his songwriting talents. His new album “Portraits” appears like an honest and vulnerable collection of tracks. Just like a journal, every song is based on his own life experience. The opportunity for Greyson to really show his personality, since he was a lot more involved in this opus. Indeed, contrary to the previous
ones, he is now old enough to know what kind of sounds and intentions he wants for his music. He told it himself, “Portraits” feels not only like a comeback album but also like a debut album. By the way, the singer-songwriter chose not to hide his sexual preference in his love songs’ lyrics, using male pronouns, which is quite rare in the industry. Moreover, Greyson’s music really stands out, mixing R&B, electro, synth-pop and old school vibes on some songs. With mature and much more personal lyrics, his tracks mostly refer to love and his roots. And his music is not the only thing that changed. Of course, his voice changed a lot too! From slick falsettos to deep low notes, we challenge you to listen to his singles “Shut Up”, “Timekeeper” and “Yours” without feeling the urge to listen to the rest! Greyson has already started to tour the United States to perform “Portraits” on stage and also has scheduled shows in Asia. Besides, as he indicated on Instagram, this is just the beginning: “I can’t believe that 9 years ago I sang a cheeky Gaga song and landed here. Released an album last month and now I’m in Europe to write the next one.”
Listen if you are a fan ofShawn Mendes’ smooth falsettos on his eponymous album, deep and versatile voices like his YouTube colleague’s Troye Sivan, and queer music icons such as Hayley Kiyoko.
One song to listen to“Black On Black” for its irresistible and addictive catchy rhythm, surprising rap bridge, sensual lyrics and Justin Timberlake vibes on the chorus… This is fire!
WordS by déborah GAILLARD PHOTO: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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JOEL ADAMS THE AUSSIE PRODIGY At 22 years old, Joel Adams is a complete artist from Australia. Singer, songwriter and musician, he is best known for his 2015 single “Please Don’t Go”, that he self-released. In fact, Joel Adams is only eleven years old when he starts writing music and the least we can say is that he definitely knows how to create a true hit. If you are a fan of singing contests or viral videos of auditions, you may have already heard about Joel Adams, or rather Joel Goncalves. Indeed, the young artist from Brisbane first gained attention under this name before changing it for his mother’s maiden name a couple of years later. Everything really starts in 2012, when he performs Michael Jackson’s “The Girl Is Mine” on The X Factor Australia’s stage. Although he is only fifteen at the time, Joel knows what he wants: “I really can’t picture myself doing anything but music”. The judges see potential in him and give him four “yes” but, a few weeks later, he is sent home before the live shows. However, that does not stop him from pursuing his dream. Two years after his experience at The X Factor, Joel Adams launches a YouTube channel, posts covers online and keeps catching attention. This is finally at the end of 2015 that the young Australian releases his first single, his most successful one. Called “Please Don’t Go”, the song is quickly followed by a music video that has now more than seventy-six million views on YouTube. And to think that this track was just an improvisation at first! Fun fact: Joel wrote the first version of “Please Don’t Go” at school when he was fifteen. Indeed, having completely forgotten that he had to write an original song for a class, he grabbed his guitar and quickly came up with melodies and some lyrics a few minutes before the deadline. Who would have thought “Please Don’t Go” was born like that? Joel Adams especially has the privilege of singing it on the set of The Morning Show in Sydney. However, after all the
excitement around this first hit, the young artist slowly becomes very discreet. Last summer, it was then a pleasure to learn that the Aussie was back in the studio. In September, Joel really starts teasing his comeback on his Instagram account: “It’s all finally happening… stay tuned”. A few weeks later, the world discovers “Fake Friends”, his brand new single! A catchy pop track in which Joel’s mature voice can remind us of Liam Payne’s, especially in the chorus. Going back and forth between Brisbane and Los Angeles, Joel Adams seems to be on a roll now and releases singles one after another! In February, he reveals “A Big World”, a relatable, tender song which shows how humble the young artist is: “I want the world to feel big, like it did when we were kids” . The single has now hit more than a million streams on Spotify. Next, only a month later, “Coffee” is released and we discover another facet of Joel Adams. The tune especially showcases a beautiful, sensual head voice, different from what he had done before. One thing is for sure, Joel Adams is back in the spotlight and new projects should come very soon. The young singer-songwriter knows where he wants to go and we are more than ready to follow him on this journey!
