ON THE MOVE MAG - OCTOBER 2018 by On The Move

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

7 38

REWIND Twenty One Pilots: The «Trench» Mystery

INTERVIEW : Kaela Sinclair The best albums of September

54 INTERVIEW : Family Of The Year

INTERVIEW

KODALINE,

sharing their politics of music

ZOOM ON...

The Night Game, Tsar B and Tall Heights

SUMMARY COVER STORY LAUV,

the future of pop

INTERVIEW MAGIC!,

an unexpected evolution

Are they worth seeing live ?

Bishop Briggs, Tash Sultana and Lauv

70 What’s next ? The shows not to miss What’s Up In France ? 71 OTM Mag : Meeting the team 73

REWIN EVERYTHING YOU MISSED AND NEED TO KNOW

EMINEM KILLSHOT

music video OF THE MONTH

Expanding their sci-fi concept of Palo Santo, a world dominated by cyborgs and robots, the band released a brand new video for their track «All For You». Here, Alexander steps into a warehouse and performs an impressive choreo before another cyborg awakens. The singer then morphs into an all-black figure, performing a singular duo with his new found partner. We can’t wait to see how the story unfolds in the next videos!

clash OF THE MONTH

The fight of the decade? Maybe. In response to Machine Gun Kelly’s diss track, Eminem released «Killshot», taking aim at the «A Little More» rapper. The two have nurtured their feud for weeks and Eminem’s track has helped him to break another record. Within the first 24 hours, the video gained over 36 million views and is now the biggest debut for a Hip-Hop track and the third biggest in YouTube history overall.

IT HAPPENED 7 YRS AGO

In Case You missed it

What a journey it’s been for Ed Sheeran. In 2011, the young British singer released «+» his debut album. With tracks like «The A Team», «Lego House» or «Drunk», Ed shaped his universe and changed the whole music industry. Followed by «x» and «divide», the first album is somehow considered one of the fans’ favorite. Nostalgic much?

It’s different, it’s unique, it’s powerful. After 5 long years, the iconic «Girlfriend» and «Complicated» singer is back with a brand new single. With «Head Above Water», forget about the grunge-pop as Avril chooses honesty and emotion to talk about the «worst years» of her life and her Lyme disease.

Farewell, Mac This month, we had to say goodbye to another soul fueled by music. At only 26, Mac Miller was a light and inspiration to millions and an incredible artist. To celebrate his life and career, we invite you to play «Swimming», his latest work to remember that music can be an escape and a way to forget everything for a while.

otm playlist LEWIS CAPALDI - GRACE THE NIGHT GAME - BACK OF THE VAN YEARS & YEARS - ALL FOR YOU BLACK EYED PEAS - BIG LOVE EMINEM - FALL SIGALA - JUST GOT PAID JESSARAE - BOYS IN THE BAND

KODALINE Kodaline is one of those bands that channels the crowd’s energy and makes the fans sing like one. You didn’t resist either to the emotions contained in «All I Want» or «High Hopes» in 2013. The four-piece Irish band composed of Steve Garrigan, Mark Prendergast, Vinny May and Jason Boland quickly made a name for themselves all over the world with their pop-folk infused tracks. After « In a Perfect World » (2013) and the rock N Roll « Coming Up for Air » (2015), the band is coming back with « Politics Of Living ». Not a real change when it comes to the topics covered but a noticeable and undeniably musical and visual evolution. We sat with guitarist Mark Prendergast and bassist Jason Boland to discuss Kodaline’s third chapter.

n The Move: Your new album « Politics of Living » went out a few days ago. What can we find in it? Mark Prendergast: Well, it is a bit of a departure again, in the same way our second album was a departure from our first. There are still songs in it that are kind of familiar to our roots and our original sound and there is also a lot of songs where we’re pushing ourselves into directions we wouldn’t normally take. Jason Boland: Yeah, I think, it is kind of a mix bag of everything. A mix bag of emotions. There is no running theme, there is no style that runs through it. It is pretty schizophrenic but it is just how it happened. We spent a long time on it. On The Move: The making of this album took you more time than the previous ones, which you released one after another. What was different in terms of the process of making it? Jason Boland: I think this is the standards we held ourselves to this time. When you make your first record, you don’t know what your standard is and as we went straight into the second, we pushed ourselves a bit. But for this album, we had a bit of time off, and by the time we were back to make music together, we just wanted it to be the best it could be. That is what made us go for a longer process. I think the songs happened as quick as they did on the other albums but we spent longer in search for more songs and for the perfect production. On The Move: Your new album is heading towards a bit of a different sound. What did influence it? Is it a challenge? A natural evolution? Or did certain collabs bring you towards it? Mark Prendergast: I think the collaborations influenced a few songs. I think our whole lives are always the influences. The constant discovery of new music, our live shows and even our personal lives… It all comes together to shape our sound. You are constantly being influenced, like everyday. Even today, walking around in Paris… I’m sure there is something that is going to stick and will manifest its way into our music. We don’t sit down and try to sound like anything. Everything happens very naturally. Even though in this album, it may not sound like that because we worked with so many people. But they all come from the same place!

On The Move: Which track on this upcoming album are you particularly proud of? Mark Prendergast: Tricky question! It really depends on which mood you’re in so I’d say it changes all the time. But maybe, «Angel» could be the one, this is a special song for us, very close to our heart. On The Move: Despite this evolution and these new sonorities, you always come back to the core of music with acoustic sessions. Why is it so important to you? Jason Boland: I think that’s where the songs start, you know. This is really where the songs live and breathe... So if they don’t work in acoustic, no matter how much production you put in it, nothing will fix it. So for us, it is just always very easy and fun to do the stripped back versions because this is what the sound really is, the heart of it.

« The constant discovery of new music, our live shows,our personal lives : IT all comes together to shape our sound » Mark Prendergast On The Move: You always record in quite extraordinary places or « riskier » ones, literally on the streets. Is it hard to perform that way ? Do you have any fun, weird memory about the recording of these sessions in Paris or Warsaw more recently ? Jason Boland: When we were in… Was it Madrid? Well, we haven’t released that one yet. We did one session for our song called « Head Held High » and I think that was the first time in Spain where they would see this kind of rain, it wasn’t even raining, it was like icestones the size of a fist, it was crazy… And it began just as we finished! We did this very laid back, quiet version of the song and suddenly it started crashing into cars with people fleeing! But it is always lovely times… We did a series of those around the world over the years with our good friends! It is always such fun to try and see what we can make happen in a day.

On The Move: Is it difficult for you to do that, as performers? Mark Prendergast: You know, we are kind of rolling it together! We did a few, we kind of filmed like three or four and we try not to recreate the same thing. We filmed a few more on different places that actually didn’t make it through. Everyone can kind of see you with a guitar and all the cameras and everyone start looking… As soon as you start playing the song, you almost block out the world and you do your thing. People are very into it because people with guitars don’t usually walk by you on the streets singing. And it’s great to just completely ignore the world and just focus on performance. I like making people just kind of stop on the streets… it’s cool (laughs). On The Move: Lyrically, you said your « new album is about reminiscing, about family, friends and being kids. It’s stories about us really and growing up. ». Is it what music is about to you ? expressing very universal but also very personal matters ? Mark Prendergast: Not all music… We are hugely into hip-hop and most of the time they are just talking about how many cars they have and all that you know (laughs) but the music we make, we try not to overthink it too much. It just comes out as universal but it’s ours, it’s always personal. It probably comes across as universal by accident. We don’t set out to try and write a song that will speak to a lot of people… We write songs that feel to us and some songs really connect globally and some other don’t. Jason Boland: It’s a happy accident that it does work! On The Move: Have you ever considered music as a tool to express political or societal matters? Jason Boland: I think art has always gone this way but I don’t think all art needs to be engaged… I think for us it’s more escapism than any other things. Mark Prendergast: We never ever had a conversation about politics. I think, for me especially, I try to avoid that because it gets me really down, it’s always bad news you know. I don’t really want to draw more attention to that. Like Jason said, it’s escapism. Some bands are political like U2 and they are amazing when they get it right. For us, when our fans come to our shows, we kind of want them to leave all that shit outside and just bring the room together. On The Move: And you do that very well!

On The Move: You have collaborated with Johnny McDaid, from Snow Patrol (which has written for the likes of Ed Sheeran, James Blunt, Pink, Alicia Keys and Weezer). What did he bring you guys, that you couldn’t find in your own interaction as a band ? Do you have any dream collaboration ? Jason Boland: I think, with any collaboration, it is just that we haven’t that fifth member you know. We’ve been doing this as four people for a long time so anytime you bring someone else in that mix and that works, it is just gonna be another angle, just another opinion. And Johnny is a very very talented lyric writer as well.

« I don’t think all art needs to be engaged » Jason Boland On The Move: Do you have dream collaborations? Mark Prendergast: Yes, so many! The list is endless, and it gets even longer as soon as you discover new artists. There are artists though I think I’d be afraid to work with because you look up to them so much. But at the moment, I’d say Sigrid, I really like Sigrid. But I think I’d really like to work with someone who is on a completely different page, someone like… We played with Justice in Romania about a month ago. The light show, the way I felt watching it, it was just incredible. It would be amazing to be in the studio and see how they come up with those tracks and settings. Because when you watch them on stage, it is “wow”, the way the music feels! You just have a lot of fun the whole time. On The Move: For this album, you’re proposing something different also visually, with this collection of very bright, colorful and graphic artwork. Who is the artist you’re collaborating with and whose idea was it? Mark Prendergast: That’s a very good question! Jason Boland: Whenever we come to choose the artwork, our label propose us different artists. The work they sent us originally from this artist, Steve Stacey [Nothing But Thieves, George Ezra, Beck etc.] was just really striking. It was already very similar from what we ended up with : this guy falling, without the umbrella maybe. And there was something about that simple, simple image that really caught our attention. And with a few more, we really got the best of him.

On The Move: That’s something you carried on with “Head Held High”, his very cinematographic video with a squared format… Mark Prendergast: Actually, we get asked the question a lot but it’s a shame we’re not more involved into our videos! Because there are such amazing ideas in it. We rarely have much of an input. And I was kind of fearful for that song because it is so pop, but the video eventually brings a little darkness to it and I really like that! It’s an amazing piece. Jason Boland: And James Fitzgerald, the director we’re working with, he did the “Shed A Tear” video before that, and he was just very excited by this idea of a very narrative piece for “Head Held High”. He has had this in mind for a year now, but it just never happened and when he heard “Head Held High”, just the excitement he had -also during the videoshoot, we couldn’t resist and said “Please, just do it, go for it!”

you hear your voice back on recording, you’re like « what the fuck ? It’s not me, it’s an imposter!» it all seems so strange because you’ve spent so long in those songs. But really, it’s been great, a really good week! On The Move: What can we expect from your tour? Jason Boland: It will be really fun going into it because we’ve got so many songs to choose from, now. For the past years, we always kind of had a pretty similar set and now, there will be way more options and every night could be a little bit different! Mark Prendergast: Yeah, that’s amazing for us to play new songs. We’ve kinda been teasing new songs over the last years by doing them on festivals and it’s always a way to make the set stronger! Jason Boland: Yeah, we can’t wait!

