positivexposure issue 3

positivexposure Nov 06 2009 • Issue 3

music • art • creativity

Also Featuring:

PersonL stays positive

RX BANDITS • SISSY WISH • JAWBOX • BYGONES THE STORY CHANGES • FOUR YEAR STRONG PLAYRADIOPLAY!

+ MORE!

positivexposure Nov 06 2009 • Issue 3

Dear faithful positivexposure readers: happy fall! positivexposure consists of three music fans who volunteer their time to this project. Unfortunately, we have all been unexpectedly busy during the making of this issue. We hope to continue positivexposure to the best of our abilities and we do apologize for the Photographer Bradley Johnson number of pages dropping dramatically from our last issue.

Next time you see us, it will be 2010! In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! Don’t forget to stay warm and have fun. We’ll be here, trying to find great bands to interview and come back full swing in the new year. Thanks for being patient with us!

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positivexposure

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Photographer Sarah Nitt

You can always help us improve this magazine. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with your ideas, feedback or constructive (and dare we say ONLY constructive) criticism.

F e a t ur i n g:

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F e a t ur i n g:

F e a t ur i n g:

positivexposure is always looking to expand our list of contributors.

If you are creative and think you can add to the pages of this magazine, feel free to hurry on up and contact us!

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Making a comeback, it’s Jawbox

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Ads@positivexposure.com Editorial@positivexposure.com Whatsup@positivexposure.com

photo credits:

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Cover: Joe Perri; pg 2: Rosie Compton, Bradley Johnson, Sunny Landon, Sarah Nittinger, Emma Hope, Stian Andersen, Evan Pierri, Ron Howard, Josh Falls, Paula Cuevas, Kolby Schnelli, courtesy of Callahan, Mitchell Wojcik, David Zentz; pg 3: Rosie Compton; pg 4: Bradley Johnson; pg 5: Sunny Landon; pg 6: Sarah Nittinger; pg 7; Emma Hope; pg 8: Stian Andersen; pg 9: Chris Martin; pg 10: Josh Falls; pg 12: Ron Howard; pg 13: Paula Cuevas pg 1: Sunny Landon & Kolby Schnelli; pg 17: courtesy of Callahan; pg 18: Mitchell Wojcik pg 19: Mike Park; pg 20: Lisa Huey

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Cool and Honest The Story Changes

COVER STORY: Person L

Up & Coming:

F e a t ur i n g:

If you were not properly credited, we apologize.

E-mail us and we will make it right!

Scandinavian singer Sissy Wish

Photographer Emma Hope

90s enthusiasts Four Year Strong

positivexposure is a digital magazine that features music, art, activism, and creativity - exposing what we like, not criticizing things we don’t. We believe that creativity is a community, not an industry. We look forward to continue building something great from the ground up with you, not in spite of you.

Catching up, with PlayRadioPlay!

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Ohioans Callahan top unsigned bands

grassroots?

The holidays are right around the corner. Try finding a local blood drive, food drive, or Toys for Tots location!

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bygones recommended

by Portugal. The Man

Recommended By:

Photographer Sunny Landon

Expose Yourself!:

FROM THE STAFF

Recommended By:

Expose Yourself!:

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Expose Yourself!:

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Photographer Rosie Compton

General Manager Sunny Landon Assistant Editor Sarah Nitt Community Manager Emma Hope

Expose Yourself!:

Expose Yourself!:

music • art • creativity

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Rx Bandits recommended

by Dan Schwartz of Good Old War

www.positivexposure.com

Expose Yourself!

Rosie Compton Meet ROSIE COMPTON. We think you should know her because this fifteen year old photographer from Nashville, Tennessee takes photos with the skill of someone twice her age and the wild imagination of someone half her age.

Through her 365 project on Flickr, viewers feel they get to know her as she progresses in life and art.

How long have you been a photographer?

I have been taking photographs seriously for about 7 months.

How did you get into photography?

When I was in 7th grade I took a semester long dark room class at school as an elective. After the class I lost interest in photography and then I started taking random pictures with a point and shoot camera a few years later. Then I got a Nikon D90 last Christmas and I have been taking pictures ever since.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I don’t want to answer everywhere, but I am inspired by everything. The most inspirational thing to me is emotion.

People’s emotions fascinate me. Music is also a big inspiration in my life.

What message do you want to send through your art?

I don’t really try to send a particular message through my photos. In most of my pictures I try to portray a certain feeling or emotion.

Do you have a favorite photographer?

My favorite well-known photographer would have to be Richard Avedon. I admire what he can do with film. My favorite Flickr photographer is Allyson Kalie. Her stream is one of the first that I saw when I joined Flickr.

Do you have a favorite subject to shoot?

I take a lot of self portraits (I am currently working on my 365 project) but I don’t like taking pictures of myself. I love photographing children. They are so spontaneous and most of the time they are very candid when being photographed. I also love photographing hands, they are very expressive.

What gear do you use?

I use a Nikon D90, a 50mm 1.4 lens, an 18-105mm lens, an old tripod, and all natural light. I have recently acquired a Nikon fm2 and I am in love with it. At the moment it is my favorite to shoot with.

What made you decide to do a 365 project?

I had heard from many people on Flickr that it had really helped them to grow as a photographer and they suggested I should try it. I was really convinced to do it when I saw people’s Flickr streams that had done it because I could see how much their photography progressed.

Do you think it helps or hurts creativity?

I think that it helps my creativity. It forces me to be creative each day so that I don’t have a boring image for that day. Sometimes I feel like I have no creativity but I look at pictures of photographers I admire and I become inspired.

For such a young person you’re creating very sophisticated images…are you self taught or have you taken classes?

Other than taking a darkroom class in 7th grade I am self taught.

If you could go anywhere in the world to take pictures, where would you go?

I always dream of going out west to the rich green forests and mountains to take pictures. I would probably go there because the scenery is so beautiful.

Do you believe that anyone can be a photographer?

With the advancement of camera technology I feel like anyone can take somewhat attractive pictures but I don’t think everyone can be an artist. It really takes a person with a creative soul to be an artist and a truly artistic photographer.

www.flic.kr/rosiecompton

What’s your favorite thing about photography?

I love the feeling you get when you have a shoot and your pictures turn out as good as or better than you expected them to.

What is your favorite picture you’ve taken?

I have two. This one is probably my favorite of all time. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosiecompton/3644541700/) When I saw the small thumbnail on my camera I couldn’t believe I had actually taken the picture. It was exactly how I wanted the picture to turn out. But I really like this picture because I feel like the one fogged lens represents so much about life. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosiecompton/3802164398/)

Expose Yourself! is a section where we feature all the artsy types we fall in love with.

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Expose Yourself!

Bradley Johnson Meet BRADLEY JOHNSON. We think you should know him because he shoots film and does everything completely in camera. When it comes to photographic skill, this photographer from Long Beach, California is the real deal.

How long have you been a photographer?

I started 35mm about 10 years ago, Polaroid about 3 years, and I graduated to medium format last year.

How did you get into photography?

I was introduced to photography by my father. He gave me his old 35mm Nikon, and would invite me to go with him on shoots. He is a professional auto-sports photographer. I'm constantly impressed by his work, and he is definitely a huge inspiration to me.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I find inspiration everywhere. People, like my girlfriend and family definitely inspire me. Other inspirations include fairytales/books, nature, and other artists.

What message do you want to send through your art?

I don't know that I ever intended to send a message through my photography. I do it because I enjoy it. I do enjoy photography with a message, but more often than not, my photographs are more like a daily journal than a focused body of work with a specific message.

Do you have a favorite photographer?

Yes, I have many! Gregory Crewdson, Annie Leibovitz, and (of course) Ansel Adams are three of my favorites.

Do you have a favorite subject to shoot?

People! I'll shoot anything that catches my eye, but I enjoy portrait photography more than anything else.

What gear do you use?

I use a TLR Mamiya c330, a Polaroid SX-70, and sometimes an old pack film Polaroid camera. I never use flash, and rarely (maybe once a year) use a tripod. I feel like they trap me, and I like to move around.

Do you have a favorite camera to use?

The sx-70 is my favorite. It (the film) captures light differently than anything I have ever used. I love the DOF, and the minimum focus distance (I like to get in close).

What’s your least favorite thing about photography?

I can create anything I can think of when drawing or painting. However, with photography I feel somewhat limited. I suppose I could use the computer to edit my photos into oblivion, but I consider that to be a form of painting more than photography.