Listen if you are a fan ofLiam Payne’s tone, the Aussie accent, young, ambitious artists, pop-soul singers.
One song to listen to-
“Fake Friends”: Joel Adams’ comeback song and its catchy chorus and irresistible melodies.
WordS by COLINE GAILLARD PHOTO: MARCELLO AMBRIZ
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LIZZO The R&B star we didn’t know we needed Self-love and self-care are what Lizzo is about. With her incredible vocals and radiating confidence, Lizzo is ready to take over the world with her new album «Cuz I Love You» and after listening to it, we decided we love her too.
On March 17, Melissa Jefferson posted an Instagram dedicated to the 10-year anniversary of the passing of her father: “I lost my superstar… I quit singing. I quit trying. 10 years later I am the superstar he worked so hard for me to become.” The world is a better place because Jefferson, better known as Lizzo, kept pushing. On April 19, she released her Atlantic records debut, Cuz I Love You. It’s an 11-track ride of boldness by way of hip hop swagger and joyful funk pop, featuring the likes of Missy Elliot and Gucci Mane. After beginning the year by dropping earworm “Juice,” it’s a relief to have Cuz I Love You in full. “This is a way more confident Lizzo who believes in her confidence,” Lizzo explains about her album.“For the last three years, I’ve been working on myself and learning how to love who I am. There were moments that would’ve completely defeated me when I was younger. Instead, I was able to not just survive, but thrive. This is the person who I truly want to be. It’s a self-filling prophecy ready for the world. I really found my voice. I love it. I love my body. I love talking shit, and it’s what I’m doing,” she laughs. Lizzo already has tours with Haim and Florence and the Machine under her belt. She’s been a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race and worked with Prince. Lizzo has been on the come up for a long time, from Houston to Minneapolis to Los Angeles, and, with her flute in tow, it is her time to shine (and “everybody gonna shine”).
“America’s Next Bop Star,” as she accurately refers to herself in her Twitter bio, has been making her rounds on the Cuz I Love Yout Tour. A highlight was a stop in Indio, California for two weekends of the Coachella Valley Arts and Music Festival. The relatively intimate Mojave stage was tightly packed for the high-energy set. Ahead of her set, she took to Instagram to post a slow-motion pool twerking video and renamed the weekend “ASSCHELLA.” She cemented this by making an appearance during Janelle Monae’s weekend one dance break during “I Got the Juice.” Lizzo knows so very well how to bring the party. Her tour is sold out through May, even as she makes her way across the pond. Luckily, Lizzo has added more dates by adding another leg: Cuz I Love You Too. The show will bring a summer sizzle across North America, beginning with Portland on July 18. She even had to add a second date to her stop at the iconic Hollywood Palladium. Lizzo will end the tour where she first kicked off Cuz I Love You, in San Francisco. This summer will be a victory lap of epic proportions.
Listen if you are a fan ofTierra Whack, Princess Nokia & Janelle Monae
One song to listen to“Tempo” ft Missy Elliott that will turn you up anywhere, anytime!
WordS by HAYLEY BOSSELMAN AND PAM CHARBIT PHOTO: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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MARTIN JENSEN Propelled at the front of the international EDM scene thanks to tracks like «Miracles», «All I Wanna Do» or the irresistible «Solo Dance», Martin Jensen is now one of the most influential DJs et producers out there, and his 2018 ranking in DJ Magazine’s Top 100 testifies for it. But beyond his heady bangers, what do you know exactly about the 27-year old Danish artist? Our team at On The Move met him and discovered a person as funny and down-to-earth in daily life as he is determined and passionate on stage. Martin Jensen expresses himself this two-faceted personality, between the «ordinary guy» and the «crazy performer».
