State Magazine- Issue 1

Free/ ISSUE 1 April 2016

Including Clue Records Tori Kravitz Jarrod Alonge The Diskery and more!

YOUNG GUNS

State. magazine

A note from the editor Hi, to all our readers.

This is all pretty exciting really! We are excited to announce State Magazine's first ever issue.

What better way to do this than with a magazine launch, on Record Store Day. We've packed this issue with interviews from music industry professionals, to give you their tips, advice and experiences of working within a challengeing, yet rewarding field. Did we forget to mention it is free!

Turn to page 30 to check out an interview with thte cover star, Gustav Wood of Young Guns. Other features also come from Clue Records, Tori Kravitz, Joe Brady and Jarrod Alonge and more.

In the meantime, spread the word and let us know what you would like to see in future issues!

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and our blog to keep up to date.

Until next time!

Sarah

(Editor-in-chief )

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Gain insight into the lives of creative individuals who work in the music industry.

Editor: Sarah Akomanyi Contributors: Michael Botsch and Zoe Corazon Cover: Young Guns by Andrew Lipovsky Thanks to: The Diskery, Clue Records, Anna Stodart, Brendan Donahue, Hannah Bowns, Andrew Lipovsky, Gustav Wood, Jenna McDougall, Joe Brady, Tori Kravitz, Sophie Eggleton, Jarrod Alonge, Raul Gonzo, PVRIS, Set It Off, Michael Botsch and Zoe Corazon

Content.

Free.

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Issue 1- April 2016

The Diskery Record Store

10 Clue Records with Scott Lewis 14 Anna Stodart- Golightly Media 18 Brendan Donahue- Photographer 22 Hannah Bowns- Photographer 26 Andrew Lipovsky- Photographer 30 Gustav Wood- Young Guns 38 Jenna McDougall- Tonight Alive 44 Joe Brady- Photographer 46 Tori Kravitz- Rock Forever Magazine 50 Sophie Eggleton- Music Journalist 54 Jarrod Alonge- YouTube Content Creator 58 Raul Gonzo- Music Video Director 60 Disposable Diaries with PVRIS/ Set It Off 62 My Inspiration- Kurt Cobain 64 Being My Own Ziggy Stardust

Contributing to State Magazine Whether you are a photographer, writer or a social media expert, we are looking for you to join our team!

Get in touch at statemagazineuk.gmail.com now!

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The Diskery 6 statemagazine

record store, birmingham

This well-loved institution, The Diskery is

Birmingham's oldest record shop. The store was opened in 1952 by Morris Hunting and has been supplying music in the city ever since. The shop quickly expanded with the explosion of popular music and there quickly followed a move to Hurst Street.

In 1972, The Diskery made one more move to its current location on Bromsgrove Street. Morris may have started off as a jazz collector, but soon started to add other music genres to the shop.

With The Diskery being at the forefront of this new explosion of music, it soon became a popular haunt for many local musicians, who could explore music and exchange ideas, including the likes of Robert Plant, UB40, Slade and Ranking Roger, who are household names today. Many other peeps have popped into The Diskery from time to time including Lenny Henry, ELO, Jim Bowen, Chaka Khan, Steve Winwood, Black Sabbath, Paul Barber, Joe Cocker, Jimmy Page and Winston Edwards to name but a few.

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The shop is best described by Sam Coley, Senior Lecturer Birmingham City University. The Diskery have ‘loyally stuck to the shop fitting blueprint for the classic vinyl store.

Faded promo posters - record covers stapled to the roof - and handwritten cardboard labels indicating quirky categories like; ‘Bits and Bobs’, ‘Big Band Goodies and Much More’, and my personal favourite ‘Cheapo Rock’. But, of course, it’s the wonderful team at the Diskery that really makes the store so special.’

"The team at the shop are passionate about music."

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Paul Dearn of The Diskey speaks to State Magazine about the history of the store, record store day, favourite concert memory and more.

The atmosphere at The Diskery on Record Store Day.

What makes The Diskery different from other record stores.

"All I can say is that the atmosphere is vibrant and upbeat"

"There are always going to be shops around that sell a diverse range of vinyl, records,78’s, CD’s and cassette tapes. When you come to The Diskery, we foster a warm atmosphere that welcomes all to this wonderful place – The team at the shop are passionate about music, so where else can you go to browse through the vast stock, be offered a mugs of tea and a biscuit, jam doughnut if you are lucky, trade banter, discover music, ask advice and come away with a smile on your face and hopefully some vinyl in your hand.

Favourite things about working in a record store.

"It's being surrounded by music of all kinds and having the ability to listen to and explore music."

To see more of in the music industry.

"We love Record Store Day because of the closer connection between the music industry and independent record store. Maybe this could be taken one step further."

To be frank The Diskery is much more than a record vinyl shop, it’s a must visit destination that supports music in all its guises and continues to be an integral part of

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Birmingham’s rich cultural history.

That for me is why we continue to be a must visit record shop.

Tips for anyone looking to run anything music related, (such as a music store).

"Have a real love and passion for what you do combined with a sound business plan."