What is your favorite picture you’ve taken?

It's a photograph of my girlfriend. It was taken in an old bed and breakfast in San Francisco. We had a wonderful time there, and it was the last shot in my camera. It ended up being my most popular photograph by far.

Do you think photography will always be a part of your life?

Yes. I like having the visual record of my and my friends lives. I can't imagine I'll ever stop.

If you could go anywhere in the world to take pictures, where would you go?

Japan. I've been fortunate to travel quite a bit, but that is one place I have never been but always wanted to go.

Do you believe that anyone can be a photographer?

Definitely. I always encourage people to try it (I've given many cameras, and a ton of film away). The camera is just a tool. Anyone can learn to use a tool. The art of photography is the same as any art form when broken down. Composition, rhythm, color, etc are all important factors, but most of all the photo should connect with the viewer in some way.

What’s your favorite thing about photography?

Is there an element you think every photograph should always have? The speed. That is, I'm able to get results either instantly, or within a couple days (120 film). I also like the That thing that connects the viewer to the photograph. It isn't any one thing. It could be one or several things. As long as the photograph speaks unexpected things. I know what to expect (based on my camera settings, and the light), but sometimes the film to the viewer in some way, my job is done. provides a pleasant surprise.

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Expose Yourself! is a section where we feature all the artsy types we fall in love with.

www.flic.kr/buradori

Expose Yourself!

Sunny Landon Meet SUNNY LANDON, a photographer from Lancaster, California.

We think you should know her because she is trying to learn to get the results she wants without post processing. She manages to manipulate light in her favor and find beautiful things in some of the strangest places.

How long have you been a photographer?

I got my first digital SLR in 2006 but didn’t use it for anything other than pictures of my dog until the end of June 2007, at Warped Tour which was really a crash course. I didn’t learn how to use manual mode until my camera broke during the first hour of a 2 week long road trip and my friend gave me a super crash course from the back seat that went “turn this to the left if it’s too dark, to the right if it’s light.” Etc. That was mid-2008 and just before I started to fully appreciate photography and everything that I could do with a camera…I’ve had little dinky film cameras and disposable cameras since I can remember, so technically since 1998 but I don’t really believe that. I’d say I’m a baby. I became a photographer in February 2009.

How did you get into photography?

I was going to a show in 2005 and months before I was begging my dad, “I need to take pictures at this show!” So I picked out the “most bad ass perfect camera”… the Kodak EasyShare 330. (Ohhh yeah!)

So he bought it for me as an early Christmas present. I actually got some good photos at that show that I still love. I got my first digital SLR because I wanted a photo pass and I wanted really good photos and didn’t want to look lame in the photo pit and wanted to be taken a bit more seriously. I didn’t really start appreciating photography until February 2009 when I went to he Polaroid house started by Kim van Groos (I interviewed her in issue 2, check it out) and there were hundreds of Polaroids in this dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere and they were all over the floor and it was really hard for me to walk around because I was walking on people’s ART and WORK. And that’s when I realized that I really cared about photography.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I don’t, really. Not yet, I’m still growing. Sometimes I get a spark of creativity and think of an idea I can execute, but for the most part, if I like what I see, I shoot.

What gear do you use?

I have a Canon 40D, a Polaroid Land Camera Automatic 100, a Polaroid Impulse and a Polaroid OneStep Express. I have a 50mm 1.8 for the 40D.

What’s your favorite thing about photography?

I’m not the greatest at expressing my emotions through words, so it’s nice to be able to express it in another way.

What’s your least favorite thing about photography?

Learning the technical aspects just isn’t for me, and I’m sure that if I knew the ins and outs of all the technical settings I’d be able to get more consistent and much better results but I’m just not that patient. I also hate envisioning an idea and just not being able to bring it to life.

What message do you want to send through your art?

Sometimes accidents and spontaneity can be better than cautiousness and careful planning or nitpicking. And, if you can’t draw…there’s still hope!

Do you think photography will always be a part of your life?

I’m not sure. I do go through periods where I don’t pick up my camera for months because I’m uninspired or have no confidence in my work and I’m starting to love making the magazine more than photography, but maybe it’s a phase. I’m sure I will always have some sort of camera to document things or satisfy my random inspired urges.

Is there an element you think every photograph should always have?

Thought or emotion. Something that leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. Something unique, or groundbreaking, when possible.

www.flic.kr/sunnylandon

Do you have a favorite camera to use?

I love the process of taking photos with the Automatic 100. It makes me really feel like what I do is important in the final result.

If you could go anywhere in the world to take pictures, where would you go?

San Francisco owns my heart. I’d also like to visit Seattle, Portland, New York, Philadelphia, you know, big cities. But I also want to go to a bunch of middle of nowhere places.

Do you believe that anyone can be a photographer?

Yes, technically. Pressing the shutter is taking a photo, which makes you a photographer. However, not everyone can be a good photographer.

Do you have a favorite subject to shoot?

Definitely people and landscapes, but I love combining the two.

What is your favorite picture you’ve taken? http://www.flickr.com/photos/beautifulthingsarecoming/3759835641/ It was taken at 6:59 AM and we had been out in the desert since 4 am, and also from 4 am the day before. We were about to leave to find another location and she begged me to take just one more photo, and I sort of half heartedly raised the camera without looking and humored her [I was tired and cranky] from the side of the road behind the car and it turned out to be really great.

Expose Yourself! is a section where we feature all the artsy types we fall in love with.

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Expose Yourself!

Sarah Nittinger

Meet SARAH NITTINGER, a photographer from New York, New York.

We think you should know her because she’s a small town girl living a big city dream, photographing every step of the way. She uses herself as a model and combines film and digital photography to create memorable images.

How long have you been a photographer?

This is a strange question for me, because I don’t consider myself a photographer at all, but I’ve had a film camera since I was fifteen and a D40 since I was sixteen, so only about two years total.

How did you get into photography?

I’ve always been interested in art, and I don’t remember exactly what it was that made me cling to this medium in particular, but I’ve always enjoyed it.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Music is a huge inspiration for me. It’s always a challenge to try to illustrate lyrics or melodies through a photograph.

What message do you want to send through your art?

I’m not sure that there’s a specific message that I attempt to convey. It constantly changes.

Do you have a favorite photographer?

Honestly, I don’t. I don’t know a lot about the business.

Do you have a favorite subject to shoot?

Cityscapes are wonderful, but shooting people and animals is an exciting thing.

What gear do you use?

Right now I have a Canon A-1, a Nikon D40, a Polaroid Impulse and a Lomo ActionSampler, as well as a tripod and Lensbaby lens.

Do you have a favorite camera to use?

I use my Nikon more than any of them, but I love them each because each produces a different result or feel. My Canon is probably my favorite to use.

If you could go anywhere in the world to take pictures, where would you go?

I’d love to just travel Europe taking photos. So many countries in that part of the world are filled with everything I love about photos.

Do you believe that anyone can be a photographer?

I feel like everyone’s a “photographer” these days. People are far too quick to label themselves as such. I don’t label myself a photographer because I don’t truly feel I am one. I think you have to really know your subjects and camera, and put every inch of yourself into it. I don’t think it can just be a hobby.

What’s your favorite thing about photography?

Composition. I’m definitely a perfectionist when it comes to it. If I don’t think a photo’s put together well, no matter what the subject is, I’ll delete it. I think that’s what separates decent photos from amazing ones. Great composition attracts attention.

What’s your least favorite thing about photography?

Expenses. It’s a hobby that’s difficult to afford. I’ve been very lucky.

What is your favorite picture you’ve taken?

I’m very indecisive about questions like this. I have too many photos that I adore for very different reasons to pick a favorite.

Do you think photography will always be a part of your life?

Photography is something I enjoy wholeheartedly, so I’ll continue to have this hobby for as long as I’m able to. It’s just second nature now.

Is there an element you think every photograph should have?

Every photograph should be unique. I always try to take the shot that can’t be duplicated. I don’t want to be the same as everyone else.

How does your location affect your photography?

It’s New York City. It’s the place where everything happens first. If you come here and aren’t totally inspired by at least one thing, you’re probably not an artist after all. New York has definitely changed my perspective on a lot of things, which I suppose has made an impact on my art. For one, I don’t have as much time to do it. It’s a big transition, but I hope it will get better. I’m surrounded by concrete and glass. I haven’t seen a backyard in ages and I don’t know what trees are anymore. There’s a different backdrop to everything now. It’s still organic, but it’s in a different respect.

