SOFTconcrete magazine the music issue
featuring
ECHOSMITH
+ nick mulvey / emby alexander / and more
including: festival fashion easton schirra layla sailor + more
CONCRETE
SOFT
!"#$"%&'()*–*('+,")#+&#!-+($** melisa baykent
!"#$"%&'()! leah gessel*
!"#$"%&'()!! brianna hudson
.)+,()/ bridget carson alastair dickie colleen loustalot sara parker
0-","1)20-()/ melisa baykent marianne chua colleen loustalot
!"3()*0-"," claire marie vogel
!"&,2!,*%/ softconcretemag.com softconcretemag@gmail.com @softconcretemag
/0(!+24*,-2&5/ bethany watson, crash avenue media & management, warner brothers records, rosie burn, echosmith, emby alexander, shawnee badger, easton schirra, our readers, and to everyone who helped make this issue possible.
softcontents 03
festival fashion
07
layla sailor
11
behind the lens: easton schirra
13
serge denimes: a talk with founder oliver proudlock
14
queen of quirk: shawnee badger
15
rheannon ormond
19
album reviews
21
what始s hot?
23
echosmith
28
emby alexander
31
nick mulvey
35
history lesson: fairgrounds
39 41
43
warped tour summer festivals film reviews
photo: colleen loustalot
bustier, $195, zimmermann
skirt, $40, pull & bear
top, $9, pull & bear
hat, $50, topshop
vest, $54, pret-a-beaute.com
bonnaroo get your camping gear out and be ready to enjoy some of the best artists out there at this four day festival.
headpiece, $68, boticca.com
dress, $68, miss selfridge
03
boots, $130, topshop
dress, $45, mymummadeit.net
sunglasses, $9, h&m
jacket, $165, calypso st. barth hat, $83, houseoffraser.co.uk
glastonbury time to get those wellies out of your closet, because this festival is known to get messy.
shirt, $80, topshop
shorts, $750, lagarconne.com
shirt, $11, h&m
wellies, $130, coggles.com
dungarees, $76, topshop
04
sunglasses, $150, ray-ban
shorts, $34, fashionunion.com
top, $30, element x jac vanek
top, $8, aeropostale shirt, $32, sarahaghili.com
warped tour shirt, $11, riverisland.com
it!s all about trying to stay cool and wearing loose clothing at this festival.
shoes, $45, vans
shorts, $56, topshop
bikini top, $44, tillys hat, $17, modcloth.com
05
top, $20, h&m
shorts, $50, mango
top, $189, farfetch.com sunglasses, $275, moscot headband, $25, topshop
tomorrowland this festival is the king of electronic fests and all one needs are some comfortable clothes.
headband, $49, rocknrose.co.uk
shirt, $31, fashionunion.com
playsuit, $34, fashionunion.com
shorts, $23, chiarafashion.co.uk shoes, $170, steve madden
06
words: sara parker photos: layla sailor
layla sailor
SP: Hi Layla, where did your love of photography come from and when did you decide you were going to pursue fashion photography? LS: I was originally specializing in fine art, I loved painting but was hitting a brick wall with my style, and at that point I discovered some mixed media work in the studio at college and started to play around. Photography felt just as much a process but much fresher, I was 16 and really wanted to photograph my friends and the bands I hung around with so it was something that could represent the things I loved around me. The love for fashion came from that, and being a club kid in Manchester. Looking back its weird that my stepdad was really into photography when I was a kid and I wasn!t remotely into it. SP: What was your first project? LS: The first project I had freedom with was my final project on my ND. I was photographing Pop Boutique in Manchester, and I started to play with the colours I had no access to Photoshop and it was still the era of film at college in 1997 so I started to boil up the chemicals and play around with timings, I managed to make this recipe that would make all the colours and grain split. I did a portrait of Dave Grohl for a magazine and I remember waiting nine minutes in fear that the film would be blank, but it worked thank god! After that I tried to make it as a music photographer in London but I was 17 and pretty terrified, I also had no patience for the process or for business, so I gave it up before coming back to it in 1999 and doing a HND & Degree. SP: Your photographs are very colourful and you manage to capture very unique portraits, as evident in your Kokoshnik collection. What is the thought process you undertake to achieve your unique effects? LS: Kokoshnik is my favourite project because it is the only one I can dedicate all my time to and really enjoy. It started as a lookbook for my friend Lisa Stannard. At first I just wanted to play around with what you could do with pattern and then I started to bring all the things I loved into it. I love to show the strength of women as icons, and wanted to do some portraits that reflected this.The more I researched the Kokoshnik, it just fit with Lisa!s work and mine.The whole process takes about 4 months, Lisa starts to choose her illustrations and pattern designs, and then we start to work on the theme - the first one was all Russian and last year we mixed in Indian and Chinese religious iconography and styling. So the first month is research and then I will start to cast the models, and book dates with the make-up artists Sarah Morten and Rebecca Anderton. After that Lisa designs and makes the head dresses and I make the props and plan the styling. The whole team is really important especially for this shoot as it ends up becoming a work of art as opposed to a fashion story, and it has to carry the same ethos all the way through. Sarah & Rebecca are just as inspired by the references as we are, and they bring their own designs and ideas to the shoot. For my other shoots, the inspiration normally comes from a mix of inspiration, usually cinematography or something I liked from my childhood. I get pretty obsessed with it for a week and research then start to get a team involved. Lighting is my big love, because you can never know everything, so I might watch a Fassbinder film, and then create a shoot because I want to work out the lighting and recreate it. SP: What!s been your favorite shoot to-date? LS: There are loads! Kokoshnik is my big love, I!ve just done a really simple beach shoot that I loved because I had no lighting and could shoot standing in the sea. The Sailor Stannard Advent 2012 was great because I knew I had to get 25 really great, different shots and I got to make a giant yeti panda. It was the closest I got to making a dream world (on no budget). And Meshes, was the first time I actually storyboarded a film, so that was good. SP: Is there anything/anyone you would like to work with? Photographer, model, personality, place, object?