« I’d really like to work with someone who is on a completely different page » Mark Prendergast On The Move: These past few days, you’ve been doing listening parties in Europe (Zurich, Madrid, Munich and Paris) in order to share your album with the fans. Is their any reaction coming from fans that surprise you during these sessions ? Mark Prendergast: We’ve been playing the album for fans for a week and it’s been amazing. The response has been really good. We started this pretty nervous but it went alright yeah! We haven’t got any bad reviews but then again, if we play the album to fans, I don’t know if they would speak and say in person that they don’t like it (laughs) but we got some amazing reactions in Switzerland for example, in Madrid also, they were clapping out to every song and they were really into it. It’s just nice because it’s been so long since our last album and for us, it is just the best way to bring it to the world. Meet our fans, hang with them, ask them what they think… It’s been really nice! But to be honest, it could be nerve-wracking if we didn’t leave the room while they listen to it because it is a pretty uncomfortable situation (laughs). You see everything, every reaction and they stare at you… and it’s fair enough because they wanna see your reaction too while they listen to your music. Also, you know, when

Kodaline’s third album «Politics Of Living» is out! artwork by Steve Stacey

What Kodaline is listening to at the moment : All Tvvins, James Vincent Mc Morrow, Anderson. Paak, Brockhampton. INTERVIEW BY CORALINE BLAISE PHOTOS BY DAVID FITT EXCLUSIVELY FOR ON THE MOVE

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!

THE NIGHT GAME

From Boys Like Girls to A 80s-style new wave project

There was a time when Martin Johnson was making all of our emo pop dreams come true as the frontman of Boys Like Girls. However, Johnson is beyond his days of « Love Drunk » and « The Great Escape ». He began his solo project, The Night Game, back in 2016. By 2017, he released his first single « The Outfield », a prime example of his alternative meets pop sound. The song about unrequited love with a stadiumsized chorus caught the attention of John Mayer. In May 2017, he posted about it on his Instagram: « I heard this song. Then I listened to again to make sure I heard what I thought I had. (Yep.) Then I asked them to open up for half the upcoming summer shows. This is that stuff we listen to new music for ». And so The Night Game began what they called « The First Tour », opening up for John Mayer’s The Search for Everything World Tour. By May of the following year, just a few months ago, The Night Game announced the release of their self-titled debut album. The Night Game was released earlier this month on September 7 by Interscope Records. The album has 11 tracks, opening with « The Outfield ». Johnson has evolved from his mid-aughts bops. He clearly knows it’s all about the synth when it comes to the current alternative music landscape, but continues to sing intriguing girls (« Bad Girls Don’t Cry ») and looking back on his hometown (« Do You Think About Us? » and « Summerland »). Now with a good amount of time in the music industry behind his back, as explained in an interview to Billboard, is « Back in the Van », which he called a « gentile ‘fuck you’ to Los Angeles [that] features horns, a keyboard solo and two key changes ». The Night Game finished up overseas shows in September, but will make it back to North America through the end of November. This leg will begin October 8 in Vancouver, Canada, and finish in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 20.

The sets have primarily been comprised of the new album, as is to be expected of new acts. He is known to frequently cover REM’s « It’s the End of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) », which he released his own version. With his love for REM, the 80s flare to The Night Game’s music comes to no surprise. Recently he discussed the purpose of the project with Ones to Watch: « I made [the album] to see if i could love music again. I’m still not sure about that one, but I’m hoping the answer is out on the road ». Though Johnson and his new project no longer embody Boy Like Girls, even just a little bit, fans from back then probably will still enjoy The Night Game. Like Johnson, we’ve all done some growing up and can relate to music about love, maturing and nostalgia.

Listen if you are a fan ofThe Police, obviously!

One song to listen to« Bad Girls Don’t Cry » which sounds like your new anthem. Minimalist instrumental on a catchy chorus, we love it!

WordS by Haley Bosselman and Pam Charbit PHOTO by Patrick Tracy

TSAR B

The Belgian enchantress

Have you heard about Tsar B yet? This Belgian musician is on a rising path since the release of her debut single « Escalate ». At only 23 years old, the singer-songwriter and producer develops a unique sound mixing dark R’n’B and oriental sonorities. On the edge of unveiling her debut album « The Games I Played » - out in October 12th – now is the right time to jump on the bandwagon and get carried away by Tsar B’s hypnotic melodies. Justine Bourgeus was attracted by music very early on. She started with classical, taking violin lessons from age 5 and then going for jazz and classical singing. But, she also grew up listening to world music and developped an interest in oriental music. However, her career started on rock territories. Indeed, when she was 19, she took part in a band called « School Is Cool », based in Antwerp, with which she was able to tour Europe. This period on the road had Justine Bourgeus start writing and composing for a project of her own. The future Tsar B discovered her own passion for production, building tracks on her computer. Before going solo, Tsar B collaborated with fellow musician Oscar and The Wolf on a brilliant cover of Amy Winehouse’s « Back To Black » for the soundtrack of the Belgian movie « Black ». Both artist share the same mystic and enigmatic power. At the end of 2015, Tsar B eventually revealed her debut single « Escalate ». The track mixes arabic, hyper-saturated bass, and R’n’B beats, resulting in a unique sound. The whole composition is sublimated by Tsar B’s singing, at times oriental, at times pop. In her sound, she combines acoustic sonorities like violon and flute with electronic elements, ending up in a distorted and rich sound. The final productions are also profound and personal. « When I sing, I don’t use the occidental system of scale but the arabic one that have a lot more notes. This way of singing has become kind of automatic to me. » With the success of her first title, Tsar B went on and released her debut self-titled EP in 2016. The brilliant « Tsar B » is an intense project in the perfect continuity of « Escalate ». Four tracks – including this debut single – proposed very personal and metaphorical lyrics, highlighted by the singer’s dark and vibrant voice. Tsar B already demonstrated how perfectionnist she is: music production, live performances, videos, artworks, outfits are always all beautifully crafted.

In 2017, Tsar B released a new track « Golddigger », drums guiding the R&B track. This turn is confirmed with the brilliant and melancholic « Rattlesnake ». Touches of violon bring a deeper end to the beautiful and sensual R&B rythmic. Eventually, heading towards the release of her debut album « The Games I Played » (October 12th), the Flemish artist has just released two new songs. On « Brazil », the production is as polished as on the previous material. But the artist seems on a lighter, more playful mood. Her voice hits even higher pitches - especially on the heady chorus « I wanna be your girl, I wanna take it seriously, I wanna be your girl ». With her latest track « Velvet Green », Tsar B goes a completely different way while tackling the same theme: love. When the mischevious melody of « Brazil » brings a kind of fun feeling, « Velvet Green » gets way more solemn. : « It’s about a crazy important game. One that should be taken very seriously. No cheat codes no hacking. The game of love. » The track sounds like a soothing incantation, essentially built around multiple layers of voices. Exhilirating and beautifully painful! Here, Tsar B broadens her horizons and opens even more paths for « The Games I Played » to go. She partially lets go of her dark signature to reconcile with her positive nature and blow more nuances into her work. Her debut opus should be sonically diverse but bewitching from beginning to end !

Listen if you are a fan of« A combination of electronic, eastern music and 90’s pop » or « dark-as-the-nith R&B »... Tsar B says it herself !

One song to listen toEven though it only showcases a tiny part of what Tsar B is capable of musically, « Velvet Green » is an absolute gem.

TALL HEIGHTS

Pretty Colors For Your Actions

Time for a change! The rising-duo Tall Heights is ready to unveil their brand new album, which undeniably showcases their new musical change. Let’s dive into the band’s world before this release. On October 5, folktronica duo Tall Heights release their sophomore album, « Pretty Colors for Your Actions ». About an hour outside of Boston in Sturbridge, Mass., Tim Harrington (vocals, guitar) and Paul Wright (vocals, cello) came to cross paths. Paul initially was friends with Tim’s older brother. By high school, the two began making music together after both learning to play guitar. Paul, however, had a childhood devoted to music, whereas Tim did not. Paul’s family are classically trained musicians and he began playing cello at a young age. On the other hand, music was fairly absent from Tim’s childhood home. In time, Tim became what he refers to himself as Paul’s « eternal little brother ». After a few EPs and a debut album « Man of Stone », Tall Heights signed with Sony Masterworks. They released their major label debut, « Neptune », in 2016. With « Pretty Colors for Your Actions» , Paul and Tim take a step toward a more electro-pop/indie- heavy sound. They released the first single off the album earlier this summer, « The Deep End », after their tour with Judah & the Lion. Talking about the song, they explain: « the song is about the willful metamorphosis of the mind and body from something that you are into, something that you probably shouldn’t be.... We wanted the track to mirror how we felt when we wrote it: sad and terrified, but still smiling lots and bumping to the beat ». Over a mellow groove they sing: « I’m a man with a plan when it comes to this so, Oh no, I’m sinking in, the deep end, try and change my, try and change my mind ». It evokes the nature of the album title - the song sounds pretty, but when you listen, there is plenty to think about. It’s up to the listener whether they indulge in dancing or overthinking.

« Pretty Colors for Your Actions » is made up of 11 songs that create an intersection of guitar and contemporary production. With this album, they make the jump from a production-saturated work to, according to Tim, « something much more alive and tactile», as enabled by a live band in-studio. Despite their sound evolution, Tall Heights are, as always, committed to their singular sound. The two have their own way of working, creating a balance in music creation. Tim’s habits keep the duo moving toward the end product, while Paul steers Tall Heights lyrically and compositionally. In elaborating on their nearly 10 years together, Tim explains their commitment to music as art: « The only thing that endures is something that is art across all borders and times...It needs to first and foremost be a thing that’s worthy of consumption on an emotional level ». With 130 million Spotify streams behind them, Tall Heights are set to embark on their own headlining tour across North America. The band will make over 35 stops, finishing with a hometown show in Boston on Dec. 1.

Listen if you are a fan ofLocal Natives, undeniably.

One song to listen to« Spirit Cold » will warm your heart and will give you a good overview of the band’s sound.