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Expose Yourself! is a section where we feature all the artsy types we fall in love with.

www.flic.kr/nittpick

Expose Yourself!

Emma Hope

Meet EMMA HOPE, a sixteen year old photographer from Oxford, England. We think you should know her because emotion and deeper meanings always find a way to shine through her photos. She’s back from taking a break on Flickr and now she’s better than ever.

How long have you been a photographer?

I have been a photographer (and I use that term very loosely) for about a year. Before then I took the odd picture here and there, but a year ago was when I really started taking lots of pictures and using Flickr.

How did you get into photography?

Well, I think there are a fair few roots that my love of photography grew from, as opposed to one specific one. Firstly, I was really into the whole ‘crazy MySpace pictures’ thing. I would set up little shoots with outfits and props and stuff. I looked silly really but it was fun! Secondly, I would always come across beautiful pictures on the internet of things like abandoned buildings, which I am fascinated by. To find a way to book mark them I created my Flickr, so I could ‘favourite’ them. Thirdly, I have always been a very creative person, and I am keen to use new art forms to express myself. Starting to take pictures was a very natural process.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

This is such a classic question which I am asked often, but I find it hard to answer. It can be many things, like music or film, or another artist.

Sometimes the inspiration is clear in the image. But most of all I am inspired by the world around me. I don’t set out on a shoot with preconceived ideas, I just start walking with a camera and a tripod and somewhere along the way an idea will rise out of my mind and present itself to me. But I am definitely inspired by nature, and by sunlight and by beauty.

Do you have a favorite photographer?

I have to say Tim Walker. I remember seeing his work years ago in a copy of Vogue. I was captivated by the fairytale images, surreal and beautiful.

I didn’t know who he was then, but I remember those pictures perfectly.

They adorned my walls for a long time.

Do you have a favorite subject to shoot?

Definitely people. I really dislike taking self portraits now, but I live far away from my friends and when I feel like taking a picture I just often have to make do with myself as a model.

What gear do you use?

A Canon EOS 1000d with a 50mm f1.8 lens. The lens I only bought recently but I absolutely adore it!

If you could go anywhere in the world to take pictures, where would you go?

Aha, this is easy. I would go to Pripyat, in the Ukraine. It’s a town located near where the Chernobyl disaster was. The radioactivity has died down somewhat and you can go there. It’s amazing.

Totally haunting. The whole city had to be evacuated quickly, and so it is completely empty. Schoolbooks on desks, clothes hanging in rooms, that kind of thing. There is even an abandoned fairground. It’s beautiful. Graffiti artists have gone around the city, painting the silhouettes of children in places. I want to visit there while I can- before the buildings start to collapse.

Do you believe that anyone can be a photographer?

Of course. I hate when people say ‘any kid with a camera these days thinks they are a photographer’ because really, that’s what most of us are. Kids with cameras. We all have to start somewhere. Photography is just a way of expressing yourself. It’s art. No one is exempt from partaking in certain types of art.

What’s your favorite thing about photography?

Feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment, that I’ve created something beautiful or meaningful, something that people will look at and feel connected to in some way. And capturing moments.

I’m not the best artist, painting and drawing wise. and sometimes when trying to copy something I think I would not do it justice and end up insulting its beauty almost…so I use photography as a way of instantly copying that beauty, and immortalizing it forever.

Do you have a favorite camera to use?

Definitely my Canon. I have various Polaroid and film cameras too, but right now, I’m a digital girl. I just don’t have the funds to get film developed all the time!

What’s your least favorite thing about photography?

I am never very confident in my abilities, especially when I look at the work of others which I both love and wish was mine!

My least favourite thing is that often, when doing my 365 project I felt totally pressured by people into constantly performing, constantly producing amazing things every day. I would end up so stressed. It became something I loathed rather than loved. So, my least favorite thing is feeling the need to perform for other people. I am now trying to take pictures for me, for my enjoyment, and not for the enjoyment of others.

Do you think photography will always be a part of your life?

I hope so. I don’t think I’ll do it professionally, but I would love to. Even if I don’t, I think it has definitely become a part of who I am, and a part of my life.

Is there an element you think every photograph should always have?

No. Photography is so broad a subject. I mean, you can capture literally anything in the physical world. So, subject or composition wise, no. but I think a good photo should be able to evoke emotion.

www.flic.kr/emmatakesphotos

Expose Yourself! is a section where we feature all the artsy types we fall in love with.

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Featuring

What made you want to create music?

At first it was a good excuse to spend some time alone, and do something else than dancing to trancemaster on home parties every single weekend. My brother was playing drums in a rock band and they had a rehearsing room in our basement. Sometimes I was hanging out with them whenever they needed a girly voice in their choir. My brother inspired me to start playing the guitar.

How did you come up with your name?

I was just playing around with words and came up with the name after reading the Astrid Lindgren book Per Pusling. Sissy Wish is the girl version of Per Pusling. I didn’t want to use my own name as an artist name, I like to separate.

What influences you the most?

People influence me, and how differently people see life.

SISSY WISH

Can you tell me about the music scene in Norway? I have lived in Bergen for almost seven years now, the music scene here is really amazing. We have a small music scene. We are helping each other, instead of tearing each other down. We are lucky to have art grants, and we have a chance to represent our music without being dependent on anyone else to get the music out there. We are far far off Broadway when it comes to music industry, and we have the freedom to do whatever we want.

Is the vibe in the US during tours different than in other countries?

Indeed. It’s overwhelming, that’s why I keep coming back. This is my fifth time here, and I am very excited to be on the road again. I love the road trip. Last year we went from blizzards to swimming pools, the contrasts are so big here and there are so many different things to see. We have a long way, over 5,000 miles and it’s only me and my band colleague on the road. We love the excitement, just hope we won’t get any snowstorms, cause we don’t have a very big car. The audiences in the US are very enthusiastic, last year some of them had been driving four hours to see our show. I really feel like I’ve found a connection with the crowd in the US, and that makes this tour very special.

Siri Walberg is the Scandinavian Grammy winner better known as SISSY WISH. Her

third studio album Beauties Never Die, is about to see its United States release. Due to the costs of touring overseas, her latest United States tour consisted of herself and only one bandmate, a 75% cut in backing power and still her shows packed a pretty powerful punch. Siri told us about everything from New Kids On The Block to staying sane while on the road.

www.myspace.com/sissywish

Overseas, you perform as a duo. How did you adapt your songs? We play like we are six in the band, that is really funny.

We use backing tracks, and Bjare is doing ten things at the same time during the whole set so I always get a little nervous before our shows. The problem is we have to have lots of gear on stage, and sometimes you won’t be able to see me behind all those microphones and tables. It’s really important for me to move a lot and integrate myself into the mood of the song, so the music will be presented the right way. I have more energy now than when we were six in the band.

Are there any disadvantages to being a duo while on tour? We have so much equipment, and sometimes it gets really expensive with the overweight. We are really good friends, that makes it really easy to be two. But the problem is when one of us have a bad day it’s hard to not take it out on each other. And since the car is very small, it can get very loud sometimes. We both have a little temper, and the temperature can sometimes be a bit high.

Do you have any musical training?

Not really, but I screamed a lot when I was a kid. I started to sing when I was around 12, but never learned it from anyone.

What is your first memory of music?

New Kids On The Block concert with my mum, ‘cause I was too little to go alone. She was sitting behind me knitting me a sweater, while I was standing in front of her screaming “Joey” and singing “Step By Step.” So sad.

What is in the near future for Sissy Wish? I’ve been recording some new stuff, so my fourth album will be finished in the end of this year.

What aspect of music excites you the most?

I like music that lives its own life, independent, fresh and new.

What aspect of music discourages you the most?

Too many similar bands playing boring, compressed music on the radio. While there is so much good music out there, labels invest in music that only repeats itself.

If your band was an ice cream flavor (real or made up!) what would it taste like? Honey and tequila.

FOUR YEAR STRONG

Featuring

According to keyboardist Josh Lyford, Four Year Strong was forged in the depths of the deepest, darkest cave of Worcester, Massachusetts by Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire, to be used as a weapon against tyranny.

Others say that if by ‘the deepest darkest cave of Worcester’ you mean Doherty Memorial High School, and by ‘Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire’ you mean a few high school friends, he’s right.

Where and when did the band start and why?

As far as anyone can tell Four Year Strong predates the birth of Christ by a thousand years.