08
LS: Model-wise I have the greatest muse called Martha who looks like a cross between a young Kate Moss and Tavi, so I!m pretty lucky! But I love Mariacarla Boscono. I!d love to work with Nick Knight, Kenzo, Carven, Alec Soth, Luciano Tovoli and Toilet Paper Magazine. I!m desperate to shoot in Paris and St Petersburg, just need better budgets! SP: You worked with the Literature Thieves on their debut music video last year. How did you find the thought and creative processes shooting a video? More challenging maybe? LS: MUCH more challenging. They are gorgeous so that wasn!t a problem, and the filming was simple enough. The edit was the hardest bit, I!m normally really quick at video editing, but the hardest bit was trying to tell a story, yet keep the momentum throughout the song. And the style was very lo-fi, which always makes the edit harder. I didn!t storyboard at all, so the story was created in the edit. SP: Any plans for more music videos? LS: I!ve just released a music video for Jeff Darko based on the same lo-fi style as Literature Thieves, it was great because I got to shoot half of it in Super 8, also I have a new Literature Thieves video coming out in September, which will be VERY different from the last one! SP: What photographers do you aspire to be like? LS: Nick Knight, because he constantly pushes the boundaries of fashion photography. Luciana Val & Franco Musso because they have a great love for the same historical references that I have. I also really love Paolo Roversi, Glen Luchford, Sarah Moon & Guy Bourdin. Film wise - it would be Fassbinder & Maya Deren SP: What is your favourite photograph that you have taken? And by another photographer? LS: Mine would be the first Kokoshnik image of Martha - because it is the shot that got picked up on and exhibited and enabled me to go fully freelance last year. I am obsessed with their lighting! SP: What is your main ambition as a photographer? LS: To keep going, get more work published and some international clients. Just to be respected both creatively and commercially and to never stop doing the work I love. SP: What do you prefer – old style photography (dark rooms etc) or new digital techniques? LS: Probably digital because it!s easier in a commercial sense but its also annoying because its so hi-res you have to retouch everything afterwards. All my degree work was produced on 5x4 so I have a real love for old techniques, I enjoyed developing but I was always awful at printing! I got my 5x4 out a while ago and missed the slowness of it, and looking through the viewer, it feels like you!re watching a silent film. Also when I shot the Jeff Darko video, it was beyond exciting to get the Super 8 film back, and nothing beats real film grain and real mistakes. I overlaid some of the footage and it looked so beautiful, I am definitely going to keep shooting this way. SP: How has your join venture with Lisa Stannard been received? How did the launch go? LS: It has been great, Lisa is such a talent, her fashion line is going to be amazing! It has been great for both of us to finally see our joint work in print and it!s great to have a partner in crime. SP: Tell us how you got involved with The Haecceity Project? LS: My friend Jenny Riley started it with Cara Tobe, they are both in Paris and I heard about it through Facebook. I had been doing a lot of commercial beauty and wanted to get back to being inspired and making personal work - so I submitted some ideas to them, and the rest is history! It is great to be a part of something with such a diverse set of talents, and I love seeing the work all come together. This year we are exhibiting in Manchester 26th Sept - 8th October, I can!t wait!
10
behind the lens
Easton Schirra is one of those people who can capture a moment in any given situation, and is the type of person that keeps himself busy by pursuing photography and acting. Starting photography at an early age, Schirra has done several editorial work and is ready to open a creative collaboration project later this year named ʻSTUDIO 64ʼ. “I got my first Canon Rebel when I was about thirteen. My girlfriends were my first subjects, and causually shooting grew to taking headshots, model tests, and eventually portraiture and then fashion around the age of seventeen.” says Schirra. Now, photography has grown to be a huge part of his life and when asked what he draws inspiration from Schirra responded by saying, “Many things... From the smallest of observations in everyday life to music, faces, emotions, etc. I am constantly inspired – I hope
11
the day never comes where I am not inspired.” It also seems that thereʼs a few artists who have influenced his work, Steven Lippman and Steven Klein. “I have been following their work since I first got interested in photography.” states Schirra. He also named two of his best friends as artists that inspire him, “I would also like to mention two artists that are actually younger than me, two of my best friends: Kayla Varley and Maxwell Runko. I went to school at Art Center with Kayla- her eye for natural beauty, light, and movement is breathtaking. Max is seriously a prodigy when it comes to talent. He is not only a male model, but a great photographer as well... He never ceases to make my mind think differently and forward. He pushes me to think larger and simpler at the same time.” Schirra also has had some experience acting, “Iʼve been on General Hospital, iCarly, and shows like that; some indie films and a webseries that actually did pretty well named ʻYouthful Dazeʼ – young me” Schirra states. Although, heʼs been focusing on his photography lately, he is getting back into the world of acting. It may be some time till we see him fully submerged in that world, but it seems like thereʼs already some ideas being pushed around. “I had someone recently tell me that they loved the idea of an artistʼs story that is not only shown behind the camera, but in front as well,” he says. “I would love to merge those ideas somehow in a project soon.” words: melisa baykent photo (right): easton schirra
serge denimes
One does not simply start a clothing line, but instead comes up with an idea which when combined with an image forms a clothing line. A line must have a lot of thought and work put into it and Serge DeNimes is proof of a well-thought out idea that became reality. “I wanted to create distinct high quality, urban t-shirts, which could be worn by men and women.” states Oliver Proudlock, founder of SDN. The result? Exactly what Proudlock set out to produce, along with new additions such as SDN jewelry. “I want to keep expanding and will add other products such as perfume, shoes, belts, etc. I!m a prefectionist, so I don!t want to rush this process.” " Serge DeNimes was a step in a different direction for Proudlock when he came up with the "
13
idea of forming the company. “I studied fine art at Newcastle for four years, and when I graduated I wanted a break from painting.” says Proudlock, “Having always been into fashion it seemed right to combine my two passions to create a fashion label.” " Proudlock!s ventures didn!t just stop at piecing together a company though, he took his artistic abilities and collaborated with Oliver Sweeney to create a collection of shoes, which range from leopard print hitops to chukka boots. “I love (the collection) and I would wear (them) myself, which I think is important when collaborating with another brand” says Proudlock. Oliver Sweeney wasn!t the first time Proudlock collaborated with someone, in fact, he joined forces with his mother to form the Rio De Janeiro !78 collection for SDN. The collection is full of perfectly crafted t-shirts that have images of Rio that his mother photographed. “I think the images she photographed in Rio are so energetic and work perfectly on the t-shirts. There is no doubt I get my creative side from my mum.” " Serge DeNimes is well on its way in the right direction and we can!t wait to hear what the next journey it will be embarking on is. " Purchase Serge DeNimes from sergedenimes.com or from your local Topman. words: melisa baykent
"
queen of quirk
What does one get when you combine quirkiness with a strong devoted attitude? No, not Zooey Deschanel, but none other than model, Shawnee Badger. Her quirky behaviour and style has caught our attention for awhile and itʼs no wonder sheʼs slowly doing bigger and better things. To make it highly profound, sheʼs been landing roles by freelancing, which weʼve heard is a whole new task on its own. “Itʼs very challenging and time consuming, but also very rewarding. My iPhone has definitely become my best friend. I rely on it so much because Iʼm my own agent.” says Badger, “You have to be bold and always be yourself. Itʼs awesome though because you make a lot of friends and form direct relationships with clients.” Having been in several shoots and clothing campaigns, it seems as if her freelancing skills are definitely paying off. Badger even landed a role in the movie, The Call, which features Abigail Breslin as a kidnapping victim whoʼs depending on Halle Berry, a 911 dispatcher to