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n The Move: Hi Martin! Thanks for having us. Our readers know your music very well but not much about you. Can you say a few words about how you ended up being a producer and DJ professionally? Martin Jensen: I started to think about it when I was playing at a nightclub as a resident DJ. I was always annoyed that I had to be the guy left to warm-up and to never be the main act. Then, I started producing my own stuff – thinking it must be different when you do it your own way - and it worked from the first day so here I am! On The Move: It is with « Solo Dance » that your career really reached an international level. Did you feel that this track carried something special before it was out? Martin Jensen: Yeah, when I heard «Solo Dance» for the first time when we were doing it, I was like «Yeah sure, I think it can do something» because it is so unique! It showed off, it did! I was very happy and super excited for it to go that well. It was streamed more than 500 million times!
« I’m pretty set minded so when I want something, I’m selling my mind off to do it » On The Move: Since you started DJing, what do you feel have evolved about you? Martin Jensen: I think I’ve evolved mostly personally. There are a lot of things happening with a career: you don’t sleep, you have to cope with a lot of stress, with jetlag, with record labels, management, all that kind of stuff… Before I was just a resident DJ doing it all by myself. But now, there is a full team around me. They want to make decisions around me as well. I’m pretty set minded so when I want something, I’m selling my mind off to do it. But suddenly, I have people with me and they have to make choices for me and I don’t like that. That’s these kind of things I learned the most to cope with actually.
On The Move: You’ve recently released a collaboration with James Arthur called « Nobody ». How did that happen? Martin Jensen: It’s a track I’ve been working on for one and a half year now. And it has just been laying there and I had vocals featured on it many many times but nothing had really been working. And finally, we reached out to James Arthur asking if he wanted to collaborate on it and he said « Yes! ». So, he worked on the vocals, I finalized the production and we finally released it! On The Move: The vocals are always so specific in your tracks, yet on your latest EP « World » you didn’t use them at all. It was all instrumental and production. So, how important are the lyrics and voices in your production? Martin Jensen: On my pop radio singles, the strongest part is always the lyrics and the vocals. When I’m doing my club thing, it’s more the production. It is club music you know. When you’re playing festivals or clubs, it’s not the easiest thing just to play «Solo Dance», «All I Wanna Do» or «Nobody». Of course, those are the tracks that people know and sing along to but that’s just the party started songs. I want to bring more. That’s also why I also want to do a crazy tour calendar with club shows and festivals. I don’t want to stand and do a show where people are like «Oh, ok» and after 10 minutes, they’ve watched it all. I want to bring them something. The same kind of things that DJ Snake does. When you go to a DJ Snake’s show, or The Chainsmokers’ show, they play their popular tracks to put the vibe off but then it’s mostly trap or dubstep or else. That’s the same kind of things in my set. It is about finding a balance in the sets where I am playing my radio songs but I also want to do something that is actually working in clubs or festivals. On The Move: So, those are the ingredients to a good set? Martin Jensen: Yes, I want to bring something different in my sets. Right now, I have some old school R&B, I got some sing-along tracks, soul, dance, then got some big room stuff, and I got some trap. It is all mixed-up. Every song is like collaborating with each other. So I’m at least playing 3 to 4 songs in the same kind of genre before switching. I don’t want people to stand and think: «What the hell went wrong there?» Up and down, up and down... No, it’s one big flow. Like a river flowing from my whole set. It is really
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important to me because I spend a crazy amount of time to see what is working and what is not working, over and over again. What is working in Asia, in Europe, in the US… So, all the time developing and developing the sets. And I think right now, it is pretty dope yeah! On The Move: Do you see very heavy differences between the different regions of the world? Martin Jensen: Yes, there are some, definitely. When you are playing a club show in Denmark, you’re playing 45 minutes because people are okay with it, that’s it. When you’re playing in France, you’re playing 90 minutes and plus because they just want to go on and on. The same in Asia, it’s like 90 minutes. In the US, you can do 2 hours, 3 hours. That’s a very big difference to see how long the public is going to spend with you. On The Move: Do you find time and space to produce things while on tour? Martin Jensen: I am more getting ideas when I’m on tour. But then I’m just like letting things down for a bit and then I go back to the studio and finish them up. You’re getting inspired when you’re on tour but you’re also really stressed and travelling a lot. Unfortunately for me, I cannot be at that level where we’re on private jets (laugh) so it’s still commercial. We spend a lot of time in airports and stuff. But hopefully, one day, we’ll be there (laugh) On The Move: This idea of travelling is the concept behind your EP « World » where each track is inspired from the music and culture of a different continent. Can you explain it? Martin Jensen: Yes, I have tried to make it like picking different sounds from different areas of the world, where we’ve been touring the most. And it went pretty well I think. The next EP is going to be a bit different. I cannot tell much about it yet but I think it is going to be really really dope! On The Move: Is releasing a full body of work something you’re interested in? Martin Jensen: I am going to do a lot of short EPs in the future because I want to have more club music out definitely. But I am still going to push up the regular radio pop singles as well. I think the next one will come in June already. I just want to push music out as much as possible.