What’s your favorite country to perform in?

Hmmm all of them? If Middle Earth were a country, or where magic cards take place was real. Otherwise everywhere.

What's the meaning behind the name Four Year Strong? (Why did you take off the A?) We're all about the A, we loved it so much we had to set it free.

What’s the craziest thing that you’ve ever done or happened on tour?

The real winners I can't talk about, but there’s been some serious fucking weirdness over the years. I grew up with BMX so I was pretty used to being a maniac when I was younger, I guess the funniest kid safe story was all of us in Japan at a communal bathhouse. I saw everyone in my bands’ dick for the first time that day. We've been very close ever since.

Were any other names considered?

To be fair, I wasn't in the band then but I probably shouldn't have had anything to do with naming the band since the bands I had in the 7th grade was called Ignorant of Evil. Haha that's pretty bad.

Do any of your members have musical training?

Nothing too formal, I think everyone has probably taken a lesson before but none of us are music scholars by any means.

How was the journey into the music business? Was breaking out difficult?

We set out on a chilly December morn, with horses we marched and eventually came upon a chamber, where we met the revered and holy Robert Hitt, he followed the waving of the leaves and foretold of our future conquests. Knowing the outcome from the start has been of great help.

How different is it to do an album entirely of covers rather than writing your own songs? Is it more or less difficult?

It’s a faster paced situation. It was also a lot of fun, we never take much too seriously so we would just wear our vampire robes and practice witchcraft.

Any pressure you’re feeling to really perform and do justice to these songs?

Only the pressure we put on ourselves, I mean we're not getting the bends over here or anything. We want to do our best but at the same time it’s not in our nature to take anything that seriously. When we start taking everything that seriously it won't be as fun.

Were there any songs you wanted to cover but didn’t get permission for?

None that we couldn't get permission for per se, but the list of songs we wanted to cover was a mile long, so we couldn't do them all.

How did you choose the songs to cover? The 90s incubated some really good music.

That's the truth it was either do the 1990s or do the 1690s, so we had a hard time getting the rights to all those songs.

Does the band have a favorite song to perform live?

Of the covers I love playing Reach the Sky, because all joking aside that band single handedly got me into hardcore and pop-punk when I was younger.

Why do you use lines from movies as your song titles?

We are fucking lazy, and everyone in the band gets down with movies. Alan and Dan jizz all over romantic comedies and chick flicks so this next record will probably only involve "take my eyes, not the shirt" or something.

What made you want to create music?

I was driving straight trucks for a carnival (not a joke) and our bass players’ girlfriend was really good friends with an ex of mine, so I met him and we got drunk and he was like dude play the keyboard in my band so you can dance around like a weirdo and play what might be the least respected instrument in current music. I played guitar my whole life so it wasn't a hard transfer, and besides I hated the crack head carnies I had to work with.

What influences you most?

Good times, showing up at a venue and going out riding my bike and then meeting kids who are into the band.

What do you see for your future as an artist?

Keep playing in Four Year Strong till I can't take not having a dog anymore, then move to the forest, dig some trails, get a dog and wear flannels and be a huge recluse playing the guitar on my porch with a bottle of whiskey.

What’s in the near future for your band?

Recording a new record of originals, tour tour tour.

What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?

All of it, music is a weird beast. It can be a gentle unicorn, or a mighty red-dragon.

As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other people?

Hmm. I find myself being more open to different genres, growing up.

If it wasn't hardcore it wasn't cool to me, but that was idiotic and now I find something to like in all music. With that being said, I less actively seek out new music. It seems to find me instead.

When can we expect a new album filled with FYS songs?

Hopefully very soon! I can't wait to show people the new songs, they're awesome!

What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?

The business side of it, and not being home to see my family. I've had a couple deaths while on tour and it doesn't get any easier to deal with. On the other hand I do love living like a gypsy for a living.

Can't complain about all the awesome memories.

Questions answered by Josh Lyford

www.myspace.com/fouryearstrong

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Featuring

JAW BOX First there were none. That was 1989. Then there were two, then three. Three became four, then the third was replaced by the fifth, meaning, there were still only four. Three made one, the first four made two, then the second four made three and four. Then the four once again become none.

That was 1997.

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positivexposure got to talk with Billy from the seminal DC punk band JAWBOX, who disbanded in 1997. Somehow, fifteen years later Jimmy Fallon persuaded them to come back and play one more time on his show. Who knows if this is really the end?

What made you want to create music?

Faced with the option of spending the rest of our lives doing nothing but consuming music, it seemed the only plausible choice. Seriously, YOU try living in DC in the late eighties and not want to be in a band. It was in the air.

How did you come up with your name?

Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Leaf through, eventually you'll come across Jawbox. Scottish slang for a slop sink of some sort. Also another way of looking at a television.

Were any other names considered?

Clafouti. The Earl of Sandwich. The Electric Hogan. The Keebler Elves. No, those aren't real. It was a long time ago, I'm sure there were many kicked around. The only one I can really remember is Josh, which was the name of our first drummer's pit bull.

What influences you most?

Music, mostly, but we're also heavy into books and movies. Politics, and how messed up they were in the eighties, especially. Friends’ bands, DC bands, British bands of the seventies. Hard to say which is "most."

How have you managed to survive creatively throughout so many years?

Well, as Jawbox, we haven't. We called it quits in 1997. We channeled that musical energy into writing poetry, producing records for other bands, playing in other bands, running a record label, starting a design and technology business. I think a good long break of doing something different was a way to come back to it with a fresh perspective.

Have generational changes influenced your music?

Wow, I honestly have no idea how to even start with that one. I suppose... when we were young, we made music for young people. Now that we're older, we still like music for young people, even if it was music for young people that was made when today's old people were young people.

What has been the most challenging part about writing music?

Words. Music comes through different channels in the brain, one that was largely open all the time. Words always came from a rational place, one that wanted to communicate using logic as much as images. That's always a tension in writing songs. How to convey an idea without sounding prosaic, but also without sounding like some fancy lad writing bad poetry.

Featuring

different, to see what we could do with a bigger recording budget and a different approach to being a band. Some aspects of our experiment worked great - we met and worked with some fantastic people and had opportunities to record and play live in front of audiences we never would have otherwise touched - and some were a struggle. No regrets.

Why play just one show?

Tours - the preparing for and conducting thereof - are arduous, complicated affairs. Months of preparation are required to do them well, and we're all busy with lives, kids, marriages, that make putting it all together again problematic. But we were asked very nicely by the Late Show guys, and we thought it might be fun and help promote the record. We don't really feel pressed to sell any for our own sakes - we sold enough when it first came out - but our friends at Dischord went to a great deal of trouble and expense to remaster and rerelease it, so we thought this might be an unconventional way to help repay the favor.

Why after all these years?

Ian and Michael at Dischord asked if we were interested, and in the spirit of why not, we said yes. I suppose they could have asked five years ago or waited another five for a 20th anniversary or something, but hell, 2009 is a nice, round fifteen.

What's in the future for Jawbox? Will you keep creating, or is this the real end?

One day at a time. We haven't even gotten together yet to rehearse one song for television, so I can't make any grand pronouncements about what may follow.

What aspect of music excites you the most?

That paradoxical moment when you feel you are hearing something incredibly familiar for the very first time.

What aspect of music discourages you the most?

The business. The baggage of commerce can really weigh you down.

Which album has been your favorite to work on?

No fair, that's like asking a mother to pick her favorite child.

Who’s your favorite under-rated artist?

I think Menomena is pretty great. Love White Denim. Are either of them under-rated? You know who was great and never really got their due? Arcwelder. But you know, "under-rated" is a very relative term. George Harrison had a very successful solo career, and turned out some phenomenal records (I'm heavy into All Things Must Pass for the past few weeks), but relative to John and Paul, he was always seen as the lesser of the Beatles' three principal songwriters. He also made some kind of lame hippie music that turned people away from him despite his awesome material. XTC was never as commercially successful as, say, U2, but for my money, they are a more interesting band. So was Squeeze. Was Big Star under-rated because they were never commercially successful, but are rightly lauded as phenomenal, seminal songwriters? How about the Modern Lovers? Yeah, I spun off into nowhere on this question because the concept of "ratedness" is really relative.

Why the switches in record companies?

There was really only one switch, from Dischord to Atlantic.

It came at a time when we felt it was right to try something

If your band was an ice cream flavor (real or made up!) what would it taste like?

Salty caramel fudge.