WordS by Haley Bosselman and Pam Charbit PHOTO BY Jimmy Fontaine

LAUV Lauv’s hit single «I Like Me Better» is probably already in your playlists without you even knowing it! Starting out in the business as a songwriter for pop stars such as Charli XCX, the 24 year-old artist finally decided to dedicate his art to this own project. After more than one billion streams on the different tracks off this playlist « I met you when I was 18 », a faithful fanbase, many shows opening for Ed Sheeran and his own world tour being a success, we can safely say that Ari Staprans Leff has everything needed to become the next pop superstar. Discover more about Lauv, his music and his down-to-earth, kind and spontaneous personality in our interview.

Taken from the music video of ÂŤ The Other Âť, the first track Ari Leff decided to release as Lauv.

n The Move: I read a lot about you online, about where you come from, but I didn’t find anything about your first memory in terms of music, can you tell me about it? Lauv: Yeah, some of my first memories would be I guess playing piano as a little kid when I was probably like 5 or 6. Just classic lame parents having me do piano lessons, and I remember being yeld at by the teacher to play properly... It was my first memories of music because I sort of played as a little kid before I started writing music. On The Move: What triggered you wanting to write? Lauv: I started writing when I was probably 13. After I played piano, I have two older sisters and they play violin and cello and I started playing viola and guitar. Once I started the guitar, I was like, holy shit, this is incredible. Then I stopped doing everything and I just sat in my room and learnt Green Day songs and learnt all these songs just off the internet. That’s when I started writing, I just fell in love with that !

« you have to write from yourself, that’s the most genuine music » On The Move: We know you started making music professionally by writing and composing for others. But in 2014 when writing « The Other », you decided to keep this one for yourself. What clicked for this track (that made you keep it)? Lauv: Yeah, good question ! That one was just like the first I had written in so long that was about my life. It wasn’t me trying to write something for someone else. When you learn you can write for other producers and artists, when you are young, you just start to think « ok what’s the song that Katy Perry wants to sing ? », some stupid things like that. By the way, that doesn’t work, you have to write from yourself, that’s the most genuine music. But that was the written first song that I thought was really close to me personally. I just wanted to sing it and put it out just for myself. On The Move: This song specifically was very intimate, just like your music overall, but you often say that you started writing breakup songs before even knowing what a relationship was.

So you don’t need to exactly experience these things to be able to write about them? Lauv: No, I think the songs I was writing then, they were like fearless and back to them you can tell I didn’t really know. My dad would make fun of me. He would be like « what are you saying here ? » because I hadn’t been through it. I just always, for whatever reason, loved sad music and stuff like that ; when I was trying to learn how to write that was the natural instinct for me I guess. It’s funny though ! On The Move: Is there any condition that you prefer to compose in? Being alone or not for example? Lauv: It’s always different, I have to drink a lot of coffee so that I believe in myself. It sounds weird but... I also just love like for every experience to be different because if I feel like I’m always doing the same thing as before then I lose my focus and inspiration a little bit. So sometimes it will start like, especially when I’m on tour I’m always writing lyrics down on my iPhone notes and ideas and voice memos. Then I try to come back to that later but every song starts differently. On The Move: Is there any song you wish you had written? You wish it was yours? Lauv: There is a ton of them ! Recently, I don’t know if you’re into The Talking Heads, my dad was super into them when I was growing up, and one of my favorite songs … maybe « Youth » by Daughter if you know that song? On The Move: Oh yeah that’s a gorgeous song. Lauv: She’s so fucking good! So sad and so good! On The Move: That’s a great band! So last June you released your playlist « I met you when I was 18 », why did you want to do it? Lauv: I wanted to make it really hard for people no I’m just kidding (laughs). No basically the reason I didn’t want to do it as an album is that the songs had been coming out slowly since 2015. In that time first there was singles and I put out a little EP but I didn’t really know that they all fit together in the way that they did. Once I thought that all these songs were about this relationship, and it was a long relationship, I wanted to give people a chance to go back and hear it in the right order if they wanted to. That is what « I Met You When I Was 18 » was born for. I wanted to keep adding to it as I was finishing songs. It was a kind of an ongoing thing.

On The Move: Are you considering realeasing a proper album in the future? Lauv: Definitely yes ! I love bodies of work you can go through like « Ghost Stories » by Coldplay or « Mylo Xyloto », « Continuum » by John Mayer… I love when it’s a whole physical body work, definitely! On The Move: What can we expect from it? Lauv: It’s really important to me that you’re not doing the same thing over and over and over. I’m a romantic person but the things I’ve been writing about have been less about just love, more about bigger life stuff. I want it to be like a broader scope of my entire personality. Maybe a couple funny songs who knows? (laughs) On The Move: There is also this thing visually, it’s very tight to you, the color blue ? Why is that? Lauv: Just blue, with its different shades, and more than any color for me is just emotional and has a depth to it, especially with loving and sad music and stuff. It has always made sense to me. Before I put on « I Like Me Better » I got this idea of a blue rose and I was googling that. I realized that in literature, a blue rose is supposed to signify unrequited love. I thought that was amazing, that was perfect. Then from there, I was also inspired by this artist Yves Klein, really cool with deep deep blue. I wondered if I could do some plan of this deep blue but with paint so I started doing paint stuff. That’s how it was born. On The Move: If this going to evolve? Will you start another color period like Picasso? Lauv: (laughs) Yeah for sure! I think blue and the feeling of blue will always be there and I want to incorporate the color as a classic thing but I don’t like being stuck in the same bubble so yes it’s going to evolve, tonally and I think also in terms of materials and stuff. On The Move: You also maintained a really close relationship with your fans, I read about that « My Blue Thoughts » box during the gig, where does this idea come from? Lauv: I’m trying to remember where it originally came from... I just remember before I went to my first world tour, I really wanted to do something. First, I wondered if I could make it a part of the stage, where people could write notes, anything that’s going in their lives, anonymously and we can make it part of

the stage. Then I thought it was going to be messy and you wouldn’t be able to read it. So eventually, the idea morphed from there into this box. I was honestly nervous to try it because I didn’t know what people were going to do. But people have been really open, funny and sweet. People have shared a lot of pretty intimate things. Hopefully it helps them in some way to just be able to put that somewhere. From here, I want to keep growing it, I would love to eventually make it a video booth where you can walk in and it’s like a silhouette so no one can see who you are, almost like a non religious confessional. You could go in and say anything. On The Move: That would be nice! Lauv: You couldn’t see who it is. I don’t know if that would be practical but I would love to do that !

« i want my album to be like a broader scope of my entire personality » On The Move: Going back to your work, you collaborated with a lot of artists, who did you particularly love working with? Lauv: I’ve been lucky, I haven’t worked with anybody I haven’t liked! On The Move: Maybe a specific lesson learnt from one of them? Lauv: Yeah! I think one of the biggest things in terms of hanging out with other artists, going on tour with Ed Sheeran and being around him has been probably my most inspiring experience because the music business is very competitive and people are fake. That’s just the reality, people protect themselves. You don’t know who your real friends are. People don’t always support each other. But what I saw from him was in every single way the exact opposite. I was opening for him in arenas and it’s just simple things: a lot of times artists don’t get real soundchecks. We got a full soundcheck, they saved all of our settings, they let us take our time, they supported us allowing us to have some production. He’s said he does that because he had that experience when he was opening for other artists. He saw the difference between being treated well and not being treated this well. He said he just wanted to do that for other people and he’s like that with his whole crew.

I really feel like everybody who meets him has that same experience. He is just somebody to look up to. Sometimes it’s easy to get stressed out, you really want to succeed and you get all caught up your own head and you see that, it’s just a good person. It reminds you that it’s possible! (laughs) On The Move: Was it hard to perform in front of an audience that isn’t yours? Lauv: Honestly, I was more nervous for the first show, because I was playing in front of 20,000 people or something. But because it’s less intimate it’s almost like it’s less scary. Everything is further ! I feel honestly more nervous for my own shows or more excited but also more nervous because... if I’m playing in front of new people, I am what I am, they’re going to like me or they’re not going to like me. Sometimes I have this fear of playing in front of my audience. They decided they love me and they come to my show and they’re like « actually maybe I don’t like you ». I always put pressure on myself for my shows to really be like... amazing if that makes sense.

« I wOULD LIKE to play my own stadiums someday » On The Move: What can we expect from your live shows? Lauv: Oh ! Let’s see... there are always a couple of surprises. There are random things happening. I don’t know if you’ve seen on my Instagram story but my photographer on the first leg of this tour brought a random piece of food to me - I forgot what it was and now, every night at some point, it happens again (laughs). Last time, it was a cheeseburger, I was singing and he brought it so I ate it while I was trying to sing. So you could probably see that at some point, we never know what it will be. I love my shows to be a bounce : there’s a couple of stripped down moments where it’s just me and a keyboard or me and a guitar, I love to get really down to the basics. But also I feel really proud of the production and the vibe we’ve put together in terms of visual aesthetic on stage. I think it is always a high energy show. On The Move: Coming back to the time where you were trying to book gigs in America for your band and stuff, what would you say to yourself at this time?

Lauv: I think what I would have said... I guess I wouldn’t have done anything differently because that is how I got here. I think back then I didn’t think enough about the music. I was wondering how I could get people to discover the music, how I could get in front of people. What I learnt, especially after putting out « The Other » and since then, is if you’re trying to be an artist and make music a 100% for yourself and you don’t expect anybody to listen to it, that’s fine and do that. But if you’re hoping that people are going to listen to you, you have to be willing to throw away your own music and say that it is not good enough because people don’t owe you anything. So I think that I learnt that people don’t owe you anything, to focus on the music and make that as good as possible. On The Move: Nice ! Now you have these millions of streams and you performed on differents stages, also in different shows on TV, what is your next goal somehow or your dream? Lauv: I would like to play my own stadiums someday, that would be sick ! Because the feelings of all those people together singing words is unbelievable. The album for me is my big focus, I think the music is the main thing right now and also to continue to create in other ways. I don’t know maybe someday, I’d like to publish poetry or maybe a novel or something like that. On The Move: To conclude, we’re in Paris, one of your tracks is « Paris In The Rain », what do you love so much about Paris? Lauv: There is no other city to walk around and to just get lost in the streets, that’s the biggest thing for me. Every time I come here, I just try to wander as much as possible. Every area is in my opinion very different, you just get a lot of different feelings from it. What else? I don’t drink that much wine... (laughs) But I have gone into cheese a little bit.

What Lauv is listening to at the moment : Phoebe Bridgers, Apparat, Talking Heads. INTERVIEW BY CORALINE BLAISE WITH DéBORAH GAILLARD PHOTOS BY DAVID FITT EXCLUSIVELY FOR ON THE MOVE

Twenty one pilots: The ‘Trench’ mystery

saying “Tyler wishes he could be here, but he’s actually off severing ties with Dema”. There! What is he talking about? What’s Dema you will ask? Well, it’s the first ever hint of something way bigger.

nless you’ve been living under a rock for the past three years, you are probably already familiar with the band twenty one pilots. The band’s rise to fame is one of the music industry’s most defining global artist development stories of recent times. Singer-songwriter Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun managed to break the genre barriers and set themselves apart from an ocean of bands with their singular style, raw lyrics and unprecedented mindblowing shows.