On The Move: How important is having a visual identity to you? Martin Jensen: Every time we’re doing like a new season of live shows, I’m sitting down with the team and we decide everything about the shows: which show I want, how I’m going to prepare it, how they are going to be produced, and how they are going to look. I actually have the same company doing visuals than the one doing visuals for Tomorrowland: the Prismax company. They are like the best of the bests. And I chose them because when I do a show, I want to deliver it to the maximum. I don’t want to go out and say «It’s half there». I want to do it full. So that’s why I chose Prismax because they also do the top of the tops – Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike for example - and if you want to meet the top of the top, you need to produce it the top of the top. The standards are really high now, every single stage now has huge LED walls. So coming up with like your background and your logo spinning around, there is nothing interesting about it anymore. But if you come up with something people have never experienced before, visually speaking, then you got the attention.
« when I do a show, I want to deliver it to the maximum» On The Move: What kind of feeling do you want to broadcast through your music overall? Martin Jensen: It’s just fun because I’ve been thinking about this a lot for the last couple of years, like who is Martin Jensen exactly? And I just think I’ve figured it out lately. I would go so far to say I’m kind of the ordinary guy. I’m in in black clothes, all chilled down, down to earth, but when I’m doing shows, everything is exploding : fireworks, pyro, crazy sets, visuals, everything. It’s like these two kind of sides. When I’m doing my regular pop music, everybody can sing along to it, and then with the « World » EP and everything, everybody freaks out and going shit to say politely. That is what I want to present for myself, the ordinary guy on the one side, and the crazy performer on the other side. On The Move: You also carry out this idea through your «Martin Jensen on tour» videos shared on YouTube, that give us an access to your backstage…
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Martin Jensen: Lately, I started vlogging so that I can show more of what we are doing on tour. Before my vlogs were very pretty, there weren’t a lot of mistakes, really beautiful pictures. But now, I start doing my old stuff, I want it to be more personal. My old team wanted everything to look pretty and stuff like that but I got tired of it and now, I want to let people see how my life actually is. It is really important for me to be close to my fans. When I produced my first tracks, I always involved my fans, even on « Wait » I got them to sing the chorus. I’m only here because I have my fans
« I want to let people see how my life actually is » On The Move: In 2018, you ranked No. 54 on DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJs poll. What does it represent for you? Martin Jensen: The DJ mag position means a lot in China. Like a crazy lot! It’s not that important in Europe. But definitely in China, it is, if you wanna
have gigs... I had colleagues that went directly into the top 40 and they did 80 gigs in China that year. The year after, they fall down the list and they did 12. So, it’s really really important if you wanna do gigs in China but other than that, again, I’m playing shows every single week so I don’t need it, need it... It’s just nice to be represented by the most prestigious ranking in the world, I think. On The Move: What can we expect from you in 2019? Martin Jensen: A lot of touring coming up, and then hopefully a couple of singles coming up too and then there would be a new EP before summer. On The Move: What are your favorite electro tracks at the moment? Martin Jensen: I really love « Boasty » from Wiley, Sean Paul & Stefflon Don feat Idris Elba. That’s dope! I also really like Martin Garrix’s « High On Life ».
INTERVIEW BY CORALINE BLAISE PHOTOS BY DAVID FITT
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OUR BEST ALBUMS
OF APRIL 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 April.