What does a rock band need to thrive?

An audience. Even a small audience. Playing for playing's sake is very unrewarding and leads to premature creative death and long, lonely evenings in the basement. Rock music is by its nature gregarious, even lonely rock music. It needs the counterweight of an audience on the other side of the scale, or it topples.

www.myspace.com/jawboxdc

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Featuring

THE STORY CHANGES

How was your second record different from your first? Was it a new sound or was it similar?

We toured for a pretty long period of time to support the first album and learned what songs from that record worked well live and what songs we had the most fun performing. The more aggressive songs always seemed to make the set-list. We kept that in mind when writing our second album, The Way of the Dinosaur, and tried to make a record that would translate well live from start to finish. I think overall Dinosaur is a little darker and moodier than our first album. You can see the progression of the band and where we are headed from one album to the next, but they both certainly sound like the same band.

We just released four new songs on a split release with Let Go. The new songs actually have elements that remind me of both of our albums which turned out kind of cool.

Do you feel that you've consistently re-invented your sound and style or have you maintained a specific image?

I think we're always looking to grow as artists and add to what we are already doing. It has been a gradual and natural evolution. We are a two-piece band (vocals/guitars and drums) and perform live with the use of technology to add the bass and extra instrumentation. We've been performing this way for about a year and a half now and it's given us the freedom live to incorporate whatever we feel the song needs to be it's best. It's a lot of fun.

You've been touring for the better part of two years - how was that?

We really enjoy being on tour and all the legwork that goes along with staying on the road. We feel very fortunate to be able to go out and consistently get by especially with the current economy in the States.

The last run of dates over the summer was one of the funnest tours I've ever been a part of.

Jamie Woolford produced your second album, right?

We've worked with Jamie on a few projects and are more than pleased with the results. He's a great producer and engineer. A certain level of trust is needed when bringing a producer on board and we've never doubted Jamie. I think he has clicked with the two of us very well along with having a great grasp of what we're trying to create on every occasion we have worked together. Jamie is based in the Phoenix, AZ area and we've made a lot of great friends in the area between our stays in town recording and stopping through on tour. It feels like a home away from home.

This year, you worked with Woolford again and Let Go on a "shared album." Tell us a little about that.

The split with Let Go turned out really cool! It's one of my favorite things we've gotten to release. We've done quite a bit of touring with Let Go over the years and have nothing but love for those guys. We both recorded with Jamie with a lot of the same gear and had the album mixed and mastered as one release. The end result is a split album with a cohesive feel as opposed to feeling like two separate releases put on one disc. We even alternate songs back and forth in the track listing. It makes for a fun listen.

What has influenced you most throughout your career?

Traveling and all the friendships we've made through music over the years has been a constant influence on me. Musically, I think we have a better bond with a lot of music that came out in the late 90s than we do with most everything that's coming out today. There's a certain cool

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Fresh off a tour and a split album with Let Go, The Story Changes is already hashing out plans for a college tour in early 2010 - in fact, they haven't stopped touring for the better part of the last two years! They settle down for a second with positivexposure for a chat about influences, inspirations, and oh yeah, that sweet split album.

and honest vibe that bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Jawbox put off that is missing these days. I think a lot of the newer bands all sound the same and manufactured.

What makes you want to keep writing and performing?

I love every aspect of being in this band. Writing and creating music is not only fun, but it's a great form of expression. There's a certain feeling I get working on music and expressing myself through it that I have not experienced anywhere else. Performing live is just plain fun. It's 100% addictive and I'm hooked.

What is the most important thing to keep in mind when creating music?

Sometimes songs completely come together quickly from start to finish and almost seem to write themselves, however, one thing that is important and always hard for me is the ability to put an idea on hold if it's not coming together. If you have a strong chorus or verse idea for a song, but are having trouble coming up with the rest, don't force it. Put the song away for a bit and come back to it with a fresh perspective.

What are you currently working on?

After being out for most of the summer on tour and leaving again in a week for an October run of dates with I Was Totally Destroying It, we haven't settled into plans yet for a new album. We've been writing quite a bit on the road and during downtime at home, but with the split release with Let Go just coming out, we're going to keep writing for now and look to do a new album early in the new year.

What's in the future for The Story Changes?

Hopefully we'll be able to continue growing and build upon where we are at this point. We are just now getting into scheduling for 2010 and are working out details to be back on the west coast early in the year for a run of college dates.

Do you want to keep making music for as long as possible?

Absolutely. I get such a fulfillment from both writing music and performing live. I'm sure someday down the line there will be a point where we can't tour as much as we do now or put the amount of time into it that we are now, but I'm sure we'll both be making music in some form for as long as we can. All touring, recording, marketing, and band business aside, the two of us have a great time when we just get in a room, set up the drums, strap on a guitar, and write music together.

Questions answered by Mark McMillon Analogies, the split EP from The Story Changes and Let Go is available now from Future Destination Records.

Check out their MySpace for ordering options.

www.myspace.com/thestorychanges

PERSON L

Featuring: Cover Story

2006 saw the break-up of not only Kenny Vasoli’s long time band The Starting Line, but also his relationship. After writing a song to clear his head and enlisting the help of Ryan Zimmaro to record the drums, they had what became the fan favorite, “Storms.” A few jam sessions later and the percussion duo pertinent to Person L’s unique sound was born with the addition of Brian Medlin. A year and two members (Charlie Schnieder and Nate Vaeth) later, Person L as we know it was born. 2009 will see their second full length, The Positives, which will include a few crowd favorites previously played but not recorded. Person L’s Kenny Vasoli and Brian Medlin talk inspiration, progression, and more.

When Person L was formed, was it expected to be a side project or a temporary thing?

It's much more than a side project to me. I plan on keeping Person L permanent in one form or another. I had always envisioned Person L to be a vessel where I could focus all of my out of the box influences.

I still plan on making pop music with TSL as well, I just don't know how many of those type of songs I have left in me. So I needed another way to make music free of guilt for being different and shapeshifting.

I remember on the MySpace when it was just you, it said that Person L would consist of you and a revolving array of artists… why has there been a permanent line up?

I now keep the band line up fixed only because I have grown so satisfyed playing with these gentlemen; it's pretty much my dream team. I'd have no problem bringing other people in if I felt a need for another color on the canvas, or if someone decided to bow out I would adjust accordingly. For now it feels too right to mess with. Not to say that Person L will only be this band line up; if I make music by myself or with only a few members it will most likely still go under the Person L name.

What makes Person L different?

We are just all over the place, we don't like to tie ourselves down to a certain sound and I don't think there is a one particular band you can say we emulate. I think we try to resurrect what’s special about music from the past, while translating it in our own voice.

To you, what is success?

Success is being able to do what you love full time.

Why did you want to make a record produced by Aaron Marsh?

Me and Aaron had toured together in '05 in support of TSL's second album, I'd always been a fan of Copeland. On that tour he had expressed interest in producing TSL's following record. That pairing never ended up happening but I always kept him in the back of my mind for future projects. Once I heard Eat, Sleep, Repeat I knew I had to have him attached to a project, the production on that record magnificent! Once time came to make the decision he was my first choice for the job.

Does Aaron do any guest vocals on the album?

Yes, very subtle oohs and ahhs in the background but he is on there.

What did Aaron uniquely bring to The Positives?

He keeps the raw feel of a natural rock and roll record with lots of space and texture embedded within. He also has the ability to think like a DJ working with layers and bringing instruments in and out and building. That really came in handy on songs like “Hole in the Fence” and “I Sing the Body Electric.”

Why did you decide to name the album The Positives? Were any other names considered?

I think it was Brian Medlin that suggested it. No other names were seriously considered. I love the name, a lot of the record is about focusing on the bright side of life.

The Positives made room for funk and soul influences, was that a conscious decision or a natural progression?

A little bit of both. With two drummers in the mix we made an effort to put an emphasis on rhythm. In the van, to get ourselves pumped up, we listen to a lot of old funk and soul records. James Brown's Say it Live and Loud is heavily rotated, I think that record blew all of our minds. That sort of stuff is really fun to play so it's no big surprise to me that we started to move in that direction It's been said that "Stay Calm" represents the struggle between self doubt and positivity… how do you deal with that struggle?