“Our music is a mix of mine and Tyler’s taste in music. We can’t be put in a box, we make the kind of music we love no matter the genre.” claimed Josh Dun in our 2015 interview. After two years of the Blurryface era thanks to which they earned a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/ Group Performance, the band went completely silent and disappeared from the surface of the Internet in July 2017, with a series of cryptic messages, ending with an eye closing on the word “silence”. Their social media went inactive over the days and the fans were left with a header displaying the word “silence”. There were rumors of a “hiatus”, although everybody knew that twenty one pilots were just enjoying their (welldeserved) free time and working on new music far away from the public eye. Everything began just a few days after the beginning of their so-called “hiatus”, at the Alternative Press Music Awards, where the band won the category “Most Dedicated Fanbase”. However, Josh Dun was the only one to show up to accept the award on stage. He made sure not to forget to speak on behalf of his bandmate,

But it’s not until April 2018 that this all made sense. As dedicated fans (duh, they won an award, remember!), the Clique, as they are called, quickly started to notice suspicious events. First of all, the band’s merch store got updated with a video, which at first seemed just like a normal video, except that this one included a cryptic message and a link to a secret website. When you enter the url, a 404-error type of message directly appears, only that this weird message hides something: all the capital letters spell the phrase “East is up”. What the hell is this, right? It all gets weird but fans didn’t give up and dug deeper to find out what was going on. The secret website got updated regularly with very cryptic information from a Clancy character. This character writes journal entries and tells his own story. There’s a whole world being built with this website and Clancy writes about how he is starting to be unhappy with Dema: “as a child I looked upon Dema with wonder, today I wrought with frustration”. So what’s Dema? Supposedly, Dema is an organization and/or a village. As the website gets updated with journal entries from Clancy and images, we learn more about this dystopian universe. Among the different images being uploaded on the secret website, there is a photo of a group of people on a cliff, the picture of a vulture, or even the map of what is thought to be Dema. The map shows nine circles at the center of a tower, nine circles which strangely make us think of the Blurryface album cover. Those circles refer to names written upon them, supposedly the nine bishops Clancy talks about in his letters. Those bishops have a lot of power and are ruling Dema, and controlling everybody who’s residing in it. In his letter, Clancy also refers to the tower of silence, which is clearly to be seen on the map. In old religions like the Zoroastrians, it is believed that dead bodies are unclean so they put them on top of these towers they built and let birds (most probably vultures, hence the

vulture picture on the website) eat them clean until only the bones could be removed. Clancy begins to have bigger dreams and sees a big wall he never noticed before, making Dema not his home anymore but his trap. He’s making plans to escape Dema. With all the information that we could gather up until now, thanks to the new music (we’ll get to that a bit later), Clancy here represents looking outside the system and makes a reference to “Doubt” from the album “Blurryface” (“Gnawing on the bishops/Claw away at the system/Repeating simple phrases/Someone holy insisted/Want the mark he’s made on my skin/To mean something to me again/Hope you haven’t left without me”). But who’s this Clancy character? We still don’t know for sure. What’s confirmed is that Tyler is not Clancy and Clancy is not Tyler. In a letter posted on the secret website last July, just after the release of the “Jumpsuit” music video, Clancy writes about being there, seeing when Tyler was traveling Trench in order to escape Dema and when one of the bishops caught him. Pretty much telling the music video from his point of view. A few months after the discovery of the secret website, and more or less one year after the band went silent, twenty one pilots released the first track of “Trench” along with its music video. At that point, we also knew about the existence of two other songs called “Nico and The Niners” and “Levitate”. The visual for “Jumpsuit” starts with the burned car from “Heavy Dirty Soul”, which means the story has started way before. The description of Dema and the bishops by Clancy start to appear more than clearly, as a red-robed figure, supposedly one of the bishops, is after Tyler. We can see people are standing on a cliff looking down below, referring to the picture on the website, and as the bishop catches Tyler, he puts his hands on either side of Tyler’s neck and leaves these black marks, that we saw in the Blurryface era that are the symbol of Tyler’s insecurities (hands and throat; where he makes things, and most importantly music). So could this red-robed figure be another personification of Blurryface?

In the second-part of this story, the music video for “Nico and the Niners”, we can follow Tyler back in his room in Dema, we can take a closer look of Dema, and the evil organization of the bishops, painting a visual representation of Clancy’s letters.Tyler puts the yellow flower seen in the “Jumpsuit” music video and puts it in a wardrobe with other yellow flowers that possibly represent all failed escapes. He’s packing his stuff, and we notice the glasses and the beanie from the Blurryface era. Josh is part of the Banditos and is coming to Tyler’s rescue. In the music video for “Levitate” the final part of this three-part story, Tyler and the Banditos have been walking for a long time and are now back at the camp. Only that at the end, one of the bishops manages once again to find him and force him back to Dema. It is believed that like Blurryface, Dema and the bishops represent a level of insecurity and Clancy the fight against your internal demons. But there are so many clues, symbolism, interpretations and references, whether it is the color yellow, the burned car, the bishop Nico or even just Clancy. One thing’s certain, this whole universe and story that came out of Tyler’s and Josh’s brains is fascinating, and as we dig deeper, mind-blowing. The musical genius extends to a whole new definition, and that’s what makes twenty one pilots one of the best acts in today’s musical industry.

WORDS BY LUDIVINE DESUMEUR AND PAM CHARBIT

KAELA SINCLAIR If you’re a fan of our Australian little protégé Troye Sivan, chances are that you’re already familiar with the talented Kaela Sinclair. After joining French electronic band M83, and currently on tour with the “My My My” singer, Kaela is now ready to make a name for herself with her upcoming EP “Half Asleep”. Stop everything you are doing and find more about Kaela Sinclair. She’s going to make waves in the next future. You’ve been warned.

n The Move: Hey Kaela, thank you for granting us this interview. For our readers to understand your work, could you tell us more about how you started in music?

pushed through roadblocks faster this time because now this EP feels like a fairly accurate representation of who am I right now, as opposed to who I was two or three years ago.

Kaela Sinclair: Thanks for having me. I’ve been singing and playing piano as long as I can remember. It’s always been really important to me to express myself. I made collages for my journals and carried them with me everywhere. My parents let me try everything, ballet, sports, art, etc. I loved art too but it was so easy to choose music. I just knew I was supposed to be doing it.

On The Move: I know you produce a lot yourself, did you produce some of the tracks on your EP?

On The Move: You’ve been touring with different artists including M83 and you’re now a part of Troye Sivan’s touring band. How do those experiences help you to shape your own sound? Kaela Sinclair: It’s a privilege to choose to be surrounded by people who inspire you, and to be chosen by them in return. M83 and Troye Sivan are pretty different, but they’re both led by people who are uncompromising in their vision for their music. It’s helpful to remember that authenticity wins. So I absorb what resonates with me, and let it be refiltered through my experiences and voice. On The Move: You have a new collaboration out with the Dutch EDM artist R3HAB named “Whiplash”, how did this collaboration come about? Kaela Sinclair: It came about through mutual friends in LA. I recorded the vocals for it earlier this year. It was cool to do something different from my usual sound, and to reach a totally different audience. On The Move: Your new EP “Half Asleep” is coming out October 5th, congratulations! What can you tell us about it and how would you describe it compared to your previous releases? Kaela Sinclair: Thanks! The EP title “Half Asleep” is about the state of being when you aren’t sure if you’re awake or dreaming, which can be a place of sudden wisdom and revelation, or just confusing symbology and metaphors. Honestly, everything feels surreal lately. I remember where I was and what I was feeling when I wrote each song. There’s a lot in there about a longdistance relationship, some sadness, some joy. This EP took six months to make, but in the past it’s taken me a lot longer to finish things. I’m super happy to have

Kaela Sinclair: I did produce a lot of this EP myself. There’s definitely a bedroom pop, DIY feeling to it. I did have a couple rad friends who helped me pull it all together. I worked with Frankie Siragusa on “Half Asleep” and “Midnight Swims” - he also mixed the whole EP -, I worked with Luke Saunders on “Like This» and “I Cry Too”, and McKenzie Smith on “Isobel”.

« I absorb what resonates with me, and let it be refiltered through my experiences and voice » On The Move: In this upcoming EP you have a song named “Isobel”, who is she or what does she represent? Kaela Sinclair: I wrote Isobel the summer of 2015, on the island of Orkney, off the tip of Northern Scotland. I’d been sponsored to play a festival there and had set up a UK tour - my first time touring internationally. Most people haven’t been to Orkney, because it’s hard to get to and pretty isolated, but it’s visually and historically remarkable. A short description of Orkney: It’s located in the North Sea and mostly treeless, with windswept plains and dramatic ocean cliffs. It’s been occupied for 8,500 years and has ancient Neolithic remains all over the island. It felt otherworldly, and sometimes even eerie. I was walking around an old cemetery along the coast (no one was around, Orkney is not touristy) and saw the gravestone of Isobel Sinclair, dated from the 13th century. She’d died young, as a teenager, and partially because of her last name, but also because the weather had suddenly shifted I felt connected to her, and struck by the poetry of it all. Within minutes the sky was dark, a cold wind blowing clouds inland. Calm waters became a black, angry-looking sea. I couldn’t help but imagine what it must have been like to live there. She probably never left the island. I wonder

what she would have thought if she had known that 800 years in the future someone from the other side of the world would write a song about her. In that way, I wanted her to be heard, whoever she was. So it’s a reminder that we never know how we will make a mark on the earth and on other humans, during our lives or after. We’re not unimportant, but part of the grander whole, and we live on.

« It’s helpful to remember that authenticity wins » On The Move: You have an unique eclectic sound, who are your influences? Kaela Sinclair: Early on I was influenced by classical composers like Debussy and Chopin...I only wanted to play pieces by them for awhile. As a teenager I became pretty obsessed with artists/bands like Sigur Ros, Björk, Phoenix, The Shins, Radiohead, and Death Cab for Cutie, to name a few.

On The Move: Are you planning on playing shows on your own after the end of Troye Sivan’s tour? Kaela Sinclair: Yeah hopefully I’ll play an LA show or two when I get back!

What Kaela Sinclair is listening to at the moment : Kiasmos, Rostam, Caribou, The Japanese House, Wolf Alice, Nonkeen, Marika Hackman, On and On, Bibio, RY X, Deru, Lo Moon.

