COUNTERPARTS // OF MONTREAL
wallpaper.
MAGAZINE Table of Contents
of montreal
A photo recap of the band's interesting mix of a love rock show and performance art.
wallpaper.
An interview with Ricky Reed and Novena Carmel during the band's run on Warped Tour 2013.
Counterparts
An intimate interview with front man Brandon Murphy. He reveals where he sees the band and five years along with their non stop van trouble on their most recent tour.
A special thanks to... The wonderul ladies at MSO PR Wallpaper. Grand Central Miami Victory Records Crimson Managment
of montreal 4
WallPaper. 8
Counterparts 12
OF MON
Of Montreal break the barrier between live ro show at Grand Centra
NTREAL
ock show and preformance art at their off al in Miami, Florida.
CLICK TO SHO
OP METRO ZU
RICKY REED AND NOVENA CARMEL OF
WALLPAPER.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
B
eing one of the most bizzed about bands on this past year's Vans Warped Tour, Wallpaper. presents themselves as a force to be reckoned with. With the look of an 80's rap group and the sonic force of any top 40 artist it's hard to tell if Wallpeper. is about to give 3OH!3 or Macklemore and Ryan Lewis a run for their money. We had the chance to get to chat with the band right before the end of their full stint on Warped Tour.
When you guys first formed did you go by any name other than Wallpaper.?
song. It was wild. RR: Yeah that would definitely have to be a favorite.
Ricky Reed: Nope. It's been the name since it was just a stupid idea I had in my head in college.
What are your musical inspirations?
How have the shows on warped been so far? Ricky Reed: Really good, with an emphasis on the really. Novena Carmel: There have been no bad shows. Ricky Reed: Not one bad show Novena Carmel: All have been good and some have been outstanding Ricky Reed: Yesterday in Tampa was great we had a really huge crowd.
What has been your favorite show on the tour? NC: One of my favorites was Kansas City. It was Ricky's birthday and the day that our most recent album came out, so the vibe was celebratory. All our fellow band friends were both on stage or in the audience, it was the first show we had a circle pit at, and we were all doing shots between every
RR: Michael Jackson, Parliament, a lot a Bay Area hip hop/rap, E-40, Digital Underground, Green Day, Rancid, and some Ledd Zeppelin.
things about touring? RR: It's weird because I was about to say the best thing is being out and away from home and experiencing new things, and then that the worst thing is being away from home. There's many new beautiful changing things you experience when you're on the road, but you don't have that nice routine you have when you're at home and we miss that a lot.
In a world where music didn't exist what would you guys be What's the favorite place doing? being a musician has taken RR: I like food a lot so I'd probably you? be trying to do something with restaurants, like going to culinary school. NC: I might be a teacher or something like that.
In a world where money didn't exist what would you be doing? RR: Same thing, still this. Playing music around campfires in exchange for beans and seeds and dairy, I guess. We'd be bartering music for food and sustenance and beer.
What are the best and worst
NC: I would say probably [Warped Tour] it's been super fun and memorable, probably more memorable than any tour we've been on, at least for me. I also really loved when we got to go to Abbey Road in London where the Beatles recorded and be performed in room where Star Wars sound tracks were made and we also recorded in a room where Oink Floyd recorded their albums. RR: The Abbey Road trip was incredible.
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What was the recording process like for your most recent album “Ricky Reed is Real�?
known for that it's an emotional song on the record.
In the band's time line what is a time that has affected you RR: The recording process was long guys the most? and really intense and involved. I was renting different instruments every day like only synths, a sitar, and steel drums and just sitting down and figuring out how to put these things into the record.
What is your favorite song to play live? RR: On this tour, probably a song from our new album called "Hesher"
A song with the most person meaning to you? RR: On the new album probably the song called "You n Me n Everyone We Know" it's kind of a tear jerker even though we're not
RR: Probably what that song was kind of about. We actually lost our manager to leukemia in early April. It had a huge impact on us, and we're definately out here every day in his name trying to spread the good work and that he was about and that was making people happy and making people feel good about themselves.
What is your biggest fear as a musician? RR: Losing my voice every day. NC: [Laughs] Yeah. Mine would probably have to be having an extended artist block and feeling disconnected [from my art]
What has been your biggest accomplishment with Wallpaper.? RR: The Abbey Road trip would definately go under that, but this new album is definately a huge accomplishment and surviving Warped tour is going to be an accomplishment for us too. What is the current direction you see the band heading in? NC: Towards the future RR: Towards the future and heading towards dinner tonight and drinks after the show. I would also say we anticipate a lot of touring this fall and doing other things. Wallpaper is currently preparing to tour with 3OH!3 and New Beat Fund from October 10th November 26th.