To me, it feels like that's the duality of life. When I was younger it was natural to stay sunny and confident with myself, everything was new and exciting. As I age (or at least at this point) I often have to remind myself of how beautiful and blessed my life is. I wrote the song as that reminder. It's easy to get caught up on negative aspects of life. I don't mean to get all "wah!" on the subject, but all humans must experience some level of depression. Otherwise happiness would not feel as good as it does. I stay on my feet by listening to and creating music that lights me up, as well as surrounding myself with loving and positive people.

Why release The Positives on Academy Fight Song instead of Human Interest?

It is a 50/50 co-release by both labels. Human Interest is more or less a moniker for the band to self-release under. Since the band doesn't have much money then neither does the label. We needed help putting it out and AFS was a perfect fit for us. They are extremely pleasant and hardworking fellows. They also don't release many records a year, so they've been able to give The Positives a great deal of attention.

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Featuring: Cover Story How is playing with Person L different than The Starting Line?

It feels totally different to me. I don't just mean switching from bass.

The feeling I get from performing these song with these guys has an energy that is both exciting and dangerous to me.

Has there been a lot of cross over fans from The Starting Line or are there two entirely different audiences?

There are some people that seem to be fans of whichever music I make. On the other hand there are a lot of TSL fans that didn’t make the jump to the L. It’s totally understandable to me, if TSL was my favorite band I don’t know how I would react to Person L. What is your first memory of music?

Taking trips to the Jersey shore or to Altoona to visit my grandparents. My father would always play Van Morrison and Creedence on the ride. I still love that stuff, now maybe more than ever.

If you weren’t playing music what would you be doing?

I’d probably going to school or be working as an electrician.

Electrical contracting is the family business. I have a great respect for that line of work but I don’t think I was cut out for it.

You had a few songs (“Goodness Gracious,” “Untitled” [this staff member’s favorite Person L song], and “I Sing The Body Electric”) written long before The Positives was being recorded.

Did the pace and style of those songs set the bar for the songs you wrote later?

Glad you like “Untitled!” Maybe to some degree, but we never say to ourselves “let’s write another like this one,” unless maybe it’s someone else’s song that we love. Even though it makes our records somewhat schizophrenic, we strive to put together a varying and colorful collection of songs.

What excites you the most about making music?

I like that music is not a physical form of art. At the end of the day you might have it physically on record or CD, but a song (if done right) has a way of communicating to the heart. I love the idea that putting different sounds together can conjure something so powerful.

And since there are unlimited types of sounds available I feel like I will always have a life purpose and another song to write.

Is there anything about creating music that discourages you?

I don’t usually like the popular demand (especially nowadays) but I

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wouldn’t say that discourages me, if anything it might encourage me to do what i believe is right with music. I’m probably just slowly becoming an old-timer. I do wish more people would choose to pay for music but I suppose I’d rather them have it then not at all.

You recently did a solo tour in Australia, what was on your set lists?

I was typically doing two Person L songs, one cover and the rest was TSL material. I would have enjoyed playing more of the L tunes but they don’t lend themselves as well to an acoustic guitar, most of them are rhythmically driven. The cover was usually “There, there”

by Radiohead which was always a total joy for me to play. It was nice getting to play some TSL stuff again, it had been almost a year since I had.

What made you want to create music?

Music was always very fascinating and attractive to me. As a youngster, musicians just seemed to be the definition of cool and I so badly wanted to be considered cool. Once I found that I could write a song I focused my sights on being as good at it as I could possibly be.

Who’s your favorite under-rated artist?

There’s a lot that jump out to me. Drive Like Jehu is a big one, even though loads of bands like At The Drive-In (and this band) were heavily influenced by them they never really got their due. For my money it music doesn’t get as raw and good as the Yank Crime album, its damn near flawless! On a more current note I love Colour Revolt and I feel like they also don’t get the props they should, they put out my favorite record of last year and I haven’t seen one great review for it. A few other that deserve to be mentioned are Arco, For Stars, Rescue (MI), and Curtis Mayfield.

If your band was an ice cream flavor (real or made up!) what would it taste like?

Oatmeal cookie Rocky Road. Not a real flavor (at least I don’t think) but I love oatmeal cookies in ice cream and it needs to be Rocky Road because we have a lot of ingredients. It may not be delicious to everyone... but it is to me!

Questions answered by Kenny Vasoli How do you find the balance between too much and too little for the drums?

You have to always play what’s best for the song. If the part calls for something busier, then you play something busier. And you may also play “too little” by not accenting what needs to be pushed. What the drummer does can affect the song entirely. You have to constantly be aware of that.

Person L continues on the next page too!

Is it ever difficult to work with two drummers?

No. It’s probably more helpful than anything. Whenever one of us feels stuck or needs encouragement, there’s someone there to bounce ideas off of. Not that you can’t do that with your other band members. But from a technical standpoint, it makes it a lot easier.

Were you immediately open to the idea of two drummers?

Yes because when we decided on it, we already had the plan of what it would be like. For starters, we didn’t want to have two drum sets. We chose for the second drummer to play more of a percussive role, adding and enhancing the rhythm without overshadowing it. We are big fans of The Roots, so that was probably our biggest inspiration. I remember being incredibly excited about the idea, even getting antsy. Ken was just about to leave for a tour with The Starting Line, so we had to wait until he was back to try the idea out. And it clicked the very first practice. We were sold on the idea as soon as we heard it.

How do you decide who does what on percussion for each song?

There isn’t really a decision for that. It kind of just works out that way when we write the song. Whoever is behind the kit at the time we wrote it, will play the kit every time we play it. We always talk about switching it up for songs. We still have yet to try that.

Do you and Ryan have different percussion styles?

Ryan and I definitely have different drumming styles. At the core of it all, I am self-taught. I’ve just played in bands all my life. Ryan is more of a schooled drummer. When he was in school, he took marching band, jazz band, etc. So I think for that reason, I’m more of a rock drummer: hard hitting, big accents, high intensity. Ryan is much more technical, has nice grooves, lays back in the pocket. He’s absolutely incredible, to say the least. The dude’s got chops. Playing in a band with him really keeps me on my toes.

Featuring: Cover Story No one can truly feel what another person is feeling. So art is a way of showing someone.

Who’s your favorite under-rated artist?

Again, I could probably give a list. There’s a lot of artists that I think are under-rated, but they still have a name for themselves. But I’m sure you’re looking for a name that many people aren’t aware of.

There’s a band from Philadelphia called Dr. Dog that last year put out one of my favorite records I’ve heard in a long time. I think they’re very well established in the indie scene. But in case anyone reading hasn’t heard them, then I highly recommend. There’s also a singer/ songwriter from Canada named Hayden who I feel like should be much “bigger” than he is. He’s been putting out records for over a decade, so I think he might be well known. But I’ve always thought he was under-rated.

If your band were an ice cream flavor (real or made up!) what would it taste like?

Well, I talked about the diversity of our band before, so I’d have to say we’re Neapolitan ice cream. We have that classic vanilla, sexy chocolate, and fun strawberry sound. If that makes any sense?

What is your earliest memory of music?

The first piece of music I can remember consciously thinking to myself, “this is good, I like this”, was when I was gour years old. It was to the song “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins. And I still think it’s a good song.

Questions answered by Brian Medlin

What/who are you guys influenced by? Any similar influences?

I’m influenced just by the music I listen to, rather than specific drummers. A very early influence of mine was Dave Grohl. I was listening to lots of Nirvana when I first learned to play the drums. I essentially learned from those records. And I still feel like I have that Dave Grohl style in my playing too.

What are you most influenced by?

I could go on and on with my favorite bands and artists. Radiohead is my absolute favorite band. I also have an unhealthy obsession with Bob Dylan. I’m pretty much just listening to them and The Beatles non-stop.

What has been your favourite song to drum on so far?

My favorite song to drum to off of Initial would probably be “Help Yourself”. I love playing everything off of the new record. It’s hard to pick a favorite right now. I have a lot of fun playing “Sit Tight” and “Stay Calm” because I play a sort of different style in those. Every song feels pretty different to me. Perhaps that’s why it’s so hard to decide. I love the diversity. That’s what I’ve always loved about playing in this band. Not only the diversity I get jumping between the kit and the percussion set up, but also the diversity in the songs. We’re not really tied down to any particular sound or style. We just play what feels right.

How much input into writing The Positives did you have?

There was much more input from everyone on this record than there was for the last record. Initial was written while Ken was touring with The Starting Line and I was playing with The Minor Times. Ken and I would write songs together, but I wouldn’t be around for the songs with Ryan.