INTERVIEW BY Pam Charbit AND BRANDI MASON PHOTOS : NIGHTDOVE STUDIO

OUR BEST ALBUMS

OF SEPTEMBER 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, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find something new to discover... Here are our favourite albums released in September.

Four years after his eponymous debut, and a multitude of tweets wondering when he’d emerge from the forest, Hozier is back with « Nina Cried Power ». The four-song EP begins with the title track, which he describes as « a thank you note to the legacy artists from the 20th century whose work still inspires us and whose well we draw from in times of uncertainty ». It namechecks the likes of Nina Simone, Billie Holiday and Mavis Staples, who features on the song. « Nina Cried Power » is an extension of his alternative soul sound that revels in sweetness and controversy alike. « NFWMB » is a tender, moody bit and « Moment’s Silence (Common Tongue) » picks up with an electric guitar beat and crooning about being engulfed by a lover. The EP closes with « Shrike », a 5-minute track that goes all in on his Irishness and singer-songwriter persona. « Nina Cried Power » delivers a taste of Hozier that we’ve been missing until his next full-length album.

Top 3 tracks : NFWMB, Moment’s Silence (Common Tongue), Shrike

HOZIER - NINA CRIED POWER

Four years ago, there was only one song that kept the people dancing through the summer : Rude. Closer to pop music than ever, the band dropped their third album earlier this month. Introduced by the title track « Expectations », the record has a definitive feel of the classic 80s pop and dive deeper into the dance groove, earning that slow and feel-good feeling. But don’t worry, because MAGIC ! also stayed true to their roots, introducing a reggae style on « Kiss Me ». Eventually, the strongest element on « Expectations » is probably the lead singer’s voice - Nasri Atweh, which is still so smooth and enjoyable. Do yourself a favor and relax for a moment while listening to Magic!

Top 3 tracks: Core, Appreciate You, Kiss Me

MAGIC! – Expectations

Rock nostalgia. This is what this album is made of in a nutshell. Not nostalgia like something from the past, but something that you deeply loved and want back. Throughout the 11 tracks, The Night Game, the brainchild of lead singer Martin Johnson, wear their inspiration on their sleeves : it’s about going home, going back to where you grew up or where it all started and thinking back on your life and experiences. From « The Outfield » to « Back In The Van », we are met with a blend of pop, rock and a tiny hint of country music. Eventhough there’s a modern spin, the nostalgia shines through the lyrics and melodies. Suddenly, it feels like you’re back to your teenage years, listening to your favorite bands with your best mates!

Top 3 tracks: The Outfield, Back In The Van, Bad Girls Don’t Cry

THE NIGHT GAME

« The song quality on the album is really strong. We’ve treated every song individually, which has made for quite a mixed bag » said Steve Garrigan, lead singer of Kodaline, about « Politics of Living ». The Irish band’s third studio album is indeed a mix of many styles and feelings that anyone can experience in life. Some tracks are very emotional such as « Brother », « I Wouldn’t Be », « Blood And Bones » or « Angel » which is dedicated to a young fan who passed away while attending a concert. The group’s members wanted to pay tribute to her : « We went to visit the family and played the song for them ». Other tracks (« Follow Your fire », « Head Held High ») convey a positive message : never stop fighting and listening to your heart and intuition. In this new album, you will also find all the songs that were on their EP « I Wouldn’t Be », released last year, and two exclusive songs, if you buy the physical copy from their online store: « Lifeline » and « Brooklyn ». Kodaline comes back with new music combining pop, rock, folk and even some electro vibes, a new sound for them that will just make you want to sing and dance around !

Top 3 tracks: Brother, Hell Froze Over, Head Held High

KODALINE - POLITICS OF LIVING

Four years after his previous album « Listen », the French DJ decided to spoil us, coming back not only with one album but two! Indeed, « 7 » counts no fewer than 27 tracks, some of which already sound familiar to us such as « 2U » featuring Justin Bieber, released a year ago or « Like I Do » with Martin Garrix and Brooks. David Guetta surrounded himself with some of the biggest names of the musical industry : Sia, Jess Glynne or Nicki Minaj and Jason Derulo who joined Willy William on the track « Goodbye », a remix of Andrea Bocelli’s famous « Time To Say Goodbye / Con Te Partiro ». As usual, electro pop songs and some latino vibes (« Para Que Te Quedes »), David Guetta does not disappoint us. He even surprises everyone, chosing to return to his first love, house music, with a Jack Back mixtape : 12 house tracks including « Overtone » and a new version of « Just A Little More Love », one of his very first album’s singles. « 7 » definitely represents the differents steps of his musical journey and was a pleasure to work on : « I wanted to make music just for fun, with absolutely no commercial approach to it. I want to make every type of music that I like.». Just enjoy !

Top 3 tracks: Battle (feat. Faouzia), Goodbye (feat. Nicki Minaj, Jason Derulo and Willy William), Overtone

DAVID GUETTA - 7 « YSIV », Logic’s fourth album – as well as the final entry in the Young Sinatra series – is finally out! And one thing is sure : he is really happy about it. With fourteen tunes and the impressive number of twenty co-artists (Ryan Tedder, John Lindahl, Jaden Smith...) on the tracklist, the rapper’s new project can definitely be something to be proud of and his fans won’t tell you otherwise. Logic effectively teased his upcoming album on Instagram after a group of lucky people were chosen to listen « YSIV » early : « The best album I’ve ever made? The fans seem to think so ». The American artist put quite a lot of references to his previous mixtapes and albums in the tracks, which allow him to constantly include the people who supported him from the start. The gift he always had for putting beautiful messages across is still there too, especially in « Legacy », « One Day » or « Thank You » which is a beautiful ode to his fans and freedom of speech.

Top 3 tracks : Thank You (ft. Lucy Rose & The RattPack), One Day (ft. Ryan Tedder), Wu-Tang Forever (ft. Wu-Tang Clan)

LOGIC - Young Sinatra IV

America’s favorite boyband is back! Only one year after the release of the trilogy “SATURATION”, the Hip-Hop collective decided to shake the industry again with “Iridescence”. With catchy tracks like “WHERE THE CASH AT” and “BERLIN”, the noisy band managed to provoke a rollercoaster of emotions. “WEIGHT” contains heartfelt verses while frontman Kevin Abstract reflects his struggles with insecurity and personal issues. The self-proclaimed “Best boy band since One direction” unveiled a pretty cohesive body of work made of bangers and untamed energy.

Top 3 tracks:WEIGHT, SAN MARCOS, SOMETHING ABOUT HIM

Brockhampton - Iridescence

When releasing his debut album «American English » under Glassnote Records in 2016, Tor Miller thought he had it all: a beautifully-crafted record, a growing fanbase, music videos, touring... But eventually, things slowed down and drove him to go back to the place he grew up in, with people who never had a chance to approach his American dream. This second body of work mirrors this difficult return to reality. «Surviving The Suburbs» leaves behind the vintage signature of his previous record to fully embrace the present and a simpler, more honest, raw and rock sound. A deeply intimate portrait that could echo to a whole generation, evoking unfulfilled dreams, frustrations, insecurities and eventually hope : « this record is trying to find that peace within yourself to move on and just feel stronger, whatever the case may be ».

Top 3 tracks : Surviving The Suburbs, Sunday Scaries, Fade

TOR MILLER - SURVIVING THE SUBURBS 47

MAGIC! No matter your musical affinities or the country you live in, you’ve surely heard about the four-piece Canadian reggae fusion band MAGIC! Two years after their sophomore album “Primary Colors”, the band is back with a brand new and great eclectic album “Expectations”. We sat with lead vocalist and songwriter Nasri Atweh to talk about this new record, the band’s musical evolution and upcoming projects.

n The Move: We haven’t heard from you since 2016 with « Primary Colors » how does it feel to be back with a new record?

On The Move: Beside the fact there’s a song called “Expectations”, why did you choose this name as the title of the new album?

Nasri: It feels great. I’ve been busy writing the last couple of years for other people and now working on this album. This has been no days off and I’m really excited about this album.

Nasri: Because I feel like in a relationship, expectations is the one part of the relationship that I kind of wish it wasn’t there, you know we’re always expecting so much from each other, that’s why I put that song first, that’s why we called the album “Expectations”. The first line of the album says: “Expectations can make you believe that what you desire is what you need” and I feel like, specifically in my relationship, we’re always battling with that struggle. I felt also that the groove was a nice opening but the lyric to me was the most important lyrics that actually got me right into this album.

On The Move: You said you’ve been working for other different people. How different is it to write for other artists and write for your own band? Nasri: I think for this album it was very healthy because when you write for other people, you kinda get more competitive again with yourself, to push yourself creatively but also you’re growing. You grow through other creative people’s styles and that’s why this album is very focused but also kind of diverse. There was a growth here, for us. On The Move: I can feel this in the album. It’s more pop-oriented but also it contains tropical influences. Where do those new influences come from? Nasri: For me, I’ve always been a big fan of so many styles. You probably talk about the song “Core” that has this vibe to it. That song started off as a blue song and we changed it three or four times. We wanted to make something unique and so we had this kind of almost Police guitar but tropical rhythm and then, I think people heard me sing differently on this album than before when they heard this kind of reggaeinfused singing. They heard a little more of my natural singing voice. On The Move: How did this album come together? Nasri: This album came kind of weirdly accidentally. It was me really using the music to express my own personal life, as I always do when I am writing songs, and then when we went to make the album we started making typical MAGIC! stuff, I didn’t feel any of that. I was like I don’t know we already made two albums like that, I dont wan’t to do this anymore. I said to the guys that I wanted to make something that is almost like cinematic in a way, every lyric is personal and you can almost tell and feel the story between the two people. I almost led the album through lyric, more than I did with the other albums which were focus on melodies and groove, this time it was through what I wanted to say.

« I wanted to make something that is almost like cinematic in a waY » On The Move: Is there a song that you particularly feel connected to? Nasri: Every song. Every song. Every single song is totally personal, totally connected. There’s nothing on this album that was fictional and on the other albums I was like: “Oh I’m gonna write a song about a weird dad”. I was using my imagination but on this one I was actually driven by emotions which is why, after they heard it, they started asked me all of those personal questions. They were asking: “What’s going on with you?”, and that’s what I want. I want to build a personal connection and show people that even though I have this kind of lifestyle, I get to tour the world and perform, I go through the exact same thing that everybody else is going through in their love life, at home, the struggles of communication, the amazing part to be in a relationship, the love, the companionship and this album kind of covers everything. On The Move: Your very first single “Rude” in 2014 was a huge success. Do you feel like you still have to live up to this song and somehow need to do as good as this one was?