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We’ve been waiting for this one! After achieving worldwide recognition with his hit «Nevermind» in 2016, Israeli singer-songwriter Dennis Lloyd, born Nir Tibor, has finally released his debut full body of work named «Exident». Containing five tracks, including an «Introduccion» in Spanish, «Exident» is a consistent first project diving into a failing relationship and the emotional phases the singer experienced post-breakup. From trying to figure out what went wrong in the relationship with «Aura», to realizing that love is blind in the single «Never Go Back», Dennis Lloyd’s words are easy to relate to, as he was saying out loud what everyone was thinking and feeling after a breakup. One of the major key moments in the EP would probably be the monologue in «Gfy» where the clarity in his words slaps you in the face. «Exident» is one of our favorite projects this year and Dennis Lloyd is promised to an amazing career. We can’t wait to see what he has in store for us. Top 3 tracks: Aura, Never Go Back, Gfy
Dennis Lloyd – Exident
The Austrian singer-songwriter has put out his second album «Innerverse», following the successful EP «Pages» and his first studio album «Clarity» released in 2015. Co-produced with his friend Narou, «Innerverse» is very much personal, combining heartfelt lyrics with minimal pop-electronic sounds and a subtle touch of mark tree, accompanied by James’ guitar that carries us away every time. The song «Take You Home» is a guitar-plucked opening ballad, setting a dreamy atmosphere for the rest of the record. Simple but efficient. James’ alluring vocals are not to forget, especially in the beautiful song «These Gifts»inspired by his parents or in «Everywhere You Go», a touching and hopeful observation on the fear holding us back from what we truly want to be. Welcome to James Hersey’s inner-(uni)verse. Top 3 tracks: Don’t Need Me, Real For You, Everywhere You Go
James Hersey – Innerverse
Five years after the very successful «Built on Glass», Nick Murphy formerly known as Chet Faker, is making a comeback with his sophomore album called «Run Fast Sleep Naked». This record feels like a second birth for the Australian singer-songwriter which shows the introspective journey he undertook these last few years. Versatility is the word for it. Throughout the record, Nick Murphy explores different genres as he likes it: rock with «Sunlight» and «Yeah I Care», soul «Novacaine and Coca Cola» and «Never No» which showcases the brass without forgetting the hypnotizing and surprising «Some People» which ends with corrosive techno vibes. Nick Murphy never fails to amaze through his vocal prowess and experimental ability. A must listen! Top 3 tracks: Sanity, Never No, Message You At Midnight
Nick Murphy – Run Fast Sleep Naked
Want to add some color in your life? LSD finally released their album and that is all you need! As the opening track claims it, after a beautiful acapella introduction, «Welcome To The Wonderful World Of» Labrinth, Sia and Diplo. Even if most of the songs were revealed in advance, this colourful 10-track opus does have some surprises in store. The album obviously includes «Genius», the supergroup’s very first song, but also a Lil Wayne remix of it. Besides, you may already know «Audio», «Thunderclouds» and «Mountains». These three upbeat singles were followed by «No New Friends» and its more exotic instrumental, in which the trio affirms that they are happy with the friends and life they have. Then we have «Angel In Your Eyes» and its electronic and robotic atmosphere, and the powerful «Heaven Can Wait». Finally, «It’s Time» really stands out since it is the only piano ballad on the album. A pure delight: that is what happens when you mix pop, the electro sound of Diplo and Labrinth and Sia’s impressive voices. Top 3 tracks: No New Friends, Heaven Can Wait, Thunderclouds
LSD – Labrinth, SIA, Diplo Present… LSD
A few days ago, Alecia Beth Moore, aka P!nk, released her eighth studio album entitled «Hurts 2B Human». Composed of thirteen tracks, the opus definitely showcases her versatility as an artist as well as her will to help people with her music. Listening to the rhythmic «Hustle», the first tune of the album, you’ll fall in love with P!nk’s outspokenness all over again. Second single after the beautiful «Walk Me Home», the song was especially co-written with Dan Reynolds and you can even hear him in the backing vocals! Stapleton, Khalid, Cash Cash and Wrabel are also featuring in the album. Well surrounded, P!nk then touches us with comforting and relatable lyrics, especially in «My Attic», «Happy» or «Circle Game» in which she tackles the difficulties of adulting. Indeed, the amazing singer mother faces insecurities just like we do and is honest about it. Both vulnerable and crazy, this is the P!nk that we love! Top 3 tracks: Hustle, Courage, Circle Game