save her life. “I was actually hand picked by the director for the role of the killerʼs sister. Iʼm only in photographs, but they are all over the film, which was pretty cool. Itʼs a pretty scary, suspenseful film, so seeing my pictures everywhere definitely made the film easier to watch.” This may be the first time she stepped into the world of film, but it seems as though she doesnʼt plan on stopping there. “I would love to eventually transition into acting.” Badger reveals. When asking her what kind of role she would enjoy playing, she is quick to respond, “I would love to play a character in a fantasy-drama, like Daenerys in Game of Thrones or the Evil Queen in Snow White and the Huntsman.” Badger may seem like the girl that was in with the ʻcool kidsʼ when she was in high school, but it was quite the opposite she reveals, “Itʼs so funny, because I think there is this notion that models were the popular, cool girls in high school, but Iʼve found that in my case it was the exact opposite.” she states. “I wouldnʼt say that I was bullied, but I would hear the occasional joke about my height and weight. Boys were never really interested in me and I was never invited to any parties – though I would not have gone even if I had been invited.” So while most teens were getting involved in the party scene, Badger was busy taking it to the books. “I took AP and honors courses and got Aʼs in all of them and got heavily involved in clubs. Even starting my own club my senior year devoted to breast cancer awareness and treatment. I would definitely say getting involved in school was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and I would encourage other high schoolers to do the same.” So what does this young model have to say to others aspiring to make it in the modeling industry? “You will hear ʻnoʼ a lot, which is why you need to be a confident person to make it anywhere in the business. You have to really want it, you have to be determined. It takes a lot of research and hard work.” Badger shows us that anything is possible with a little bit of hard work and weʼre pretty sure that this wonʼt be the last time weʼll be hearing of her. With fashion videos, editorials, acting, and photography in the works it would be a shocker if we donʼt hear of her again. words: melisa baykent
photo: easton schirra
14
rheannon ormond
interview by sara parker
Rheannon Ormond is an illustrator who is currently based in Liverpool, UK. Her work mainly consists of detailed, hand-drawn illustrations in pen and ink. Soft Concrete asked to interview as we think her drawings are beautiful and unique. Find out what inspires Rheannon and learn about her work. SP: Hi Rheannon, can you tell us what inspired you to pursue a career in illustration? Was there a certain book/print that stayed with you? RO: As a child, I read a lot of books and was always creative. The things that stuck with me were the big decorative fairy tale books I had with stories from The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson, they were always so much darker and more dangerous than the Disney versions. I also remember getting a pop-up Edwardian theatre as a present from my uncle one year when I was a child, I was fascinated by it and used to spend hours turning cereal boxes into theatres, drawing sets and characters from my favourite stories. I'd weirdly never play with them afterwards though, it was all about the tedious details drawing every back drop I could think of for every scene and numerous versions of each character in different outfits.I think my love of drawing always went hand in hand with the books and films that influenced me growing up, unfortunately now I dedicate so much of my time to illustrating that I rarely have the time to pick up a book. I probably watch a film almost every day though, many great films bring someone's words or ideas to life in the same way a great illustration does. SP: You!ve stated that your main inspiration comes from the Victorian era/turn of the 20th century, can you explain why? RO: I think again a huge part of this stems from my childhood, the story book illustrations from that time were amazing! Most of the stories I read back then were written at or set in that period. And I suppose because my method of drawing is quite traditional, it has that aesthetic that people instantly associate with that era. I'm hugely inspired by Max Ernst collages, Arthur Rackham's fairytale illustrations and Harry Clarke's Poe drawings. There was a lot of beauty in the art from around that period in time; the way people were drawn, their clothes and the furniture. Everything had such a highly decorative element to it, I love the illustrated borders in books, and the highly decorated initial at the start of a story as well as old, gothic buildings and antiques too. Recently since I've been asked to describe my style, I've started to question it more. It's not always deliberate, the way I draw is just what naturally comes to me. I remember in school having a teacher set me the challenge of crosshatching different shapes in just black biro to add tone and depth. It instantly felt natural, I found that I understood it and it's become a technique I've adopted ever since. SP: Do you have a drawing preference? Eg, people, objects, nature? RO: I'm happy to draw all three! Most of my recent work has featured people, objects and nature. All are great subject matter! If I'm inspired by an idea and find something interesting, then I'll draw it. I guess it depends what I'm working on; if I get a project that doesn't instantly inspire me, then I'll try and find a way of representing it in a way that feels natural to me in my own style. If what I'm drawing conveys what I feel is the right message then I'm happy to draw it, I like a challenge. SP: Your work is extremely detailed, how do you maintain motivation, and do you have to have a steady hand? RO: I think motivation comes from the passion of doing what I love and the hunger to continue producing my artwork but also the deadline panic as I'm often juggling several projects at once. I wouldn't say I have a particularly steady hand, that's something that comes with practice, I make so many mistakes! I only sketch out the initial drawing roughly in pencil, a lot of the pen work is done freehand and is quite spontaneous. It has to be that way, I'm a perfectionist so I'd never get to the inking stage if I planned it out in pencil for too long! I work on small areas at a time to concentrate on the detail, but I always get incredibly nervous when I'm about to work on details like hands or a face! I'm always conscious that every line I make is permanent, which is why I'm rarely satisfied when first looking at finished work, the little
16
mistakes are the first thing I see. The finished physical drawing is pretty much the final piece! The only changes I make digitally are adding colour if necessary and rubbing out any pencil marks I might have missed. SP: Tell us how you came to illustrate for the Angela Carter book !The Bloody Chamber�. RO: I wish I could say that it was a commission from the Folio Society to produce illustrations for their new edition of the book. Alas, this was their competition run by House of Illustration which I entered a couple of years ago as a student... I didn't win unfortunately! But it was a pleasure to illustrate these stories as they're so wonderfully dark and as an Angela Carter fan, I think I was just looking for an excuse to illustrate some of the stories from the wonderful 'Bloody Chamber'. It's always disheartening for any artist being unsuccessful in a competition, entering these things isn't something I make a habit of, but having work that you're proud of as a result possibly makes it worthwhile. SP: A lot of your work is very erotic and provocative? Is this a genre that comes with your chosen era, or are most of your drawings commissioned so therefore, it is by coincidence? RO: I guess it is a genre that comes with the era from which I take most of my inspiration. I love tragic romantic stories of unrequited love just as much as I love a happy ending, and a way to go when dealing with a romantic subject is to add a bit of erotism; historically, a lot of art was erotic and there's something quite beautiful about it. The majority of my work that appears to be provocative is due to the nature of the project, a drawing I did a few years ago was set under the brief of 'Erotic Mythology' – I must have got a taste for it from then! SP: What kind of illustration would you like to do, but haven"t had the opportunity to do as yet? RO: I'd love to do more book illustration! Even though I don't do a great deal of reading these days, seeing my art printed on book paper gives me such a buzz and takes me back to my childhood, seeing the drawings I loved printed alongside my favourite stories. A commission to illustrate a book of short stories or a dark and exciting novel would be the job of my dreams as I love illustrating a narrative and bringing words and ideas to life. At the moment I'm happy doing a bit of everything, every project I embark on is a different outlet of my artwork and style, but in the future it would be great to write and illustrate my own book. SP: You recently had a commission to make invitations, was this a task you enjoyed? RO: I absolutely loved creating the wedding invitations! It felt really special being able to bring the bride and groom's ideas to life with pen and paper, and do something unique to them. They were the loveliest clients to work for as well, as they had a basic idea in mind, but let me do with it whatever I thought would work best. The result was something unique and hand drawn, personalised to them, which I hope they love as much as I enjoyed producing everything. I'm happy to take on personal commissions when I can, as long as the idea speaks to me in the sense that I can produce work out of it which is inspired, suits my style and I can be proud of. SP: What are your aspirations for the future? RO: As I mentioned before, I'd love to do more book illustration, but for now, I hope to stay true to the ideas that inspire me, keep on drawing and eventually have time to start producing my own personal pieces of illustration to sell as limited prints. For now, just having exciting projects to work on and people being interested in my drawings is keeping me feeling happy and inspired.