Nasri: You know, “Rude” was the first single we’ve ever put out and went #1, ok fine. (laughs). If you look at any artist in history, they never have a #1 every time they put on a song and when I look at the artists that I like they put out what they like, what they feel. That’s what we are doing. We believe there are a few special songs on this album, like “Kiss Me”, “More Of You” and “Core” that have a really potential. We’re just gonna make a video for everything, we’re just having fun. I started directing the videos myself, so I did the video for “Expectations” and we’re gonna do more of that, we’re gonna do one for “Core” as well.

« I almost led the album through lyric, more than I did with the other albums which were focus on melodies and groovE » On The Move: “Motions” is the second single off the album. What can you tell us about this song? On The Move: I was in the studio and I remember talking to Adam our producer about life and I was just like “I was going through the motions of being in a relationship and how life is like a circule”. I went to the piano and I started playing this simple chord progression and it came to me right away. I called Alex our drummer and asked him to come over and then the song was done in two hours. I think “Motions” is very different and that’s what makes it good, it’s so different to your ears. It’s really difficult to create something that is simple, artistic and cool at the same time so that was the balance of this whole entire album.

« Don’t Kill the Magic » (2014)

« Primary Colours » (2016)

On The Move: Are you guys planning on touring soon? Nasri: Yes, next year. Right now we have four songs ready for the live shows and we’re going to keep adding more and more and taking a song while putting a song in. We’re figuring it out. We have time to see, create some visuals and get there. I recently started editing videos, and started learning how to do that as well. I am very interested in directing in the future.

INTERVIEW BY Pam Charbit PHOTOS BY BRANDI MASON EXCLUSIVELY FOR ON THE MOVE

« Expectations » (2018)

FAMILY OF THE YEAR Family Of The Year is the kind of band you listen to while wandering through a foreign city or relaxing in the nature. You can travel far away from here if you want to, just by listening to their music and their latest album “Goodbye Sunshine, Hello Nighttime” is a great statement of the band’s magical evolution. Sit down, relax and appreciate getting to know the band.

n The Move: Hey guys, great having you with us today. For those who are not familiar with Family Of The Year yet, can you tell us more about the group, how you guys started music? Sebastian Keefe: We all started playing music separately when we were young. And then about 10 years ago, we started playing cover songs together for fun. Learning how to play just fun songs for the fun of it with no intention of being like a famous band or getting a record deal or going on tour or anything. We had all sort of had it with that pursuit and then this band started just with complete freedom from that and it was just for fun. I think that’s where, well that’s where the band comes from. On The Move: Did you guys know you somehow wanted to be involved in music, like separately maybe, or it was just something that just came up after you started playing covers together? Sebastian Keefe: Well, yeah. We started playing in bands when we were really young. We all, at a different point in our lives, decided this is what we were gonna do. But when this band started, we had kind of taken a break from that, which is maybe why it went well, because we didn’t have any pressure from ourselves. On The Move: And so how about Family of the Year? Where does the name come from? Christina Schroeter: Family of the year is the name of an old song that we had written that we had never released about this, i don’t know if it’s a real story or a legend. A family from Orange County that was so perfect on the outside, but then underneath, you know this perfect exterior, they were extremely screwed up, not unlike the family from Arrested Development, which is ironic because their latest season is about becoming Family of the Year. Joseph Keefe: Did they win it? Christina Schroeter: They were giving it to themselves. Which is basically what we did. Joseph Keefe: The name is like from a contest they have in California that’s like, or I guess in all the states, that’s like, you can win Family of the Year if you’re some perfect version of a family, but we used it ironically because obviously, you know, most families are pretty messed up. And we’re kind of like a messed up family.

On The Move: You have a new album that came out last May, Goodbye Sunshine, Hello Nighttime. Well, first congratulations because it is a very good album. I really loved it. You’ve talked about the evolution of the band and how you were aiming to go in the new direction with this album. How was your writing process for this one? Sebastian Keefe: The writing process varied. Some of the songs were written as a group outside of LA in the middle of nowhere. We rented a house to just focus and write songs together. And some of the album was written at Joe’s house on the piano. So a little bit by himself. So it kind of varied. That’s the way it always is with us. It’s always varied. It’s a mixture of group, coming up with things on the fly, trying ideas out and then a healthy amount of just songs that Joe writes by himself and brings to the group. You know, when we go to pick songs for the album, there’s like a big pile of them that we pick from. There’s maybe 30 or 40 songs. And then we chose about 15 of them to record for this album.

« I was inspired by just simple song ideas and simple production » Joseph Keefe On The Move: And how do you guys choose the songs that you are actually going to include in the album? Sebastian Keefe: I think that it’s a mixture of songs that we think, well songs that move us or we feel emotionally connected to. Sometimes songs really resonate with the people we’re working with, whether that’s A&R or our producers, and they’ll encourage us. Or sometimes convince us that it’s a really good song to record. But usually, everyone agrees. We’ve never had a creative disagreement with anyone that we work with really. On The Move: Do you have some between the group? Joseph Keefe: Some of the songs, some of us will be more decisive than others. Fortunately, the majority of the songs, we usually go to pick, we all will write our own lists, just as a very basic beginning. And usually we’ll have, 80% percent of them will be all the same lists. And we’re just really kind of dealing with

a few extras. I think nine songs we all were kind of unanimously in favor of having on the album and then there was a few we just kind of had to figure out what the album needed or what else did we want to say with the album or what would be fun to record. On The Move: And what were your inspiration for this new album? Joseph Keefe: We were listening to honestly like a lot of. Personally, I was listening to a lot of 70s music. I know I maybe talk about this a lot where I go back and forth with loving like 70s production and singer songwriter stuff. There’s was a lot of listening to The Traveling Wilburys and Jeff Lynne, Yello, George Harrison. Really just classic 70s music that has pretty simple instrumentation. It really inspired me for the past couple of years. And bands that just have really good songs. Like I wasn’t too obsessed with modern production ideas and moving to forward that way. I was inspired by just simple song ideas and simple production. I think, you know, the album’s kind of bare and stripped down. I think that’s probably because of those influences more than anything.

« Touring can be really great and really fun. But IT can also be really diFFIcult and tiring » Sebastian Keefe On The Move: And how you guys involved in everything besides the music? Like visuals, like music videos. Do you try to be involved? Because the different types of artists that I have met: some who want to have a say in everything, and you have another kind of artist, who leave everything, beside the music, to the team. So which kind of artists are you? Joseph Keefe: I guess we’d probably be more like the latter, even though we like to, we do involve ourselves somewhat. We like to collaborate, you know. We like to have an injection of somebody else’s creative ideas and then we kind of work with them to flesh things out. For example, when we make a music video, we will ask a group of directors whose work we like to submit an idea for the video. And then we’ll pick the one we like the most and we will work with them to sort of refine the idea. So that’s kind of typical. We

will do little things ourselves. Things for Instagram and whatnot, we’ll get involved in. Christina Schroeter: It’s a lot to take on. Play all the music, to like, you know rehearsing or touring. And then also, I mean it’s just so many different like modes to be in. I don’t know how someone can really do everything by themselves On The Move: Not doing everything by themselves, but be like, “I want this to be done this way, I want this to be done that way.” Christina Schroeter: And we’ve had ideas like that, but it’s also just interesting to see what an outside perspective is. Because we know what the song means to us, what it’s about. But to kind of hear it from the varied ideas we get from different directors is really interesting. Like one will be about the army and war and then another one is partying in a mansion and this is the same song! On The Move: What do you think is the main difference with the new album that you have and your previous records? Joseph Keefe: I think that with this album you can definitely tell a certain sense of maturity. Whether it’s the subject matter in the songs or the overall vibe of the thing. I think that, as this record has been kind of released and looking back. A lot of the time that we spend together, you know, I think we’ve spent about nine years, so even just stylistically, in the realms of our impersonal choice, the industry we’re in, there have been a lot of changes. Just growing up basically. On The Move: I’ve noticed there’s a three-year gap between each record. Is it on purpose or is it just like happening? Joseph Keefe: It happened accidentally, but we’re not gonna take 2, 3 years to make another record. It took way too long. So many things lined up to make this record take a long time to come out. We finished it like a year and a half ago. And then some stuff happened with the label or we were touring, or just things got pushed around to the point where it was like “cool, we’ll put it out in 2018.” Because there was Christmas in like 2017 or whatever. I don’t know. But I mean it was nothing to do with us and I think, personally it took too long. I’m not into it. I think we just have to be quicker. I really don’t want to spend three years making another record. I want to spend six months.

Christina Schroeter: Yeah and once you’re done like making it, by the time you release it, it’s like, we have new songs now that we want to play. (laughs)

are many variables that can contribute to that. I think that at times we’ve all had different feelings about it. I think that these days about 50/50. I like them both.

Joseph Keefe: Yeah, I mean that’s just the way it is. I think the one thing we’re gonna make a point of is try to just be a little more persistent in putting out music to keep ourselves and our fans like awake and alive.

Christina Schroeter: Being on tour makes me feel a little unstable mentally. It’s just you’re in a bubble in a van, or small confined areas with the same people. And if the shows are great, I feel like no matter what, it’s kind of hard to stay in touch with regular reality. Egos get inflated. I don’t think it’s really happened to us but it’s hard to just stay in touch. When I come back home from tour, I am kind of depressed. I am just like: “what is going on?”. Everyone’s life kept moving and you just got back and it’s like: “Hey everyone I’m home. Doesn’t anyone want to hang out with me?” It’s just kind of weird. They don’t know you’re home. I don’t know, maybe they don’t want to hang out with me. But, it just feels up and down. But you know what, studio does too.

On The Move: Is there a song in this album that you feel particularly connected to, like on a personal level? Joseph Keefe: I like “Latch Key Kids” a lot. Just because it’s about my family growing up. I like “Mexico” as well just because, I don’t know, it’s simple and it’s cool. Those two are my favorites. Sebastian Keefe: It used to be “Mexico”, but today it’s “Raw Honey.” Joseph Keefe: Nice. Somebody likes at least. (laughs) On The Move: How about you James? James Buckey: I like “I’m the One” because I was personally involved in writing the words. It was sort of a fictionalized version of events that had happened in my life, my contribution to it was. And it was sort of fun to play up the romance of like the way I perceived a situation. It was fun. It was good. On The Move: Christina? Christina Schroeter: My favorite on this record is probably “The Coast.” It’s been “The Coast” I think the whole time. I just love how it’s starts so beautifully and ends up like so chaotic. I like that song. I do like it. I fought for it on the last record. Didn’t make it. On The Move: Do you guys prefer being on tour or recording? It’s two different things, but what do you guys enjoy doing the most? Sebastian Keefe: It’s a difficult question to answer because there are different versions of both. Touring can be really great and really fun. But touring can also be really difficult and tiring. And I think depending on sort of the reaction you’re getting back from the audience, from the world, can make you feel either it’s the right thing to be doing or the wrong thing to be doing. And maybe even the studio can be kind of the same way. It can be really tough and tiring. Or it can be really rewarding and fun and productive. I guess there

James Buckey: I will say that on a final level, there is, when you first start playing music, it takes years to be able to play music to get into a studio in the first place. But when you first pick up and instrument, you play it in front of your family or around a campfire. It’s kind of like when a comedian get their first laugh and that’s what gives them this pleasure. And so it’s this really kind of innocent thing where you play your instrument in front of someone and they clap, like since you’re a little kid or something. So then you’re doing it with some of your best friends, it’s like when actors say, you know, “movies are great, but I really love the theater” because you get the immediate reaction that initially pushed you to be in this crazy business anyway.