PINK – HURTS 2B HUMAN After conquering the world with his debut album «American Teen» and his first EP «Suncity», Khalid is ready to show a new facet of his music : «The album is going to show a lot of growth». Without losing his musical touch, a perfect mix of R&B, soul and pop, we can thus discover a very mature opus with no less than 17 tracks. It features «Better» and «Saturday Nights», two songs that had already convinced us on «Suncity». This second album happens to be very deep and introspective. Many songs reflect on love and problems of communication in a relationship. That’s the case of the lead and third singles, «Talk» and «My Bad». Other tracks, such as «Free Spirit» or «Alive», are about growing up as a person and artist. The album also features an amazing collaboration with John Mayer on «Outta My Head», some 90s vibes here and there, catchy choruses and a mix of ethereal and upbeat melodies. If you were not among the lucky ones that heard the album with the «Free Spirit» short film in select cinemas, you can always listen to it on repeat now! Top 3 tracks: Outta My Head (ft. John Mayer), Hundred, Heaven
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DIGITAL FARM ANIMALS
You have seen Pigman somewhere or heard Digital Farm Animals on a track even without knowing it. The DJ, songwriter and producer has already successfully built up an eclectic track record of hits for a wide range of artists, while also working on his own project. Whether it’s Dua Lipa, Galantis, Noah Cyrus or James Arthur, Nick Gale of Digital Farm Animals seems to be the go-to guy if you need a well-penned hit. After collaborating with Louis Tomlinson, Bebe Rexha, Nelly, Alan Walker, Hailee Steinfeld and more, the artist released a new single featuring Becky G and Rvssian. Let’s dive into it with the man himself!
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n The Move: Hi Nick, thanks for taking the time to answer and great seeing Pigman at the photoshoot. First of all we’re very curious to know where does Pigman come from? Digital Farm Animals: A land before time. A place we all wish we came from. On The Move: How about the pig helmet? Digital Farm Animals: He was born with it. On The Move: We discovered your music in 2015 with your song «Didn’t Know» ft Yasmin. Even since you’ve been collaborating with more and more artists coming from different music genres. How do you choose your collaborators and topliners? Digital Farm Animals: Love that record and thank you for being supporters from such an early point! I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with so many artists from so many genres. This sounds incredibly cheesy but I honestly just try and aim for what I think the best voice is for that particular record. If we can combine that with an artist who has a big fanbase then that’s a double win. But we’re definitely in an age where the sonic matters more than the name.
« We’re definitely in an age where the sonic matters more than the name »
On The Move: You originally come from the UK. We interviewed a couple of DJs and producers from Great Britain, who moved to LA, and who said that here in America they feel like they have more creative freedom than back home. Do you agree and what do you think is different in between the music scene here and the one in the UK? Digital Farm Animals: Neither agree nor disagree. Everyone has their own perspective. I personally love being in London. I travel back and forth to LA as there are incredible talents there as well. I personally find that London/ the UK has a certain lack of not giving a fuck about it which I love and the LA pop scene is slightly more formulaic. But to be honest, everyone seems more open to working now than ever before so both have their benefits and downsides! On The Move: Let’s talk about your new single «Next To You» with Becky G, feat Rvssian, that is in my opinion, a super solid track. How did it come about? Digital Farm Animals: Luckily I had the Pigman hit up Becky and Rvssian. Becky killed the vocal. Rvssian took the production to another level in my opinion and we ended up with a record that we all love. I just hope the public do (and streaming!). On The Move: What are you working on at the moment? Any other upcoming collaborations you can talk about? Digital Farm Animals: A few exciting ones in the bag. Nothing I can disclose!
On The Move: Besides releasing music through Digital Farm Animals, you also produce a lot for other artists. The projects of yours that come to mind are Dua Lipa’s «Be The One», Noah Cyrus’s «Stay Together», James Arthur’s «Empty Space»… What do you think is the biggest difference between producing for Digital Farm Animals and producing for other artists, especially pop artists?