17
tom odell
Tom Odell is a British singersongwriter who has recently broke onto the music scene. Having gained the prestigious BRIT Award for Critic!s Choice 2013, Tom has been circuiting the music scene and playing at numerous festivals and shows this year. His debut single "Another Love! was wrote in the space of ten minutes and Tom is still astounded that it has had so much meaning in his life and so much success. The tracks highest chart position in the UK is No.10. Born in Chichester, in the Sussex county of England, Tom wrote his first song aged 13, but declined to inform anyone as he thought it was an "uncool! thing to do. However, he soon caught the eye of successful singer/songwriter Lily Allen who signed him to her own label In The Name Of. Odell released his debut EP "Songs From Another Love! in October 2012 with his debut album "Long Way Down! released on 24 June 2013, reaching number one in the UK official charts. In Tom!s words, he explains that when listening to the album
he hopes you hear "honesty, sincerity and a rawness!. However, having reviewed the album NME gave it a 0/10 describing it as "a virulent dose of musical syphilis!, while The Guardian gave it a 3/5 stars stating that "the former music student certainly knows his way around a piano!. Tom featured on two stages at this years Glastonbury Festival, where he "teared the roof! off the John Peel stage and performed an intimate performance for the BBC in their "tree house!. In an interview with The Independent, Tom told them that two years ago he dreamt that he would be playing at Glastonbury, and for this artist, his dreams became reality. Odell will be playing at this year!s iTunes Festival at the prestigious Roundhouse in Camden, London with further tour dates planned for the autumn. Although this young musician may have had negative press from some of the big music moguls, gaining nearly seven million You Tube views proves that Tom is producing music people want to listen too.
words: sara parker photo: marianne chua
18
album re
!"#$%!&'# lantern EP !!!""
Stylusboy!s EP, "Lantern!, contains four simple folk tracks that are sincere and a perfect blend of smooth vocals and modest instrumentals. It is almost as if Glen Hansard was in the room with this duo when they were creating the EP. “Lantern”, the first track on the EP is probably the most upbeat track that you!ll find out of the four. It contains honest lyrics that easily will find their way into your head. The song promptly engulfs you in its sound and relaxes you, getting you ready for the next track that!s yet to come. “Love!s Tale” is beautifully crafted. The intro to the song already causes several different emotions to arise and that!s what makes it bewitching. Even the vocals are dripping with emotion, which makes you believe that those emotions you!re feeling as you listen to it are most likely the same ones that were felt by this duo when they were recording it. “Open (Live)” is raw and that!s probably because it is in fact a live recording. Personally, this is one of my favorite tracks off the record because of the enchanting melodies and soothing harmonies. It may be raw and live, but I wouldn!t change anything about this track because its grittiness is what makes it unique. The last track on the record, “Jigsaw (Live)”, is rough and seems to be lacking something for me to fully enjoy. It seems as if Stylusboy took a different direction on this one and left their smooth vocals behind. I was expecting a mid-tempo track to conclude the record, which in some way “Jigsaw” could fit into that category, but it was not what I was expecting. Overall, the EP is full to the brim with lo-fi folk and whimsicle vocals and is just a taste of what Stylusboy can do. words: melisa baykent
19
()*+(,-*'#.-/"0.-.1+$.! reclaimed ★★★★☆
Soulful, beautiful, intriguing, all describe Adrian Roye & The Exiles "Reclaimed!. What has been described as Afro-Folk is the combination of folk and afro-inspired music with a sprinkle of country and jazz. The album is a melting pot of music and the ten track record never has a dull moment. Everything from the strings to the vocals are perfectly crafted to bring a burst of delight to the ears. There!s something for everyone whether it be something that is purely haunting like “The Calling” or something that would be described as soulful jazz fused with a sprinkle of calypso like “Fear Of Phantoms”. The vocals are raspy and pure, which is an odd combination but it seems to work for Adrian Roye & The Exiles. They capture emotion and the pureness of British folk and somehow infiltrate that in each of the tracks that are found on "Reclaimed!. Although, there are several combinations that sound like they wouldn!t work, somehow they manage to make it work and the result is a package of ten wonderful tracks that make you crave more. words: melisa baykent
eviews ,'(+)*&-."#/) 0'1-'(+ moon tides
!"#$%&'()*$#+% shaky dream ★★★★☆
!!!""
Pure Bathing Culture tried every trick in the book to make me dislike them. Daft band name? Check. Washed-out, instagram-ready, sweepy nothing landscape shots for artwork? Check. Breathy, airy, drum-machine led, hyper-reverbed (in large doses, reverb – in the way it smoothes, corrects and de-wrinkles – has become the (over)thinking musician"s autotune) musical arrangement? Doublecheck. Sit a forensic artist down with an avid anti-hipster who is detailing everything fundamentally offensive about hipsterdom and the resulting e-fit would look a lot like Pure Bathing Culture. BUT: book, cover – judgeth not. Luckily, the whole just about manages to outweigh the sum. Pure Bathing Culture (aka ex-NYC-nowPortland duo Sarah Versprille and Daniel Hindman) have crafted a neat little nine-song nugget of a dream pop album in Moon Tides. Opener !Pendulum" is a breezy, contemplative introduction to the album, and sets the tone for the next five or six songs. !Dream the Dare," !Ever Greener" and standout !Twins" are all very much cut from the same cloth and although it is repetitive formulaic fare, if you like the formula (which, ultimately, I do) then it works rather well. It can get a little tiring however, until you get to closer !Temples of the Moon," which is where the album takes an altogether more intriguing turn. This song is dark. It eschews the 1980"s tinny drum-machine sound for something a lot more percussive, pulsating and downright interesting, the jangly guitar plays at halftempo throughout adding a nice counterpoint to the rhythmic undercurrent and the ethereal twin harmonies that Versprille slings about are just plain creepy. It is an incredibly dark, compelling song, and I wish the album had more like it. In a nutshell, that"s Pure Bathing Culture for me. Good, solid, pleasant even: needs more dark. words: alastair dickie
!Shaky Dream" is a perfect description of this album, because like a shaky dream the songs found on this record are haunting straight to the core. You"ve got the songs that sound like they could be the soundtrack to a Tim Burton film (“Career Criminal” and “Nothing Left Between The Lines”) then you got songs such as “Dreamer"s Song” that would fit perfectly with the film, Submarine. Basically what I"m getting at is that each song found on this record has a distinct vibe to it. The smooth vocals of Ben Fox occasionally become raspy and instantly draw you back into your memories. !Shaky Dream" is the perfect album to listen to if you are ever in the need to just sit down and think about life and past memories. The instruments and guitar riffs found on the record are wonderful and unique to each song. It is interesting to see such a variety of sounds all in one album. Although, they may have a different sound and vibe to them, somehow they all manage to connect with each other and flow together perfectly. words: melisa baykent
20
WHAT!S HOT?