Photos and Interview by: Nicole Stephens
"RICKY REED IS REAL" I OUT NOW
BRENDAN MURPHY OF
COUNTERPARTS e had the opportunity to meet up with Counterparts frontman Brendan Murphy and ask him about where he sees the band in five years, his favorite accomplishments as a musician, and what sets Counterparts a part from other bands in the scene. How was Counterparts founded and how did you guys meet? We met in 2007, we were all in high school and Eric and I went to the same high school; I was friends with Jesse through mutual friends and he and I tried to play guitar in some whack band we were in, in like grade ten. After that we got together and met up with people that we liked, that wanted to play music. I did a lot of my growing up in Jesse's basement writing songs, from then on it was play shows, record the record and tour.
So how has tour been treating you? It's been good so far, a lot of van trouble and stuff like that. I don't know we should be alright for now, we'll see if we make it. I mean so far we have missed two shows on the tour because of it, but other then that all the shows have been great. We talk to kids every night and our new record is going well. People are into it so it's cool, I'm having fun at this. What was the writing and recording process like for you guys this time around? It was different because we spent a lot of time on it and it was a lot more premeditated unlike the other albums. We would just go into the recording studio and just get it done as quickly as we could in two weeks. This time we definitely took a lot more time on it; even just like writing it not even recording it we were a lot more experimental and confident because we weren't really afraid to try new things. It was a lot easier for us to think outside the box. What is the meaning behind the pictures used on the new album cover? That's a tough question. My girlfriend is a photographer and after we had the
record recorded I was going through her stuff and trying to figure out what we could do for album art. We pretty much, the two of us put together it. It's really hard to explain without giving it away. I don't really want to go into it, because we would be here for an hour, but whatever you guys think at home; whatever you can relate the picture to. That's all to you need. I dont want to tell you what they mean in concrete because then you won't appreciate it as much. What are some themes from the new album? Death, depression nothing really new for Counterparts. It's a lot of the same old stuff in a way. It's Counterparts by coping with life and all the bullshit you go through and also like I said with depression, trying to make the best of this awful life. Same ol' stuff. There's some anti-religious songs on there, but it's a Counterparts record that's the best way to describe it.
raw feel and big expensive kind of feel. I think it is just a bit more put together, The Current Will Carry Us, I feel like that was a good try that and Prophets they're cool records and I still stand by them, but this new record, The Difference Between Hell and Home is the album we were trying to write for being a band for six years I feel that we finally did it and we came across from where we wanted. I still like Current, there's some cool songs off that record. This is just a cooler record all around. Do you guys have any weird pre-show rituals? I go on my phone, that's pretty much it everyone else will smoke a cig or throw a dart or two, than I'll put on my Cali B outfit and get my sunglasses on and my tie dye, that's pretty much it. We don't really do much we have a quick seance and pray to the dark lord, then sacrifice a kid or two we keep it pretty simple. Describe your live show in one word.
What message do you want to get across from this new album? Like I said, the whole record for me is about coping. I mean our bands message is to get up and live and make the best of it, because at the end of the day that's all you can do. No one goes through life being happy all the time and to think that you can be it's pretty naive. If there's people out there that smile everyday all the power to you, but that's not realistic for me. Just get by, that's out philosophy as a band, don't shoot your head off and just keep on going. How would you compare your new album from The Current Will Carry Us? It definitely sounds a bit nicer. It's not as raw and it's a bit more polished. Some people like that, I'm not that into polished, amazing sound recordings but I do think the new record sounds like that
Sweaty. That or wet. Whenever I see pictures of myself I just got this weird red like that red (points to wall nearby) tomato face, but definitely sweaty that's probably the best word to describe it. What have been some of your favorite tours? This one honestly, this one has been one of my favorite tours I have been on. All the bands are amazing. Any tours that we have been on with Hundredth, or any tours that we have gone out with our friends like Stray from the Path. All those tours are my favorite because it's the equivalent of just having all my good friends in one room every night in a different city. To me that's the coolest thing being on tour instead of some weird barrier between the other bands like when no one is down to hang out and everyone is just on their own agenda,
and everyone is just on their own agenda, keep to yourself kind of thing. I like this tour when it's all like walk into Heart to Hearts van and then run in our van and start screaming "we're riding with you guys" I like to be comfortable on tour instead of feeling that I need to watch myself, I hate it.
What bands would you like to tour with? I would like to see Saints Never Surrender if we toured with them that'd be wicked, Seahaven they are one of my favorite bands right now, Converge would be awesome, too. Pretty much aside from friends of ours just bands I listen to. Defintly would like to go out with Pity Sex or something like that, but that would be more so for me to see bands that I like every single night.
What are some of your favorite tour memories? Too many, It's always hard to pin point them. Not that they are boring or bland but they all blend together and it's all just one big memory that I have. I think one of the coolest things that we ever did was we went to a Wet 'n' Wild water park in Florida and we used our band money that we made the night before and spent it all in this water park and we hung out with Volumes that's probably one of the coolest things we have done as a band, that was just one of the fun things because I like water parks and we were like "we have a day off in Florida, I'm going to be a kid and have fun".