On The Move: Which advice would you give to upcoming producers/artists to get their foot in the door?
Digital Farm Animals: As a producer/writer for others it’s just about trying to get their message across. Ultimately it’s their story and it’s my job to help them tell it. From a production perspective, it’s about fitting the sonic with their particular sound/audience etc. It’s definitely a unique challenge and when I manage to (sometimes!) get it right, it’s incredibly rewarding.
Digital Farm Animals: Kira are amazing (from London).
Digital Farm Animals: Do not stop. If you do you’re fucked. On The Move: Any new artists that you like at the moment and that we should know about?
INTERVIEW BY PAM CHARBIT PHOTOS BY JONATHAN BENBARUK
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DIGITAL FARM ANIMALS,
BEHIND THE BEST POP TRACKS
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ARE THEY WORTH
SEEING LIVE ?
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THE HUNNA W
e introduced them to you in our issue #19 in November 2018 as the heirs of rock and it’s true that with their sophomore album “Dare” released last summer, the British band The Hunna are still quite new to the music scene. However, their performance last month in Cologne, Germany proved that they are already competing with some of the biggest names in the rock scene. The Hunna graced the stage acclaimed by a really enthusiastic and almost sold-out venue and directly spoke to the audience sharing the news that they parted ways with their record label who wanted to “screw [them and their fans] over” and that they were not letting that happen. After encouraging applause they opened with “We Could Be”, who couldn’t be more appropriate with that kind of news. Right from the beginning we are struck by the band’s energy and the singer’s moves, who falls on his back mid-guitar riff, carried away by the enthusiasm. Rock’n’roll! Although the audience is pretty into it, Ryan the singer notes that the crowd is pretty polite compared to the British one. But it doesn’t take much for the crowd to literally start going crazy as soon as the next song begins. “Bad For You” comes on, starting with a menacing yet seductive guitar riff and demonstrate Ryan’s singing ability but also Jack’s amazing drum skills. Everything is neat, energetic and the band doesn’t shy away from playing some long instrumental for lasting pleasure, which we personally love. The band takes a break quite early in the set and only Ryan the singer stays on stage to perform a heartfelt acoustic version of “Brother”. The acoustic takes the song on another emotional level and create a beautiful atmosphere in the
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY LUDIVINE DESUMEUR
Live from Köln, Germany venue. For the rest of the show, the audience has lost its mind and casually starts a mosh pit in the middle, which will not end until the band performs their last song. The Hunna did not forget their iconic song “Dare” on their setlist, with rough jubilant guitar riffs and Ryan’s vocal accuracy. “Flicking Your Hair” and “Y.D.W.I.W.M.” with the ferocious hook “we’re too loud, can’t turn us down” follow right after, creating an exciting build-up before the band starts to play two new unreleased songs. During “What You’re Waiting For” Ryan decides to go crowd-surfing twice, which the security guards apparently did not see coming! A true rockstar. The Hunna’s energy on stage is clearly memorable, the singer’s movements are quite spectacular, and the musicians’ symbiosis is really tangible. Some of their riffs are exhilarating, the drums groovy (and with a slight hiphop vibe) and the catchy choruses that make their way onto most of the songs make you want to move and sing your heart out. There’s no other option than playing both albums on repeat and full volume after a night like this!
JAMES HERSEY A
t On The Move we’ve been following James Hersey’s career since 2016, watching him evolve and refine his craft from his “Pages EP” released in 2017 to his second album “Innerverse” released just a few weeks ago in April. The feeling we instantly got from the new album is that it is deeply personal. That feeling is spread on stage as well, as James used to be accompanied by two musicians and friends to play and is now on his own for most of the set. The point is nothing gets lost in translation. The Austrian singer-songwriter graces the stage in simplicity and addresses the crowd to come closer before starting playing. James has been practicing a lot to master the looping technique he probably learned from Jeremy Loops with whom he collaborated on the heartwarming song “My People” (which he played that night too). The results show and we are in awe of James’ talent as he performs “What I’ve Done” and showcases his own unique soundscape: an electro-pop universe transcended by a soothing voice full of emotions. It skillfully combines the sensitive aura of the singer-songwriter, the melodic sound of the guitar with the minimal structure of electronic music.