For this record, it was less of a side project for everyone. We became a band. We would all write the songs together at practice. There was an open discussion about anything that may come up. I’m playing with such great musicians. Everybody writes their own stuff for the most part.

It's been said that "Stay Calm" represents the struggle between self doubt and positivity… how do you deal with that struggle?

Self-doubt is a hard battle to fight because you’re fighting it alone. The only way to beat it is from encouragement, whether it’s from your friends, band mates, or family. And that’s really what helps me stay positive.

They are all my saving grace, my healing power.

What made you want to create music?

Hearing music I love is the biggest inspiration of all. What makes me want to create is kind of a psychological question. From the beginning of time people wanted to create an art form. It’s a way of expressing feelings and emotions and sharing them with other people.

Person L’s second album, The Positives, will be available on November 17th, but you can pre-order it along with some sweet T shirts and an awesome, limited edition, double vinyl now!

There are a few bundles availble, so order before they sell out!

Here’s the track listing for The Positives: 1. Hole In The Fence 2. Good Days 3. The Positives 4. Goodness Gracious 5. New Sensation 6. Stay Calm 7. Sit Tight 8. Loudmouth 9. Changed Man 10. Pleasure Is All Mine 11. Untitled 12. I Sing The Body Electric

www.myspace.com/personl

15

Featuring

PLAY

RADIO

PLAY!

This interview with Dan Hunter of PlayRadioPlay! was first featured in issue 1 of positivexposure, but the page it was featured on would not load and there wasn’t really anything we could do about it. We decided it would be better to feature it in the magazine and give it a chance to be seen as we originally intended, especially now that PlayRadioPlay! is about to be renamed Analog Rebellion. This interview is from Warped Tour 2007, so it’s an oldie but a goodie!

Newly graduated and vegetarian (at the time) Daniel Hunter, the mind behind PlayRadioPlay! was already making an impact on the music industry at just seventeen. Supported by a major fan base (and a lot of Bob Saget fan art), PlayRadioPlay! explained the obstacles of internet success.

You seem like a happy person despite your past.

For what reasons did you change your attitude?

That’s a hard question. I was in rehab for a long time, longer than most people are. It was more than just drugs and stuff, so, I had a lot of time to work things out with my family. When things are going good with your family and you’re happy with how your life is going it’s hard to be upset.

Why are you a vegetarian?

It’s a recent thing. It is more than the animal rights thing, it’s more like an eating healthy right now thing.

What song of yours are you most proud of?

The ones that I’ve written lately are probably my favorite. That’s always how it is though. You’re always in love with the one you just wrote.

Do you ever censor your writing?

Uhm, I’ve written especially lately a lot of stuff that pushed the boundaries more than my other stuff, but, I don’t censor myself. I’ve never not wanted to record something just because I thought it was too harsh. I had some big problems with this tour manager that was a good friend of mine and we had a really huge thin happen while we were on tour. That’s one of my most recent songs that I think people I showed it to have said “You shouldn’t release that.” But it’s how I feel so, music is how I feel, so I’m going to release it.

Why did you decide to become straight edge?

When I stopped I kind of wanted to do more than just not doing it. I wanted to take a stand against it and show people this is what I believe and stuff like that.

Can you explain the Bob Saget fan art?

Some kid sent me something that was hilarious and I posted a bulletin and I got like 500 more pictures. It sort of just blew up.

You’re 17 right?

Yeah.

Do you still go to highschool?

Actually, I graduated early. I just graduated like two weeks ago. I did the second semester of my senior year with online classes so I didn’t really have to go to an alternative school.

How long have you been with Madison?

A year and like a week.

What have been the biggest obstacles for you?

I think when you kind of blow up on the internet people don’t really think you can pull it off live or think you can sell records or get big numbers, especially in the music industry the way it is today. I’m kind of still having to prove myself even though I’ve already experienced a certain amount of success, more so than others just because people don’t believe that MySpace numbers can always translate to record sales.

How do you feel about your fan base?

Good. I really have great fans. If I’m bored and I post a bulletin I get a crapload of kids trying to talk to me. I wish I could talk to them all.

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www.myspace.com/playradioplay

Up & Coming

CALLAHAN Questions answered by Jake Sims

Representing Springfield, Ohio, Callahan has been making their hometown proud, frequently topping the national list of unsigned bands. Here they talk success, sibling rivalry, and summertime with their brand new EP, Summer Sampler.

What made you want to create music?

Well, for me personally, music has been in my family for generations and everyone in my family knows how to play some kind of instrument. I guess it's just natural for me to want to create music.

How did you come up with your name? (Have you seen the commercial about if UPS guys ran the world? And they’re in a school trying to find “Callahan?”)

Haha. Yeah I've seen that and at the first listen I thought our manager pulled some major strings to get us all over TV. Needless to say I was disappointed, but the name came from the street I used to live on.

How would you describe the feel and sound of Summer Sampler to someone?

The Summer Sampler is easy listening. It's stripped down to the basics and has a cool rock ‘n' roll vibe to it. It’s a step up on the maturity scale when it comes to the lyrics and structure. We weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel or anything; we just wanted to write solid songs.

What was it like to work with Joey Sturgis?

Oh man, The Sturg was a riot! He's totally down to Earth and has the same exact sense of humor that we have. He's very talented and it was a pleasure working with him.

How does it feel as an unsigned band to be so highly acclaimed by so many sites and magazines ?

It's an absolute blessing and that's all I can really say. We've worked so hard and to see it kind of grow and evolve has just been amazing.

You’ve been the #1 unsigned band in the country on numerous occasions… what do you think has helped you get there?

Our loyal fans, because without them we would still be playing in my garage.

Your live hometown shows usually play to 500+ people?

It feels amazing to know that the people you have grown up with like what you are doing and support you. If you don't have hometown support you don't have anything.

Does knowing each other for so long have an impact on your music?

It really does, I mean we all know what we bring to the table and we are comfortable enough to share ideas even when we know they will

get shot down.

Are there any cases of sibling rivalry between Wes and Brad?

In the beginning there were the occasional "awkward brother fights" but all is well now…haha.

What influences you most?

Personally it's the big events that happen to be going on in my life at any given time.

What’s in the near future for your band?

Touring, touring, and more touring…haha.

What aspect of music excites you the most?

Playing live, it's indescribable.

What aspect of music discourages you the most?

Honestly nothing does.

Do any of your members have musical training?

Yeah, Brad and Wes took lessons when they were younger.

How many members are in your band, and who does what?

Four. I play bass, Brad plays guitar, Wes plays drums, and Ryan sings and plays guitar.

What, to you, is “success?”

Success to me is being able to live comfortably while doing what I love, which is music.

As an unsigned band, what’s the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome?

Being thrown into clichés - it's so hard to stick out these days and we have got to find a way to prove that we’re different from everybody else and that we have lasting value.

If you could play any venue in the world and support any band, past or current, who would it be and where?

Madison Square Garden supporting Metallica.

If your band was an ice cream flavor (real or made up!) what would it taste like?

Wow, that's a tough question. Hmm, probably Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia because, lets face it, who doesn't love that?

www.myspace.com/callahan

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Recommended Recommended By: By:

Zach Hill and Nick Reinhart barely have any time for the projects they have going already, let alone another, but we're happy they got together to create Bygones. After a blind jam date, the boys knew it was true love. With a debut album, By-, under their belts, they take a time out to chat about just how they're able to be so brilliant with so much going on (and possibly another appearance in positivexposure?!) One of Nick Reinhart’s other projects, Tera Melos, was mentioned by Portugal. The Man and a few other bands as their favorite to tour with. We liked bygones so much that we bent the rules a little bit.

How do you have time for this band?! You’re like superheroes or something.

It can be tricky at times. I've got another full time band as well as several other musical ventures I'm working on and Zach's got about a million ideas for records/bands being filtered through his skull at any given moment. The idea is to stay organized and find the pockets in which our schedules can line up.

Having released several albums with other bands, do you still get the thrill of recording and releasing?

Absolutely. I think we are both pretty progressive musical thinkers, not progressive like "prog," but constantly thinking about music and figuring out new ways to approach it’s creation. It's very rewarding to successfully document what you were hearing in your head. Usually by the time the record is released we're already working on something else.

How is bygones different from your other projects?

For me I tried to approach the guitar playing differently than I had in previous projects. It's a lot more riff-based. I'm not even sure what that means actually. I don't think bygones sounds like anything either of us has ever done. Obviously the dynamic from musician to musician changes drastically. So by default this is very different than previous efforts.