!"#$%&'( Today The 1975 are taking over the world, and no, not the year. The 1975 consist of Matt Healey, Ross MacDonald, Adam Hann, and George Daniel. They are a British indie rock/nu gaze band that will soon be taking over the sound waves. Releasing their first EP in 2012 titled Facedown, the EP saw airtime all the way to BBC Radio 1. Not only did this band just release their first EP, but they also were a supporting act on Muse!s “2nd Law World Tour� for the second leg. Even though the EP was released about six months ago, these lads from Manchester, UK, plan on releasing an entire album in mid-September 2013. words: colleen loustalot"
photo: marianne chua
)*+!,--#$ Bastille has grown past the days when it was just a solo project that Dan Smith had started out from his bedroom. Now a quartet, Bastille has become one of the bands to watch out for from the UK. Having released several EPs and one full-length album full of infectious indie pop, it is no wonder that this EMI signed group have landed performing slots at festivals such as Glastonbury. Only time will tell when we!ll be hearing more about this group in the U.S., but from the looks of it, it should be soon since they!ll be heading out on a U.S. tour this September. words: melisa baykent"
photo: victor lundmark
.*!!$/01)2 What happens when you give a man with soul a guitar? Exactly what you would expect; music from the heart. This is exactly what Australian singersongwriter, Matt Corby, produces: an array of soulful rock mixed with peaceful acoustic melodies. Having been through a whirlwind of events over the years from finishing as runner-up on Australian Idol in 2007 to signing on to Communion in late 2009 to winning an ARIA Award for Song of the Year in 2012, this singer-songwriter seems to do it all. Now at the age of twenty-two, Corby is ready to release his debut album later this year which he worked on with producers, Charlie Andrew (alt-J) and Mocky (Feist, Jamie Lidell, Peaches), and his devoted fanbase is ready to hear every bit of it. words: melisa baykent
photo: glen allsop
!""#$%!&'# After the song, “Summer Girl”, hit the interwebs we became well aware of this fun-loving, twenty-two year old by the name of Anne-Marie. Having signed on to Rocket Music, co-founded by no other than Elton John, yes, the Elton John; it!s no surprise that she!s joined Rudimental on their world tour. Yet, with an album in the works it!s safe to say that we!ll be seeing more of her later down the road. words: melisa baykent
()*#"'+#, Electro-pop fused with 80s tunes? This is exactly what the French duo known as Juveniles sounds like and their first LP is full of that infectious sound. Having supported White Lies for a couple of shows and having teamed up with Kitsune alumni Yuksek to deliver “Truth”, it seems as if this duo is ready to take the world by storm So take out your disco pants and get ready to dance the night away as Juveniles conquers the dancefloors. words: melisa baykent
photo: yann morrison
"'-./0&#1#& Hailing from Essex this youthworker has another side to him, he!s also known as the young lyricist who pens honest lyrics. Soon to have an EP out which features Jacob Banks, George the Poet, and Joel Baker, he!ll be one step closer to breaking out of the UK underground scene. Nick Brewer is definitely someone that we!ll be watching very carefully. words: melisa baykent
22
echosmith
!"#$%&#"'((')*#+,("'-.# +)#(/.#*01""#')#223# -.*0..#4.1(/.05#$%&# ",00+,)-.-#67#1# 8109')*#:+(#;,::#+;#(+,0# 6,"."5#1)-#61)-#1)-# <0.4#41:9')*#(+410-"# <1(.0')*= This is where I!m waiting to interview Echosmith, a band that I don!t know much about. After chatting with Bethany, the press manager on Warped Tour, I finally spy a stylish group come towards me.They approach me with smiles and instantly make me feel welcomed. This group would be no other than Echosmith, a quartet composed of siblings: Sydney Sierota, Graham Sierota, Noah Sierota, and Jamie Sierota. So when asked how it is to work with your siblings Noah is quick to respond, “I like it! We all like each other and stuff.” and Sydney is quick to follow, “We will be like honest with each other, which is nice. To be able to tell each other "hey! I really don!t like that! or "I really do like that!, but yeah, there!s no like stepping or walking on eggshells.” # Echosmith is a fairly new band, but after hearing their music and talking to them, you wouldn!t think so.
25
Their music is equitably mature for their age and they!ve even had the pleasure of touring with the likes of Twenty One Pilots and Owl City. “That was all really great and definitely a big step too, because I mean that!s a different kind of show.” states Sydney. “Yeah, like what was cool about when we were doing the Owl City tour and things like that was that we got to check out the cities,” Jamie states when talking about the difference between Warped (a tour that is classified as a music festival) and tours that are similar to the Owl City one. # From what we!ve heard, Warped Tour is treating this group of siblings nicely and they are really enjoying their time on the tour. “I think it!s just cool how much of a community it is and how much you can just easily be friends with other bands or fans and how it all just meshes together and there!s not really a line between bands and people coming to Warped Tour.” says Sydney, who delivers a great stage presence. Although, they!re having a great time on tour they did run into some obstacles. “The venue in New Mexico
!"#$%&''$(#$'&)#$ *+,#-.$%&.*$ #/0*$+.*#12$ %*&0*$&-$,&0#3$ 4+$(#$/('#$.+$ .#''$#/0*$+.*#1$ 5*#67$8$1#/''6$ 9+,:.$'&)#$.*/.:$ +1$58$1#/''6$9+$ '&)#$.*/.:333;$ was super dusty, there was dust everywhere.” says Jamie. “And there was fires going on all around it too.” adds Sydney. “It was really bad air.” states Jamie. ! So after talking about Arizona"s weather and New Mexico"s surprise of dust and fires we move on to talking about their Summer Sampler, which is an EP containing three beautifully crafted tracks. Each track sticks to the Echosmith sound, but with a twist on each track. “Our sampler and kind of with these songs too, like the three songs show the three different sides of our record and stuff.” states Noah and we"ll be able to hear more of these
27
different sides even sooner than we thought since they"ll be releasing their debut album pretty soon. “Our debut album is pretty much done so that will be out hopefully by the end of the year.” says an excited Sydney. ! ! When asked about the album, they were more than willing to share a bit of details about it. Like one being that they spent two years writing and recording. “We wrote about seventy songs, something around there.” says Noah. “And we narrowed it down to twelve.” adds Sydney, “I think the sampler kind
of gives a taste of what it will be like. I think it will be really cool to put out more music, because three songs isn"t that many. I"m excited!”
words: melisa baykent photos: frank maddocks and claire marie vogel
emby alexander
As Colleen and I arrive at the interview location we instantly find Michael Alexander, one-fifth of Emby Alexander. We pull out two chairs and get started on the interview as Colleen snaps some photos. As the sun is beaming down on us, Alexander fills us in on how the band formed, “I knew Kyle from an old band and I had worked with Austin and Tim, they were engineers, and they knew Max... it just seemed good.” says Alexander, who had just finished a short five show tour with the rest of the band. “We played five shows in three days. It was fun.” says Alexander. One of those shows being in the crazy city of Vegas, which definitely was a highlight for these Arizona natives, who played at Zia Records in support of their EP. " Having a music video out which they worked on with Trevvor Riley, we were eager to know whether we could expect anymore collaborations. “I!m always constantly collaborating with Trevvor Riley already and Eric Kasper. Our logo is stolen from an Eric Kasper piece. So those people I plan to still collaborate with.” states Alexander. “I would really like to work with Wes Anderson, which would be really nice. He!s definitely an inspiration.” Two other people that Alexander noted as #people he wishes he could collaborate with! would be Kanye West and Kid Cudi. “The genres are different, but at the same time I think more and more now the melting pot of modern music is that...they aren!t that different.” Although, Emby Alexander is considered to be a different genre from the likes of those two, we would love to see it happen and it seems as though the band have already taken their spin on a Kid Cudi song. “There!s a Kid Cudi cover that!s coming out from us soon. I!m hoping that they!ll hear it and that they!ll like it.” says Alexander.