Which song are you currently the proudest of?
if we were in some other type of a melodic hardcore band, like we only listen to Saints never Surrender, The Ghost inside, For the Fallen Dreams like all that type of stuff I feel that would be really weird because then we would only reflect the music you listen to. I think it works for us because we listen to a lot of weird shit so it helps. Maybe it's not as obvious, like say we were really into Saints Never Surrender like we really are if we were only into them we would just sound like them and then that'd suck cause we would just be that rip off band. If it wasn't for bands like Slipknot I probably wouldn't have started screaming.
"When people ask what make you different is that we actually care, we're not like "Oh let's get onstageforahalfan hour and get our paycheck" because we're not getting a paycheck." What's one necessary item to bring from home on tour? Spare shoes, I usually bring set shoes and then shoes I can just lounge around in so they don't get ruined, deodorant, acne medication, hair trimmer. If I had to pick one, it'd be deodorant because the other stuff you can get away with but if you stink everyone hates you.
If someone has never heard of you, what would you tell them and what It's tough to say, the new record as a whole makes it unique? I think is my best work. I'm pretty stoked on the whole new record, it'd be tough to pin point one. I mean songs like Compass, Soil; I really like how the lyrics came out It's in an awkward timing and it was real hard to write lyrics for, Witness; that's why we picked it for the video. I wouldn't really want to pin point one but just the whole new record. Not to be egotistical, but the sound is sick we spent a lot of time on it so now that we have this finished product we're all proud of it.
Who has inspired you to create music? Saints Never Surrender, Taken, It Prevails, there's tons of bands. The cool thing about us we all have different musicians and bands so it brings a lot to the table. I mean
That's always a tough question, I honestly think I wouldn't say anything this is why you should listen to us. When people ask what separates you from other bands, not that other bands aren't as cool as us or don't work as hard, but we do work harder than a lot of other bands and go through more bullshit to make this a career than other bands. When people ask what make you different is that we actually care, we're not like "Oh let's get on stage for a half an hour and get our paycheck" because we're not getting a paycheck. We're getting a hundred dollars, I'm living off $10 a day that's not a glamorous lifestyle. I think that is an indicator if we we're in it for the money to be a big band we probably would have broken up five years ago when we realized it's not a glamorous lifestyle.
Not to sound ignorant or an ass and be like "oh yeah we care" but we really do, I mean if you're into people who care about their music and about the people who likes their band then that's us, again not to sound like a dick. Realisticaly that's what I would say.
Who has been a big support of Counterparts? Our managers, our label, booking, stuff like that. We've had tons of people that have helped but not like "oh we're going to help you and you're signed now and get free instruments". The people who were supportive of us were just like friends, family, and the stuff i said before they saw the potential in us and saw that we were the people to get behind. The kids who come out and see our band, they're the ones who are most supportive because they are the one who are fueling our career and paying for merch and buying tickets to see us. The biggest supporters are the kids who support us. I don't think anyone else gives more of a shit about us then those guys.
In a world where music didn't exist what would you be doing? I don't know, do movies exist in this world (yes they do) I would probably write or direct or get into something dealing with film. I always thought that being a teacher might be kind of cool. I don't want to think too much about this world cause I would pretty bored all the time and I wouldn't have anything fun to do. Maybe I would be some weird nerd that sits at my computer 23 hours a day, yeah I'm probably going to go with that one because that's probably the most realistic.
Where do you see Counterparts in five years? Honestly broken up, I would think. We'll see though. I'm 22 and if i was 27 and still being able to tour and making money and people still liked us, i think that's the dream right there. That's the best case scenario. I don't know, I mean our van might blow up or tomorrow when we drive to Medford and we might be gone then. I really I would hope we could still be doing this. We never set out to be a big band and make a lot of money I've been all over the world playing music we wrote and that's the coolest. That's enough payment for doing this. I wouldn't be upset if we broke up tomorrow because we set out what we planned to do. I don't hope that, but I mean we might get in a really big fight tonight and break up
What has been your biggest accomplishment as a musician? Being able to tour, going to Australia was a big deal that we flew 22 hours to get to the other side of the world to play shows for people that came. Touring in America is pretty easy if you have a passport and a van you can play shows, but the fact we were able to go overseas and not go broke and not starve is the coolest thing we can do as a band.
What is the weirdest fan gift you have ever recieved? Nothing weird, we have recieved food and gift cards. I wish I would get weird stuff, so bring me weird shit. I feel boring now, I wish I could say someone brought us a pig head. It would be nice if someone just walked up to be and said "Hey here's a macbook I'm a billionaire". If someone just bought us a new van that'd be sick. I feel like it would take a lot to freak us out like something isn't right here because we're a pretty weird band. We're pretty open to anything I mean if I can eat it I'll probably take it from you.
Any parting words? Our record is out now, I don't think I should really sell anyone on it, it's there. It's a good combination of what I spent the last year doing for my life so if you're into that then check it out, it's online at Victory Records. Do whatever you want with it if you can afford it go buy it, if not do what you have to just check it out. Photos & Interview by Brooklyn Parcel
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