« My favorite SONG on this record is probably ‘The Coast’ » Christina Schroeter On The Move: And talking about touring, you are going on tour with Houndmouth next month. So are you excited? What can we expect from your set? Joseph Keefe: We’re gonna play a lot of music. I wanna play songs from all of our records. Like pick from all four. I want to do a deep set. Not just new stuff. I mean we’ll play as much new stuff as we can. I want to rehearse and know all the music. Pretty much play our

favorite songs from the four records. You know, two or three off every record. I think that’s probably what people would want to see if they came to see us. If I was a fan of ours I’d probably want, I’d want a show like that. I hate it when bands just play all the new stuff. You got to see Radiohead and they play all the new songs. It’s cool, it’s all great stuff. You don’t have to wait for the third encore to hear “Fake plastic trees.” You need some classics. Christina Schroeter: I don’t want to go see Weezer and hear “Pork and Beans.” Joseph Keefe: We’re at that point where this tour is going to be a lot of fun. We have a lot of good music to pick from. We’re gonna play some new songs, but we’re gonna play some old stuff too. And we haven’t really been out there touring in a while, so we’re gonna be having a really good time.

After « Songbook » in 2009, FOTY truly made waves with « Loma Vista »in 2012.

« when playing live, you get the immediate reaction that initially pushed you to be in this crazy business anyway » James Buckey On The Move: If you had to convince someone to listen to your music, in three words, what would you say? Christina Schroeter: I was gonna say, do. It. Now. Joseph Keefe: Turn it up.

« Family Of The Year » (2015)

Christina Schroeter: I have to say something regarding that. I was playing someone a demo of this last record. And he kept turning it down to talk to me in the middle of it. And it was just like this uncomfortable middle volume, not really quiet, not really loud. It was “Flee the Scene” and I was like “You can’t not listen to this!” Joseph Keefe: You can’t listen to music half-loud. Christina Schroeter: It was making me angry and he kept turning it, he’s like, “It’s too loud.” I’m like “ugh, turn it up!”

INTERVIEW BY Pam Charbit AND Haley Bosselman PHOTOS BY HEATHER KOEPP EXCLUSIVELY FOR ON THE MOVE

« Goodbye Sunshine Hello Nighttime » (2018)

ARE THEY WORTH

SEEING LIVE ?

BISHOP BRIGGS B

ishop Briggs is surely one of those artists whose sound can’t be labelled under one genre. She qualifies it herself as « trap-soul » but you can also hear in it the energy of rock, the warmth of gospel, the sensuality of R&B and some inevitable electronic accents. With the success of her debut singles «Wild Horses» and «River» two years ago, Bishop Briggs went on by releasing an EP in April 2017, followed by her debut album «Church Of Scars» exactly one year after – which made her conquer an international audience! As part of her first European tour, Bishop Briggs stopped by Paris, at the Badaboum. In a set as short as it was dense, she showed her two faces : the one of the performer – powerful, unwavering and committed – and the one of the woman – generous, grateful and glowing. The Parisian public has never been as patient as when it was waiting for Bishop Briggs... It is an hour and a half late that the British artist – raised in Asia and now settled in Los Angeles – hit the stage of the Badaboum. But no time to hold it against her, the cheers of the public get ardent as soon as the first notes of «The Way I Do» are heard. «Lay my heart down / Laid it down for you» : the phrase bursts into the room on a clear and powerful voice, somewhere between Adele’s or Florence Welch’s. What an opening! Bishop Briggs’ vocal capacities won’t cease to amaze us during the night, at times imposing silence, at times inviting to sing along with her. If Bishop Briggs’ voice fills the room, she also does it physically. As a true bowl of energy, she jumps and runs from one end of the stage to the other without ever failing to hit a note. Proof is given on the angry «Hallowed Ground».

WORDS AND PHOTO BY CORALINE BLAISE

Live from Paris, France Her passion hits the crowd and the crowd gives it back to her. After this flamboyant introduction, Bishop Briggs adresses some words to her public. She explains that she had someone translate a message for her in French : «Sorry, this will be very insulting to the 5 years I took of French, to your whole nation». With spontaneity and humour, she continues in la langue de Molière : «Putain, trop contente d’être avec vous ce soir, on a voyagé 20 heures pour être là alors on va faire la fête». And Paris agrees warmly ! Bishop Briggs lets go of this mischievousness to propose a dark and languid performance of «Dark Side» : «Oh, I drain your life ‘til there’s nothing left but your blood shot eyes / Oh, I take my time ‘til I show you how I feel inside». Then, it is time for a brand new track : «Let Me Out». The occasion for Bishop Briggs to deliver a boiling interpretation, especially during the bridge when her high notes turn into cries. The artist goes on with «White Flag», one of her emblematic tracks. The intensity hits another level during the chorus : «Won’t wave my white flag, no / This time I won’t let go / I’d rather die / Than give up the fight, give up the fight». Although separated from any context in the song, those striking lyrics find their sense when the artist speaks to her public a few minutes later : «Paris, you are worthy of love, your opinions are valuable» The crowd approves. «Unless you are homophobic, transphobic, racist or sexist.» Here are Bishop Briggs’ fights ! And the applause knock even harder. Here, the artist’s shirt, printed by the word «Misfits», also finds its whole signification. With the same sincerity, Bishop Briggs explains the origins of «Water». Written at the beginning of her relationship with Landon Jacobs – leader of the indie-rock band Sir Sly -,

the song is about the singer’s difficulty to really let go « not used to be with someone so gentle » she confides us. A doubt turned into a striking song – both in studio and live version ! On «Holding On», Bishop Briggs reasserts a message of hope and tenacity with an equal intensity. The repetition of the gimmick «holding on» is very heady. Anyone could get breathless by performing this song but Bishop Briggs doesn’t show any weakness. Once the music fades away, you can hear some panting reminding that Bishop Briggs doesn’t fake it… It is live and she has given it all ! Having made waves in 2016, «Wild Horses» naturally wins the crowd’s favour. Paris sings with her : «Wild horses, run faster, run faster». The profound electronic accents bring the track closer to trap music, which Bishop Briggs counts among her influences.»Dream» cristallizes R&B vibes and a federative power. One of our favourites! Now is already time for the encore! Always honest, Bishop Briggs casually sweep aside the tradition that makes an artist disappear for a few minutes before hitting the stage again. We’re not fooled by it no more so why don’t we just keep going ? Next one is Bishop Briggs’ latest single, and her «first ever love song» : «Baby». Composed with her fellow producer John Hill, the song could have never been released, the artist first thinking that it was way too personal. Eventually, she decided to bring it to the world and at the same time, unveiling a lighter, more honest part of herself. Less metaphorical and dark than her previous pieces, «Baby» talks simply and candidly about her current relationship and it’s just refreshing !

« You are worthy of love AND your opinions are valuable, Unless you are homophobic, transphobic, racist or sexist »

As a conclusion, and with no surprise, «River» ends the set. For the artist, this explosive track is «all about tension and release. It’s about intimacy and solace. It’s about staring someone in the face and not backing down.». And this empowerment transcends the Parisian public ! When Bishop Briggs shouts in the air : «Don’t you say, don’t you say it / Don’t say, don’t you say it / One breath, it’ll just break it / So shut your mouth and...». Paris answers as one : «Run me like a river». A flamboyant final for Bishop Briggs, who disappears accompanied by the enthusiastic aurevoir of the public! So, was it worth the travel ? Absolutely. Was it worth the wait ? There is no doubt. In 45 minutes, we were introduced to both Bishop Briggs and Sarah Grace McLaughlin, the artist and the person. The first is as wild as the second is gentle. But whatever side is presented, the sincerity is equal. And as we are hungry for a longer set, we’ll pay attention to Bishop Briggs’ next tour... As soon as it is announced, we sign again!

TASH SULTANA Live from Cologne, Germany

eptember 7th was a special night. We witnessed the amazing and over-talented Tash Sultana begin her debut album tour and what better way to celebrate the release of “Flow State” on August 31st than with a completely soldout European tour through Germany, The Netherlands, England, France, Switzerland and Italy? Australia’s best kept secret, as we liked to call her, is not so much of a secret anymore… But we made it and were able to be a part of this experience. Tash Sultana began the Flow State tour in Cologne, Germany with three nights in a row at Palladium, and as we said, all of them were sold-out! Such a crazy massive success for the Melbournian, but so well-deserved. The Australian multi-instrumentalist brought along some friends, with whom she used to perform on the Melbourne streets, back in her busking days. The Pierce Brothers put on a dynamic and energetic show, preparing the audience for what was coming next. The two brothers were restless, one on the percussions, the other on guitar, both singing and throwing a bit of harmonica here and there, or even including the didgeridoo, an aboriginal traditional instrument, which clearly was a highlight. After 45 minutes non-stop, and kind of out of breath, the duo left the stage, leaving the audience warmed-up and excited. A nice reggae interlude kept everybody waiting and singing and after what seems like an eternity (maybe we were just really impatient to see Tash perform), the room went dark and the audience went wild. She did not even start a note or singing that the room was giving her a standing ovation. Purely spectacular. Just after a couple of songs, she greeted her German fans and ensured her show was an openminded and caring space: “If you’re racist, homophobic, transphobic, you can get the f*** out” and on this message, the whole room clapped their hands in agreement.