29
Each band has a different way of recording and producing a record and for Emby Alexander, they have tried several ways, “We!ve used the Mesa Community College Studio and Glendale Community College Studio and worked with the teachers there, that!s gotten some initial recordings done...But they are all finished at my house. Some of them are done beginning to finish. The Kid Cudi one is completely in my bedroom, but they are all edited and mixed in my bedroom.” says Alexander, who by the looks of it is the mixer of the group. " Emby Alexander are busy performing more and more shows in the Phoenix area and have even recorded another music video with Trevvor Riley, that should be out shortly. words: melisa baykent photo: colleen loustalot
“The genres the same tim more now th modern mus that different
s are different, but at me I think more and he melting pot of sic is that...they aren!t t.â&#x20AC;?
nick mulvey !"#$%&'%(#(')(#*+# ),"-"%&'.(/#01+'/"2#3+44+')5#+%
Neil Mulvey is a true musical inspiration. Having wide and varied experiences within diverse musical situations, it!s no wonder Nick has such a rich and diverse catalogue of music under his spiritual aura. From jamming in an orchard in Cuba to his ambition to play within a pyramid at Giza amidst a celestial occurrence, read this interview to discover that Nick will be become your musical muse. SP: Hi Nick, tell us why you aspired to becoming a musician? NM: Why music? Well I've always been completely obsessed with music from the youngest age. I used to babble constantly and sing and bang things. My Mum was a touring opera singer and my Dad always played guitar and sang to us before bed. Old American spirituals, Samson, and Delia stuff. So I've never imagined a life without music. There was never a moment when I 'aspired' to do it - it just is! I get indigestion if I don't. SP: Why did you choose the Latin sound above anything else? NM: I didn't consciously choose a 'Latin" sound. I don't hear it that way. What comes out of me is the combination of all that goes in. I!ve always been drawn towards groove - motion in music and animated patterns - rather than stiller static ways." My whole practice is geared towards allowing it to come out as IT wants (all agency to the ideas themselves if you know what I mean). It!s just always more interesting that way. Life is more interesting that way! " What I discover I!m writing always has more value than what I think I should write. Not blocking it is the key. So 'explaining choices' is a kind of strange thing for me. I'm by your side in the audience really. I just happen to be the first audience member... SP: What were the most important/influential skills/experiences you acquired whilst in Cuba? NM: In Cuba I studied at the #Instituto Superior des Artes!. The classes were difficult because I've always found formal training hard, but every night was a jam in an orchard with young musicians from around the world. We played and played and sung our hearts out, (laughs). A very sweet time... SP: Did you play regularly for the public whilst there? How were you received? NM: In a way I played 'publicly' in Cuba but it was very communal music... I remember some of the Cuban kids finding it funny that I wrote my own songs because that idea is not so prevalent for them. They learn their folkloric style only. Less emphasis on the individual. I thought that was interesting... SP: After being in Cuba, what was it that inspired you to go on and study for your degree in Ethnomusicology? NM: I went on to study Ethnomusicology because I knew I'd love it! I had no other plan. It was the only course I applied for. It seemed the only option that fitted me. SP: Apart from making music with this knowledge and experience, is there anything else you would aspire doing? Teaching? Or writing soundtracks, for example? NM: I have no other goals. Only to not block this music. SP: Your sound is quite unique - has it been difficult to sell your sound to the industry or has it been welcoming? NM: Everyone I've met has always been kind to me about my music. People who don't like it are always quiet (laughs). So industry contacts have come naturally.
32
SP: Who are your musical muses? Is there a particular song that really influenced you to become such a unique and outstandingly talented musician? NM: Every song I've ever heard has moved me to this music. Lots and lots of favourites. Umm don't make me choose ... What do you hear?! SP: You"ve just finished your London Residency - how did this go? NM: The London Residency launch of my latest EP went very well thank you. Sold out shows and special atmospheres.! SP:!Tell us about your experience at Glastonbury this year? Did it meet your expectations? How did people react to your music? NM: Glastonbury this year was a blast. It always is. I had tickets for my friends and family so we were a strong crew. My godson on my shoulders for The Rolling Stones was powerful. We got stuck in early on and made it nearer the front. He's convinced Mick Jagger kept giving us personally the thumbs up sign. My set went well. That said, Glastonbury is the first of the festival season and so I was still warming in to it. Latitude and Secret Garden Party have been technically better performances for me. SP: What was your Glastonbury highlight? Who were you most looking forward to seeing? NM: Goat was the best performance I saw. They all wore hooded masks and performed on a burning stage. And they mean it. "Boy you better run to your mama now..". SP: What venue would you most like to play at? And, what venue/festival/event would you most like your music to be heard at? NM: I would like to play in some geometrically exact and perfect point within the Giza pyramids on an ultra super duper auspicious date when a fabled stella alignment occurs, and provide the musical engine to a process that tears a hole through time and space, illuminating our cosmic reality, uniting us with our forgotten selves and completing our prophecy. Not kidding. SP: Do you think your debut album will be out this year/next? Is there anybody you would like to work with on it? NM: I am recording an album this September. I'm working with producer Dan Carey. He seems to be able to read my mind. And producer/multi instrumentalist Shazad Ismailley is going to come by for four or five days. He's magic and we compliment each other well. I think the release will be before Easter next year. SP: Describe Nick Mulvey"s sound in three words. NM:!Nick. Mulvey. Noises.
34
history lesson: fairgrounds
!
As our first digital magazine is being released in the Summer, we thought it would be interesting to include an article in relation to the fairground, which are traditionally more regular during the summer months. Read on for a brief history on how the fair originated and how art was a predominate feature of the fairground.