How do you manage to come up with so many different ideas and sounds for so many separate projects?

Playing music with different people constantly is very inspiring and leads to new ideas musically and conceptually.

You shove so many ideas into each song…are you ever going to run out of ideas?

I don't see us running out of ideas anytime soon. If I begin to run out of ideas I'll start doing some crazy drugs.

How badass do you think Bygones would be if there were two Zach Hills and two Nick Reinharts?

It'd be so badass, that idea would take an empty beer can and smash it on it's head.

What made you guys decide to pair up in the first place?

I had actually never met Zach before, though I had seen him play a thousand times. A mutual friend, Dan Elkan (Them Hills, Pocket for Corduroy, Hella), told me he thought Zach and i should jam. I said, "um, yes." He got my number to Hill and we went on a blind jam date.

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Why is the album titled By-? Were any other names considered?

We just liked the way it looked/sounded. I remember one time after practice we were walking to a restaurant and a group of gangsters passed us and said "hey fuckers." I thought that would be a good name for our record.

Any plans for a future release named –gones?

Maybe. I think that was mentioned at one point.

The cover art of By- struck me in an odd way. Can you describe your motivations in choosing the photograph?

Zach's girlfriend had taken that photograph a long time ago. We came across that picture and knew immediately that it should be the cover. Don't know why. Perhaps we were both extremely hungry at the time and subconsciously chose it with chili burgers on our minds.

Were there any ideas that you weren't able to squeeze into this album?

I think we pretty much covered everything we set out to do with this record. There's a riff on the record that goes on for like three minutes straight or something. It would have been cool to double or triple that.

You guys are pretty unique… who are your direct influences?

Dance music. White guys playing reggae. Punk music. Black guys playing reggae. Brian Setzer. Those are all pretty indirect. Sorry. I've been really into Brian Setzer lately. Also Adrian Belew.

Do you feel it's helpful as an artist to have several projects to use as outlets for different sounds and styles?

Of course. It's great to keep ideas fresh with musical outlets. It's like being able to have sex with lots of hot girls instead of just one blown out, fat wife.

What’s in the near future for your band?

Release thrash ep. Tour. Write more music. Record said music. Do another interview for positivexposure.

What aspect of music excites you the most?

Primal and raw expression. and playing too fast.

Were any names other than bygones considered?

Yes, but we’ll probably end up using them for the next three bands we start with each other. Stay tuned.

www.myspace.com/bygones

Questions answered by Nick Reinhart

Recommended By:

When it comes to Rx Bandits, you might not think ‘under rated.’ Sure, they have an extremely loyal fan base...so loyal in fact, that is seems like there is an army backing them. But still, Dan Schwartz thinks they need more members in that army, who has been supporting them all over the world during their current tour.

You guys didn’t have any horns on this last album?

We did. We just didn’t have like, a horn play per se, but yeah there were horns recorded on the album…there were a couple session guys that met me.

So it wasn’t a complete departure from your traditional sound?

No, we’re kind of trying to dispel that whole concept amongst interviews and stuff like that. I mean, obviously there’s a lot less horns and the sound is kind of different. I mean, that we acknowledge but it wasn’t a conscious thing, it wasn’t a conscious cut. To us it’s not absent or gone, you know? It was just the way that it was at the time. So that’s kind of our angle. They were never, as far as what our current music is like, it’s never been at the forefront, but on this album there’s definitely a lot less.

How have you guys survived creatively throughout so many years?

I don’t know if we look at it as survival or as a more simple, like, we still feel it. And it’s still something we feel passionate about; playing together and writing, and so, we still do it. There was no conscious effort for evolution or survival or anything like that. Or we still feel like we’re finding mixes that work. There’s always something new.

Are there any songs that you’re particularly proud of on Mandala?

Yeah, I would probably say that Hearts That Hanker for Mistake and Hope is a Butterfly…

I don’t know if you knew this, but, “March of the Caterpillar” sounds a lot like “Dead Man’s Party” by Oingo Boingo.

[Laughs] There’s a few spots. They’re a big influence for us. Yeah dude, love Oingo Boingo.

How long did Mandala take to write and record from start to finish?

It was about a nine month process, I would say.

impossible for me to answer. Just too difficult.

Did the leak hurt the release of Mandala at all?

I don’t think so, but, it’s really hard to say. Who’s to know really how many people didn’t buy it that would have. But, you can’t really think about that kind of stuff.

What’s your take on internet downloading? As a music fan you have to love it, but when you’re the one creating the music, you must feel kind of torn.

Oh, man. What a subject. Well, basically, my personal stance on it right now is that the people that are in the know and that kind of have an idea, as far as independent bands go and the exchange between listener and musician, those are the people that will keep it going. We won’t ever be able to stop leaks. Sometimes it helps people and sometimes it hurts people. It’s not really ever black and white. I think at the very least it’s just something that bands can come to expect and the most logical thing to do at this point is to just try and let people know how you feel and how it effects you literally.

Every situation is different. I know for a fact that Metallica is still fucking rich no matter how many people download their albums.

But for bands like us or Portugal. (the Man.) and stuff like that, it’s a different story. We’re gonna have to accept it but everybody just has to try and inform people of what’s going on and let them make their own decisions.

What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?

The limitless possibilities. It’s overwhelming sometimes. I get overwhelmed with all the possibilities and that’s the most discouraging thing for me.

What gets you the most excited about music?

All the possibilities. The limitless combinations and possibilities.

So it’s like your baby. [laughs] Exactly. Every one is, dude. The labor of love.

If you could describe Rx Bandits as an ice cream flavor, what would it be?

A giant, giant massive sundae with all the fixin’s but made from totally pure cream or soy milk and totally hormone free, organic, pure, and locally farmed.

Would it be wrong to ask you which child was your favorite? [laughs] It would not be wrong, but that question would be so

Do any of your members have musical training?

Yeah, Matt did in high school and college, and I’ve been studying Rx Bandits continues on the next page too!

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classical music since I was four when I started playing classical piano. So two of us have formal training. The others have some here and there but for the most part they’re self taught.

What advice would you give to other self taught musicians?

All my guitar and drums were self taught, so, strive to get better, not to be better but just so you have more tools to stretch yourself, I guess would be my advice.

Why did you guys choose the name Mandala for the album?

It means full cycle of life, beginning and end. It’s also a physical thing like a sacred geometry pattern that you can draw to create a space of meditation. That idea, running full cycle and kind of creating a space to kind of get into your head and tap into some spiritual and creative stuff, we just felt like it embodies the feel of the whole last year and writing the record and trying to get it recorded and everything we went through. So that’s why we chose it. It’s very fitting.

As you create music do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out new music?

That’s a good question. I think there’s two levels of that question. On the surface, it makes you less, because you spend more time worrying about your own music, basically. At the same time, once you start to get in there at deeper levels of writing, after you’ve been doing it a few years, it changes and makes you want to get into it more because you want to start delving into…not only listening for your own enjoyment but kind of exploring and learning about other genres of music.

Who’s your favorite under rated artist?

I’d have to say Nurses is one of them. Superdrag is another one of them. Probably, kind of a toss up but I’ll probably have to say Lightning Bolt.

A lot of bands say Nurses for that question.

Dude, that band is fucking sick. They are so good. They’re such awesome guys and I love them. You should get that last Sargent House album.

Do you guys have any plans coming up?

Yeah, we’re leaving for Brazil in a couple days.

Have you ever been there before?

No, we’ve never been there, I’m really excited. In February we’ll be going to Australia to do Soundwave Festival. We’re excited about that.

Then there just might be a US headlining tour in the works for this spring.

If you could switch places with anybody in the world for one day, who would it be?

For just one day? An astronaut on the space station. I think I’d lose it after...well, I could probably hang for a couple days but I’m not trained so...

Questions answered by Steve Choi

Probably the two most asked questions in the entire history of your band, but, how did you come up with your name and why did you shorten it?

The name, it’s really not significant. Either Matt or Chris came up with it when they were kids, there was no significance to it. It was just the name that was kept. As far as why it was shortened, Pharmaceutical was so long and Rx is an abbreviation of that anyway and people started writing it like that back in the day. It kind of happened naturally. We don’t necessarily love that name by any means.

If you could change your name to anything, what would it be?

Nothing. I hate dealing with names, I feel like it’s the most pointless and superficial aspect of a band.

You can still buy Mandala from Amazon.com

www.myspace.com/rxbandits