Live from Köln, Germany “These Gifts” that made it onto the new album. There’s no defined setlist for this show, James just plays whatever he feels like when he feels like. At some point, he grabs his acoustic guitar and comes at the front of the stage without any microphone and performs “Everywhere You Go”, which is probably the highlight of the show for us. Just a man and his guitar, what more could you ask for? James Hersey and Narou perform “Miss You”, last song of the set but a catchy one! James is a multitalented perfectionist who draws inspiration from life, relationships and personal experiences to build brilliant, honest and heady songs and we are so glad we could finally witness everything live on his Innerverse Tour. For his fans’ sake (including ours), James comes back not even 15 minutes after the end of the show, but this time at the merch table and grabs his acoustic guitar to play songs the fans want to hear. It shows what kind of artist James is: generous, humble and incredibly talented. There is no barrier between James and his fans, everything just feels right, like a chill Monday night with friends and good music.
Joined by his good friend and co-producer Narou, James performs two of his most successful collaborations “How Hard I Try” with filous and “Coming Over” with Kygo and Dillon Francis and the crowd sings in harmony creating an intimate atmosphere. Those moments are truly beautiful as we witness the singer’s passion for his music and love for his fans. Follow songs like “Juliet” from his first album “Clarity” released in 2015 and the beautiful homage to his parents
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY LUDIVINE DESUMEUR
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SPECIAL REPORT:
DENNIS LLOYD
Live at El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles 51
PHOTO REPORT BY HEATHER KOEPP
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W
e’ve been waiting for this one. Ever since we’ve first heard «Nevermind» in 2017, we have been wondering how the Israeli singer Dennis Lloyd would sound live. Now we know. Dennis Lloyd, born Nir Tibor, was sent to us from the land where milk and honey flow and made his sweet debut «Playa (Say That)» that clearly shows an unapologetic side that we are fond of, and that can be heard in his debut EP released last month named «Exident». The artist however reached global success with the smash «Nevermind», that is actually a remix of the actual «Nevermind» (alright) unveiled a couple of months before. Dennis Lloyd remixed himself and we’re all here for it. America and especially Los Angeles are a dream for most of the artists coming from all over the world and a packed house is often difficult for them to get, especially early on in their career. However, the 25-year old singer-songwriter seemed to be just fine playing a sold-out El Rey theater with an audience speaking English, Spanish and Hebrew. The production was just plain simple but who cares about production when the talent is here right? Dennis Lloyd along with his stage mates, guitarist and trumpeter Rom Shani and drummer Tomer Rabinowitz worked the room to the point where we started to wonder if they haven’t been doing this since birth. He also didn’t hesitate to go down the stairs to get closer to his fans and spitting water on them after sharing stories of how the songs came about.
Less and less artists actually make a point in creating a bond with their audience by communicating between songs, sharing stories and even asking for opinions, and it feels like Dennis Lloyd already figured out the best way to get his fans to come back for more. The last artists we saw being this close to their audience from early on in their career is the alternative band twenty one pilots - and the rest is history. The singer played pretty much every song on his repertoire going from his new single «Never Go Back» to the less-known but one of our favorite tracks of his «Think About It». We also appreciated «GFY» (and the middle finger that came with it) which depicts a young artist singing his uncensored truth with no filter or glitters for that matter. Dennis Lloyd also showed his skills as a guitarist and trumpeter in various songs which can complete his set of traits that makes him one of the artists we bet on for the future. If there were some blanks during the songs, the synergy between the band, the talent that Dennis Lloyd and his musicians showcased along with the openness and good vibes made his show an unforgettable one. In a relatively short period of time being in the industry with only one EP out, Dennis Lloyd proved that he has already a lot of sh*t figured out in terms of stage presence and we can’t wait to see what his next move will be.
WORDS BY PAM CHARBIT
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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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ON THE MOVE SPREADING TALENTS AROUND SINCE 2012 @OTMfr
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