Introduction The word fairground originates from the Latin word feria â&#x20AC;&#x201C; meaning holiday. The "carnival# or "funfair# is traditionally seen as a small to medium sized normally traveling show made up of rides, amusements and shows. Larger fairs, which are too cumbersome to move around, and are predominantly based near seaside resorts are more commonly classed as "fairgrounds#. ! Fairs were originally a means of trade with the added necessity for "joy and festivity# incorporated. However, as department stores came into the forefront, the need for trading fairs declined and the fair survived as a social need. ! In the UK fairs can be traced back in time to the medieval period and during the 13th century fairs were given a royal charter, which ensured that the fair fell under jurisdiction and under the control of revenues for the Crown. ! Today, the world#s largest fairground resides in North America and is called Toronto#s Canadian National Exhibition. This large carnival takes place during August to September at the Exhibition Palace, and is run by traveling companies that move from town to town with their rides and exhibitions. ! The largest fair in Europe takes places in Hull on or around October 11th each year, where for two weeks the streets of Hull are overtaken with rides and stalls. Early on jugglers and puppet shows dominated the fair, until the 19th century when the famous Wombwell Menagerie came to town bringing wild animals.
Carousel History The actual concept of the fairground ride has developed over the years. Originally, ponies would turn the "roundabouts# with children regularly being used to turn too for a free ride. Later developments saw bicycles powering the ride, which was known as the "Velocipede#. It was not until 1861 that steam-driven machines were created to power rides at the fairground. It was during the 1880#s that the first contemporary "carousel# was constructed when manufacturers tried to make the horses gallop. !
36
Later on in the 19th century, a company called Savages designed and constructed the first !Switchback". The idea caught on and the traveling fairground owners of the time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including Greens, Baileys, Studts, and Murphys â&#x20AC;&#x201C; made their own versions. It was also during this time period that fairground art became prevalent with Italian craftsmen being employed to design the lavish decoration we see on carousels today. # Today Fairground art is an integral part of any fair ground. The more lavish the better. This genre of art is recognized for its bright and beckoning illustrations, decorations, and paintings. From the early fairground art depicting scenes delicately painted to the more exuberant manner of using lighting and trimmings. # Originally most artwork within the fairground was wood-carved with expertise coming from toymakers who had been brought in to create !gallopers" and decorative motifs to accompany other attractions. # Art in the fairground is said to have begun with the creation of banners !advertising" what lies in store for the visitor. During the midnineteenth century, these banners were starting to be used permanently to frame and front shows. Most of the subjects adorned on these banners were pictures of historical or mythological content. # The fairground today is a place that still delights and excites the visitor. From the more traditional attractions such as Punch and Judy and the Coconut Shy to the more modern thrill seeking rides, the fairground is a place where every child (and most adults) will want to visit to experience the wonder, sights, smells, and sounds. words: sara parker
37
Glastonbury is now the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world, Worthy Farm being home for this five-day extravaganza in the parish of Pilton, Somerset. The site is also within the Vale of Avalon, an area with much symbolism, mythology, and religious traditions dating back hundreds of years, and possibly where King Arthur was buried. ! The now infamous festival began back in 1970, the day after the world renowned musician Jimi Hendrix died. Glastonbury was born out of an idea that Michael Eavis (landlord of Worthy Farm) had to rival the Blues Festival at the Bath and West Showground. The first acts at his twoday festival were Marc Bolan, Keith Christmas, Stackridge, Al Stewart and Quintessence. The attendance was 1,500 and tickets cost ÂŁ1 including free milk from the farm. ! Most of us associate Glastonbury with the plethora of musical performances and the associated buzz surrounding the headliner act. But Glastonbury is much more than this. It has fields dedicated to families with circus and theatre performers, an area of complementary and alternative medicine, demonstrations and environmentally friendly technologies. It even has its own modern construction dedicated to spiritual forbearers where much chanting is witnessed during sun-up on a Sunday morning. Most of the proceeds of the festival is distributed to Greenpeace, Oxfam, and Water Aid as well as using any profit to improve the site. ! This years Glastonbury has been hailed as the "best yet# with Eavis remarking that he is "absolutely thrilled#. Headliners include Arctic Monkey#s on Friday night with The Rolling Stones set on the Saturday night and Mumford & Son#s taking to the Pyramid Stage on Sunday to close the festival. ! Some hailed The Rolling Stones performance as one of the best rock n# roll sets ever, with Mick and the band strutting around on stage giving it their all, and closing their set with a spectacular firework display. ! Having played Glastonbury five times already, Mumford & Sons played a generous set and ended the night with Joe Cocker#s rendition of â&#x20AC;&#x153;With A Little Help From My Friendsâ&#x20AC;? with help from fellow musicians The Vaccines, The Staves, and Vampire Weekend. Also involved with the closing performance was Chris Maas, whom Soft Concrete interviewed last month. ! With six main stages and a number of acoustic areas, revelers saw sets from the likes of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Kenny Rodgers and Elvis Costello to up and coming artists such as The Staves, Half Moon Run and Of Monsters and Men. ! With this year#s festival selling out in a record 1 hour and 45 minutes, get registering for next years event, which looks like it is set to rival this years, with several main headliners already confirmed! For more information visit glastonburyfestivals.co.uk For photos of this years acts visit glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/gallery words: sara parker ! !
38
warped | by melisa baykent
| tour
tomorrowland
MUSIC FESTIVAL
!"#$%&'#(#!)#$%&'
Now you're either thinking two things: what is Tomorrowland or why is an independent music column writing about this. I have come to find that people go two ways when you mention Tomorrowland; they are either really excited and want to talk about it or seem to think it is a joke, only for ravers and druggies. Whatever your view is on the three day festival in Belgium, you do have to admit it is an amazing feat. Holding a festival for tens-of-thousands of people is a feat in itself, but the acts (Steve Aoki, Porter Robinson, and Tiesto, just to name a few) within this festival are what make this such an extraordinary event. ! Located in Boom, Belgium, Tomorrowland is its name. It is a land for tomorrow; an amazing setup that blurs the line between reality and imagination. You can either camp on the ground themselves or you can rent a hotel room in the neighboring city of Brussels. If you are traveling from around the world (which is an EXTREMELY common thing), Tomorrowland charters plans that will fly you from any major city in the world to Brussels for a rather low price. The crew at Tomorrowland doesn't want the venue's distance to exclude any festival goer. ! If you are thinking to yourself, "Gosh, I could never travel so far for a festival", well Tomorrowland thought of this as well. That is why in fall of 2013, Tomorrowland changes in to Tomorrowworld and is now located in Georgia (In the USA, not the country Georgia). Tomorrowworld will have all the same wonder of Tomorrowland minus the European Travel. If you have the luck of getting any of these tickets, run. This commodity will surely be selling for high prices due to the guarantee of a good time. words: colleen loustaloten loustalot
bonnaroo
*+#$%,-#(#*"#$%,-# Four days out of the year, Manchester, Tennessee, hosts a green-friendly music and arts festival to participants. Established in 2002, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival brings in about 150 bands each year with jam band and folk rock roots. They have greatly expanded their lineup over the last few years to include Paul McCartney, Bjork, R. Kelly, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and The Lumineers. In the past they have brought some heavy hitters to their ten stages with Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, and The White Strips. Rolling Stone called this festival one of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;50 moments that changed rock and rollâ&#x20AC;?. ! This year during June 13-16, there were over 80,000 campers and music enthusiasts. The campers park in designated areas as not to destroy the land and leaving no trace after they are gone. For more information on next year"s date visit bonnaroo.com. words: bridget carson!
photo: shannon murphy
Summer contains some of the best music festivals around. So if you find yourself near any of these locations then we highly recommend you check them out.
