Issue 7 - William Beckett

STRFKR // JONNY CRAIG // CHROME SPARKS // + MORE!

WILLIAM BECKETT

MAGAZINE STRFKR 4

Table of Contents

William Beckett 8 Chrome Sparks 14 Jonny Craig 18

A special thanks to...

William Beckett Natalie Bisignano STRFKR Kathyrn Knealy Grand Central Miami

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Strfkr 4

William beckett 8

Jonny Craig 12

STRFKR When: September 24th, 2013 Where: Grand Central, Miami, Florida Why: Touring in Support of their latest release "Miracle Mile" Supporting Acts: Feelings, Chrome Sparks Photos by: Nicole Stephens

STRFKR

4/5 STARS Get there early for: Chrome Sparks Stick around for: Crowd surfing astronauts, "Bury Us Alive", and a great cover of Cyndi Lauper 's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"

WILLIAM BECKETT

WILLIAM BECKETT A

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

fter one of Fueled by Ramen's greatest treasures The Academy Is... disbanded it became hard to imagine one of the label's most prolific front men hanging up his skin tight denim, vast collection of bandanas, shaggy locks, and passion for music for good. Luckily only three of the aforementioned are gone. While Beckett's solo project is not a gigantic cry away from his previous work with The Academy Is... it showcases more personal vulnerability and progression as an artist.

We had the opportunity to chat with Beckett about touring and his latest and future endeavors while on tour with Jonny Craig and Kyle Lucas.

- Brooklyn Parcel

How is the tour been so far?

I feel great about being on this tour. I’m just excited to be out on a tour that has a wide range of genres; I think it is a really cool tour to be apart of.

How does it feel being in Portland tonight?

What have been some of your favorite tours?

There have been so many tours it is hard to choose. The cool thing about it is on each tour is making friends that I didn’t have before.

Every tour is my favorite tour like being on tour in Australia with Anberlin and The Maine was amazing because I have become a lot closer with those guys. We’re going to be friends forever.

was a really big classy rock fan and at the point in my life from being a music lover I really got into indie, punk and underground independent music. I am really pulling influences from 4 different decades.

What artists would you like to tour with?

This guy, Kyle Lucas he came out to Warped Tour as well where this is a wide variety of genres. I was on the acoustic basement stage which it had country artists, Craig Owens, and me. We shared a bus with Mac Lethal who is a rapper but we all respect each other on a very Well I have been reading The Game deep level because you can’t of Thrones series and right now I’m deny quality in a craft. Like if I on the most recent book, so I can’t was a stonemason it doesn’t mean I don’t respect the leave without that even though it cobbler, which is amazing at his is bigger than the bible. I’m job. I just like touring with addicted. people who respect what they do and bring their A-game at What band or artist has every show.

I love Portland and I’ve always had some weird and awesome times here. Back in the day when I was touring with my band, The academy is I was touring with Gym What is one item from home Class heroes and A rocket to the you cannot go without on moon. There is always a great show tour? and the people are great as well.

What is the best part of being a musician?

Just being able to share my experiences and my art with people. To me writing and performing is a therapeutic outlet for me to get stuff off my chest and to deal with life and when people can connect with the songs it’s really what it is all about.

What are the best and worse things about touring?

The best thing about touring is like I said is sharing my music with people. The worse thing is being away from my family.

inspired you the most?

I come from a family of music lovers and no one is a musician except for me. My dad was really into the early nineties and grunge movement of music and my mom was really into mid/late eighties wave of pop. Growing up I listened to what my parents listened to.

When my stepdad came in and he

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an artist?

It’s hard to say. I mean last year being able to just self-release my three EPs on my own was a big deal without Equal Vision.

Also releasing my full-length record was a big deal for me. Although I can name a dozen accomplishments from The Academy is which I’m proud of as well. I just look at the next goal in my life and strive for it. I just have so much to be thankful for like my fans and that I can do this with my life.

How can you compare your music now from when you started?

It’s better (laughs). Compared when I was

really not even though a lot of times it is

that was really bad. They booed and I tried

the case and it factors out of your control.

to play it off as if it was a joke, which I

You do have a stake in that. You can

think, I did but I knew deep down in my

control more than you think. It all is

heart that it was just a straight up mistake.

reaction. It makes you who you are.

I have fallen off of stages before

"The young musician just thinks it’s all about the record deal. It all comes from hard work. "

everything else is circumstantial. But it is your reaction to things you can’t control and now we are going in full circle in my philosophy in life.

What inspires your lyrics?

Life, my new album is really about my relationship and just keeping it together.

In a world where music didn’t exist what would you be doing?

17 and couldn’t sing or play guitar. It’s the

There are so many factors in a relationship and it is so hard to maintain and trying to keep that beauty of that spark as I said

heart of things and that is why I needed to

There wouldn’t be much of a world would

change to become solo. Every day should

it! I think that every society would have

feel like when you started and it should be

music in some form. But hypothetically

genuine. Compared to when a band just

speaking, I would probably be teaching or

it is comparable to first love and how it’s

does the same thing every record. I just

I would invent music!

amazing.

seizes to be art and becomes product.

What would you change about the music industry?

Is there anything planned after this tour?

Who has been a big supporter of you?

I think that one of the main things is right

Yes! After this tour I am going to go home

won't be that type of artist. That is when it

for artist to pertain more rights. If you sign

about being a musician when you write your first song. It is a holy experience and

and spend time with my family and also going to play some private shows in

My fans, they’re number one, my family,

to a major label as a new artist you are

my close friends have been amazing and

going to relinquish your rights and it is

everyone on these tours. I mean I am

going to hurt your income. I think that

forced to make friends on each tour since I

what major labels do, they get new talent

am alone. I think they see my passion and

who is excited to be here and they make

my quality of my show. I am here to spread

you sign a contract. They really have you

the joy of what music is about.

by the balls. A lot of times especially where

Thanks for reading the interview; thanks

the music industry is going they think you

for interviewing me. Some party words!

need a major label to become successful.

Yolo… not.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

That is a really big thing that I would Probably graying with a full head of hair.

change is the perception. The young

Thankfully there isn’t a bald gene in my

musician just thinks it’s all about the

family. Fingers crossed that I never

record deal. It all comes from hard work.

become bald. But hopefully still making music.

Describe your show in one word.

What has music taught you?

Dynamic!

Perseverance, the strength that tomorrow

What is the biggest mistake you have made on stage?

is going to be better, and teaches who you are. It’s really easy to blame someone else

A while ago when I was with my band I

of what is going on in your life, but it’s

think I called San Antonio, Houston and

November. In December I am doing a holiday show in Chicago. Then next year it is just more touring. Tour, Tour, Tour.

Any last words?

Photos and interview by Brooklyn Parcel

William Beckett's debut full length “Genuine and Counterfeit" is out now!

CHROME SPARKS 4/5

For fans of: Washed Out, XXYYXX Listen to: "Marijuana" When: September 24th, 2013 Where: Grand Central, Miami, Florida Why: Opening for STRFKR on their North American Headliner Highlight(s): The entire crowd swaying to "Send The Pain On" Photos by: Nicole Stephens

JONNY CRAIG 4/5

For fans of: The Weeknd, Tyler Carter, Tillian Listen to: "The Lives We Live" When: September 21th, 2013 Where: Hawthorne Theater, Portland, Oregon Why: Headlining Tour in Support of his new EP "Find What You Love and Let It Kill You" Photos by: Brooklyn Parcel

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