WORDS AND PHOTO BY LUDIVINE DESUMEUR

Tash conveys so much emotion with her music and is certainly not an artist like you’ve seen before. First of all, she plays surrounded by all her instruments (we gave up counting), on a hippie-like carpet, barefoot, and with some incense from which we see the smoke flying around all set long. Second of all, the notion of setlist with her is a total blur. From time to time, it seems like she’s in her room/studio experimenting some beats or some melodies with her looping and layering techniques, just creating a beautiful combination of sounds and textures, making us travel far far away. The stage is her free space and she enjoys making her songs much longer than the typical 3-minutes format and morphing the sounds into the next song or at least something that feels like another creation of hers. Now we get the title of her album “Flow State”: as she explained, a flow state is what happens when you’re so connected with what you’re doing that you actually become your art. Tash is fully connected to her art, and lives every second of it at the fullest and it’s just beautiful to witness. And although more than 4,000 people are packed in Palladium, it just feels like the intimate atmosphere of her studio. Throughout the show she plays a wide range of instruments, and sings with just as much ferocity as vulnerability. Her vocals are pretty intense and convey the right emotion at the right time, without overdoing it. She has perfect mastery of her own voice and knows how to add textures, complimenting her instrumental. From the whirlwind “Notion”, the beat-fused “Seven”, the soulful “Salvation” or even the fierce “Blackbird”, she plays with genres and instruments such as the trumpet, the drum pad, chimes that adds crystalline and magical effects or even beatboxing on panpipes. What can she not do, right? Surprisingly enough, not much has changed on stage since her first round of shows around the globe. Apart from three rectangular screens, projecting animations Tash and her crew worked on, adding a nice depth to her live performance and to the songs. It really feels like another universe at Palladium. Tash Sultana has a natural gift and it’s no wonder she’s making waves all over the world right now, making her one of the best performers of the music industry! Hats off Tash!

whole stage. He likes to perform and we can feel it. He brings so much energy to the room that the audience is jumping as one. Without taking a break, Lauv continues with ‘Comfortable’, ‘Chasing Fire’ and ‘Paranoid’. Behind him, lights are changing to create different atmospheres for the show. For those three songs, strobe lights are highlighting the EDM vibe. Moreover, the singer-songwriter manages to dance and sing at the same time and his voice never gets weaker. The fans are impressed!

LAUV Live from Paris, France

or the past two years, Lauv has been all over the internet with his breakout hit ‘I Like Me Better’ and his participation on DJ Snake single ‘A Different Way’. After opening for Ed Sheeran’s Asia Tour, Lauv is now touring on his own. For the last show on his European tour, the New York-based singer stopped by the YOYO in Paris. In front of a crowd already conquered, he offered us an incredible performance. For one hour and a half, Lauv played all his greatest hits from his full-length debut ‘I Met You When I Was 18’. Back to an exceptional evening! First, support act Charlotte Lawrence brings a refreshing performance. Even if the 18-year-old singer has only been making music since last year, her songs have already million of streams on Spotify. Thus, as she goes on stage, the front row is ready to sing along on ‘Just The Same’. For thirty minutes, the young artist offers us a performance full of softness. If her shyness is noticeable on ‘Young and Reckless’, she reveals herself on ‘Psychopath’ and ‘Your Car’. Finally in front of a kind crowd, Charlotte Lawrence finishes her show with a lot of energy on ‘Sleep Talking’. The young woman has shown us a really promising start. We can’t wait to see what she’ll do next!

After four upbeat songs, Lauv plays the melancholic card with ‘Reforget’. But the artist doesn’t seem to get tired and keeps moving on every part of the stage. Even though he questions his own dancing skills, he likes to dance and invites the audience to do the same. The atmosphere is at its peak when he drops ‘A Different Way’. The crowd is cheering him as he tries some dance moves on this DJ Snake’s hit. Lauv calms things down with ‘The Story Never Ends’. As he barely moves behind his mic, this moment creates a real contrast with the first part of the show. He also takes the time to seat and to introduce the song while the crowd remains silent. In addition, Lauv uses the stage to show his musician skills. He introduces his next song ‘Superhero’ by playing the acoustic guitar. But the singer, born Ari Leff, knows how to work a crowd. The musicians join him to finish the song in a blaze of glory. After, ‘Enemies’ and ‘Easy Love’, the 23 year-old starts playing electric guitar on ‘Adrenaline’. Then, as his musicians slip off stage, Lauv moves himself to the keyboard. He shares a real moment of sincerity when he starts the cover of Adele’s ‘Chasing Pavements’ followed by the beautiful ‘Breathe’. With his musicians back on stage, Lauv finishes his show with his huge hit ‘I Like Me Better’ and ‘The Other’, the first song he ever released. He has traded his striped jersey for a white tank top and delivers two incredible last performances. Lauv loves being on stage and he shows it. He offers one hour and a half of good mood and sincerity. Every part of the show is a piece of one love story. As we leave the venue, we feel privileged to have shared that intimate moment. The fans were already won over and they are leaving the place with a big smile and a strong desire to dance all night. In brief, Lauv has set the YOYO on fire !

The room is almost full when Lauv’s musicians come on stage. As the drummer and the keyboard player start playing ‘I Like Me Better’, you can feel the excitement bristling through the fans. But Lauv has mastered his show perfectly and decides to increase the pressure. So, he chooses to sing only the first 30 seconds of his hit. With everyone already singing and dancing, the concert can really start. For his first title, Lauv makes a nod to his French audience by opting for ‘Paris in the Rain’. The artist shows a strong presence on stage. He’s dancing, jumping and using the

WORDS AND PHOTO BY NAYANA AUSCHER

U2 EXPERIENCE + INNOCENCE TOUR FICKLE FRIENDS Europe: from October 11th (Milan, Italy) to November 10th (Dublin, Ireland)

Europe: from October 18th (Bristol, UK) to November 17th (Cardiff, UK)

SOFI TUKKER

KODALINE

North America: from October 11th (Columbus, OH) to November 10th (Miami, FL)

VANCE JOY

Europe: from October 25th (Madrid, Spain) to November 16th (Dublin, Ireland) + Australia: from November 30st (Berry, NSW) to January 6th, 2019 (Fremantle, WA)

TASH SULTANA

Australia: from October 7th (Melbourne, VIC) to October 13th (Sydney, NSW) + North America: from November 4th (Calgary, Canada) to December 1st (Los Angeles, CA) + Australia/New Zealand: from December 28th (Sydney, NSW) to March 30th, 2019 (Fremantle, WA) + Europe: from March 30th, 2019 (Antwerp, Belgium) to July 27th, 2019 (Berlin, Germany)

WHAT’S NEXT? THE SHOWS NOT TO MISS

PASSENGER

North America: from October 13th (Nashville, TN) to November 6th (Los Angeles, CA) + New Zealand/ Australia: from November 13th (Auckland, NZ) to November 25th (Margaret River, AU)

JORJA SMITH

Europe: from October 4th (Norwich, UK) to November 1st (Copenhagen, Denmark) + North America: from November 10th (Los Angeles, CA) to December 19th (Toronto, Canada)

Europe: from October 12th (Hamburg, Germany) to November 4th (Kyiv, Ukraine) + North America: from November 14th (Los Angeles, CA) to December 8th (Philadelphia, PA)

PALE WAVES

Europe: from October 13th (Bruxelles, Belgium) to October 18th (Hamburg, Germany) + North America: from October 26th (Austin, TX) to December 7th (San Diego, CA) + Europe: from January 9th, 2019 (Belfast, Northern Ireland) to January 25th, 2019 (South Yorkshire, UK)

AURORA

Europe: from October 11th (London, UK) to January 19th (Copenhagen, Denmark)

5SOS

Europe: from October 23rd (Glasgow, UK) to November 19th (Madrid, Spain)

SIGRID

Europe: from November 2nd (Copenhagen, Denmark) to November 28th (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

HAYLEY KIYOKO

Europe: from October 23rd (London, UK) to November 5th (Berlin, Germany)

KING PRINCESS

Australia : from November 2nd (Melbourne) to November 6th (Sydney)

DERMOT KENNEDY ‘KEEP THE EVENING LONG’ TOUR The Irish prodigy hits the road again. Astounding vocals, inspiring lyrics and a bunch of very talented musicians will be enough to leave you in awe! © Lucy Foster

Europe: from October 1st (Copenhagen, Denmark) to October 23th (Dublin, Ireland) + North America: from October 26th (Washington, DC) to November 19th (Hollywood, CA) + Australia: from December 28th (Lorne,VIC) to January 10th, 2019 (Sydney, NSW)

TOVE STYRKE

North America: from October 1st (Washington D.C.) to October 21st (Seattle, WA)

GEORGE EZRA

Europe: from October 11th (Frankfurt, Germany) to November 15th (London, UK)

WHAT’S UP Space Alligators, a spicy trio

IN FRANCE ? The haunting sound of New Blow Formed only a few years ago, New Blow offers a haunting and challenging alternative rock, enhanced by a bewitching and strong female voice that easily plays and juggles with the melody. The dynamic drum battles with raging bass riffs and a measured guitar, at time soft, at times angry and ready to be heard.

« Banana Club », their first EP released in 2015, is a bold statement of what the trio wants to sound like. The first track, « Jim » is marked by a rock introduction, quickly followed by a joyful and vintage melodie, enhanced by the peculiar voice of the singer, Martin. Though they’re very young, the vintage sound doesn’t disappoint and is actually very well executed.

If the feminine touch is nice and catchy, the masculine side of the band is also very impressive. They master their instruments like no one else and managed to create a million universes within one song like on the final track « Invisible ». They are, indeed, untouchable and unique in their own terms !

Grey sky, rainy days,… Forget everything you know about the north of France because Space Alligators are here to shake things up! With the lead singer Martin, Simon on the guitar, Gauthier on the bass and Nathan on the drums, the young trio is a spicy mix, delivering a dynamic and modern pop sound.

Confident and ready to be different, the quatuor released their second EP « Flames » this year, assuming their singular music choices with 5 amazing tracks. The first one, « Never Back Down » is a dreamy rock song with a bold piano melody and a hint of a jazzy universe with the throbbing guitar rhythm. « Brother in Arms » is a classic timeless alternative rock song, inspired by some of the greatest bands such as Nothing But Thieves or Royal Blood.

©Noémie Danjou

Inspired by The Wombat, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Puggy, Gush and Elephant, the second track « Banana » sounds like a collection of all those bands and artists. The chill vibe also continues on « Time To Go », even though we also hear a bit of a rock’n’roll melody. Last but not least, the « Banana Club » EP ends on a funky and electric note with « Catch Me », probably our favorite piece of work on this release. If you happen to be in France in the near future, don’t miss your chance to see this band live because their energy is undeniable!

WORDS by LÉNAELLE FONTAINE

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.

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.

PAM

CORALINE

NAYANA

COLINE

writer I am working in communication and design. I always loved music but I never thought about writing about it. Now, it is part of my everyday life and I am loving it ! On my free time, if I am not at a gig , I am probably in a movie theater or talking too much about my new favorite T V Shows. You can always find me at festivals, failing desperatly to see everything. Also travelling is awesome but with well-crafted indie playlists, it’s better!

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!

LéNAELLE

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.

déborah

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!

LUDIVINE

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!

HALEY

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.

ON THE MOVE SPREADING TALENTS AROUND SINCE 2012 @OTMfr

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ON THE MOVE MAG - OCTOBER 2018

Articles inside

Kodaline

Lauv