FILM FESTIVALS
melbourne international film festival
Be sure to catch some of the largest film festivals that the summer has to offer. From the beautiful city of Melbourne to the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, these festivals have a wide array of feature films, shorts, and documentaries.
!"#$%&'#(#))#*%+%,-
If you want to experience a night full of the best current cinema, then the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is the place to go. Having been around since 1952, MIFF has brought Australian cinema and filmmaking in to the light. With nearly 200,000 attendees each year, MIFF has become known as the largest film festival in Australia. The attendee count isn!t the only characteristic that!s grand about the festival, though. The program is full of breathtaking international films, as well as local, and this year!s program is packed with an intriguing bunch. Some of the films on the list this year include Ginger & Rosa (dir. Sally Potter, starring: Elle Fanning, Alessandro Nivola, Christina Hendricks, Timothy Spall, Annette Bening, and Alice Englert), Good Vibrations (dir. Lisa Barros D!Sa, starring: Liam Cunningham, Jodie Whittaker, Dylan Moran, and Mark Ryder), The Spectacular Now (dir. James Ponsoldt, starring: Shailene Woodley, Miles Teller, and Jennifer Jason Leigh), and Mystery Road (dir. Ivan Sen, starring: Aaron Pedersen, Hugo Weaving, Ryan Kwanten, Jack Thompson, and Tasma Walton). For the full program visit miff.com.au/program.
nantucket film festival !.#$%/0#(#12#$%/0#
The Nantucket Film Festival is held each year and showcases some of Hollywood!s hit films and even has premiered some of them. Some of the films featured in this year!s festival were Monsters University, Girl Most Likely, and The Hunt. The Nantucket Film Festival was founded by Jill and Jonathan Burkhart in 1996 and it is still going strong. They!ve even announced next year!s film festival dates.
For more information on NFF, visit nantucketfilmfestival.org
42
movie re !"#$%&"'(
)&*+(,+-#$
Strip away all the Hollywood glamour of an Ocean!s Eleven scenario and you!ll end up with Wasteland, a story about Harvey Miller (Luke Treadaway), who after being released from prison for a crime that he didn!t even commit, decides to get back at the man who put him there in the first place, Steven Roper (Neil Maskell). Joining him are his three best mates: Dodd (Matthew Lewis), Dempsey (Iwan Rheon), and Charlie (Gerard Kearns). As they wander around town piecing together their plan and training for what is possibly the biggest day of their life (picture Rheon using a crossbow and nearly hitting Kearns), Roper casually is strolling around and acting as Mr. Not So Nice Guy. Although the film is similar to an Ocean!s Eleven scenario, it couldn!t be anymore different. First of all the film takes quite some time to develop and it isn!t until the very end that you understand what the four mates were cooking up all along. Don!t get me wrong, the ending was brilliant along with the storyline going back and forth between Harvey telling the cop his side of the story and them preparing for the big night, but during those preparation scenes there wasn!t much going on. The acting on the other hand was spot on. I!ve seen a few of Lewis! and Rheon!s other works and seeing them in a crime movie like this really showed that they can easily adapt and play any character that is given to them. Although, I had never heard of Treadaway and Kearns, they are now on my list of actors to watch out for. Their acting along with the other members of the cast were quite believable and you could feel every bit of suspense radiating through the screen. Overall, Wasteland was a decent film, though I wish there was more action involved and a better visual of their planning.
A love story that is full of humor, while at the same time is heart-wrenching. Cloudburst follows around Stella (Olympia Dukakis) and Dot (Brenda Fricker) who have been together for 31 years, and have grown to know each other better than themselves, but when Dot!s granddaughter comes to take Dot away, that!s when their love truley shines through. Their love for each other leads them to Canada, Nova Scotia to be exact, where they plan to tie the knot so no one can tear them apart. En route to Canada, they run into a hitchhiker, Prentice, who!s a small-town boy returning to his dying mother. The lot of them run into some trouble on the way, but eventually Dot and Stella tie the knot under circumstances that neither one of them wished for. The film overall has humor where there needs to be and riveting scenes where there needs to be, causing the film to go up and down like a rollercoaster. There may be some dull parts, but those dull parts are quick to pass, that the next minute you know it, you are once again blown away by a rollercoaster of emotions. The performances done by Dukakis and Fricker are wonderful. You begin to feel as if it!s not just two actresses that you!re watching but in fact two people who are actually going through the situtations that Stella and Dot are going through.
★★★★☆
43
words: melisa baykent
★★★☆☆
words: melisa baykent
eviews !"#$%
★★★★☆ The gang is back and they seem to somehow find their way back into another bizarre situation. I guess when you!re a gang of agents marked as Retired: Extremely Dangerous it is hard to not find your way back into odd and most of the time highlydangerous situations. This time around Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) is stopped by his paranoid and peculiar friend, Marvin (John Malkovich), at an aisle in Costco. Soon after Frank finds himself running away with his sweetheart, Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker) and Marvin as they try to uncover the mysteries behind a secret operation that they were part of codenamed Nightshade. This eventaually leads them to several different places and at some point they run into an almost provocative Catherine Zeta-Jones who plays a secret Russian agent, described as “Frank!s kryptonite”. By the end everything seems to unfold and before you know it Frank saves the day, yet once again. Although Red 2 lacks character development, there!s laughs all around. If you!re in the mood for a fun-pact action film, then this is the right film. For those who want to see a film where you actually see the characters develop and you feel as if you!re right there with them, then I wouldn!t suggest seeing Red 2. words: melisa baykent
#!&'(&')$ *+##&", ★★★☆☆
Drinking Buddies is not your typical love story where two friends, in this case Luke (Jake Johnson) and Kate (Olivia Wilde), fall in love. In fact, just as you think that the movie is going to be predictable, it comes and surprises you. Luke and Kate are co-workers at a Chicago brewery where they drink, flirt, do some business, and drink some more. Then there!s Jill (Anna Kendrick) and Chris (Ron Livingston), Luke and Kate!s significant other. That!s until the four of them go out to a cabin where it seems as if Luke and Kate become closer and Jill and Chris become even closer. This results in Chris breaking Kate!s heart, and her being left alone. Then Jill starts acting strange, so the question that you!re left wondering is will Kate and Luke end up together? Well, you!ll have to watch the movie to figure that one out. Drinking Buddies was quite an enjoyable film and though it says that it is a comedy, don!t be fooled. Although, it is funny, unlike most comedies there are scenes that are very emotional, which brings depth to the film. You do find yourself counting how many times the lot of them are found drinking beer, because that literally is all they are found doing. Then again, the title of the film is Drinking Buddies, so I guess it is expected. The acting wasn!t phenomenal, but it did seem raw and real. The fact that Wilde and Kendrick were wearing little or no makeup added on to the raw factor. Overall, if you!re looking for a love story that isn!t predictable, then Drinking Buddies may be right for you. words: melisa baykent
44