Favourite concert memory.

"There are so many, so this is a difficult one for me as I gig/festivals all the year round. Larger venue concert wise I enjoyed the 02 London.

Really looked forward to and was not disappointed with the return of Blink 182 on their 2013 tour. The more smaller intimate venues I tend to favour. So the Band of Horses set at the De La Warr Pavilion, Sussex and Frank Hamilton at the BoilerRoom, Guildford stand out for me.

In many respects yes there are, we are like other shops in this regard. But the most interesting one is that we have to have music on the deck all day when the shop is open sometimes silence is golden.

Typical day at The Diskery.

"We open up at 09.00, then chat about, listen to and sell ( sometimes buy ) music all day. In between, we make cups of tea and coffee, serve donuts for ourselves and customers.

Closing at 6-ish. What could be better?

The future.

"If possible, we aim to expand upstairs at the shop- having break out rooms for different genres of music."

Festival wise, I really enjoy the vibe of the smaller ones like Guilfest, one of the most outstanding sets that did it for me was the Sugar Hill Gang and Grand Master Flash in 2013 pure old school hip hop. Or Boom Town, Winchester relaxing in the sunshine listening to The Wailers in 2014."

Favourite memory at The Diskery so far.

"I'm not really sure that there has been a stand out favourite memory for me so far. I just so enjoy being part of the team at The Diskery that helps keep this vinyl thing alive."

What I learnt at The Diskery.

"The main thing that I have learnt is that music is a great leveller and appeals to all."

Misconceptions about working in a record store.

"The Diskery continues to be an integral part of Birmingham's rich cultural history"

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Home to- Allusondrugs. Forever Cult. NARCS & TRASH.

SCOTT LEWIS CLUE RECORDS

Independent DIY record label, podcaster & promoter based in Leeds.

It is run by Scott Lewis with help from Steven Langton & Tom Roche.

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“We want to promote, help & support bands we love.”

Hello there, We’re Clue Records & we’re here to bring you…

A GUIDE TO APPROACHING A LABEL We receive a lot of submissions from bands, artists & musicians wanting to join the label (or any label in general) so we thought we’d give a bit of guidance on what works for us when we receive submissions. This is just a list of things that we like & some pet hates, it won’t be the same for everyone but hopefully it’ll help you in some way.

DO = SEND A STREAM LINK Send a link to a stream of the song you’d like heard.

Soundcloud is great but if you want to keep the song private remember to send the proper private link. Also, sending a link to something on Soundcloud/YouTube/Spotify etc will make it much easier for the listener to check you out. We have playlists of submissions on these sites so we can add & then go through them easily. Make it easy on us.

DON’T = ATTACH AN MP3 I don’t want to have to download something to listen to it as there’s a chance I might hate it & if I’m too lazy to delete it from my computer it might stay there forever, clogging up my space and, in the end, causing the death of my laptop. If you kill my laptop we can’t be friends. The song just needs to heard & if the listener goes to your Soundcloud/YouTube page & likes it they may even follow you. If they like it enough they’ll ask for a download. And don’t send us to strange places to listen to your music.

ReverbNation is a weird one (use it if you want but it’s not the nicest), MySpace makes no sense

anymore & going to your personal site isn’t ideal as it might not work on all browsers.

DO = BE PATIENT Label’s have enough on their plate anyway without being chased to listen to a submission that was sent in 35 minutes ago. It may be the most important thing in the world to you but be conscious of other peoples priorities.

DON’T = EXPECT A REPLY Labels are busy & (in my experience) they can be pretty thankless things to run. They can be fun though. Labels are not obliged to reply to you or even listen to your music. At Clue we do listen submissions as we think it’s fair to give people a chance but it can take AGES with all the submissions that come in so we tend to go through them once every 3-4 months & then reply.

DO = EXPECT REJECTION No one is obliged to release your music & although you may think it’s the most wonderful thing ever, the label might not. That doesn’t mean it’s bad, people have different tastes & that’s what it comes down to. What I think is amazing you might think is awful & vice versa so don’t take it personally, just dust yourself off & find a label that fits. Or do it yourself...

DON’T = TELL PEOPLE THEY’RE MAKING A MISTAKE We actually had someone tell us we’d ballsed it up after taking the time to listen to their music & reply to their submission in a polite way.

They name checked ‘famous’ people they knew (who we’d never heard of…) & told us we weren’t very business like in our decisions. So we told them we weren’t a business, we were music lovers. Just be grateful it’s been heard if you get a reply.

DO = LOOK FOR THE RIGHT FIT Does the label you’re approaching already work with acts of a similar genre/style? We’ve had Euro pop & Christian country ballads sent over before

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which are unlikely to be up our street from our history of releases. You’re much better to draw up a list of acts you think you fit with & then work back to which labels/managers/agents etc they work with. Email them nicely telling them why you think you’re matched & you might strike lucky.

DON’T = EXPECT GETTING SIGNED TO MEAN YOU’RE ON EASY STREET Once we start working with bands we push them to work harder than they probably did before signing with us. There are a million other acts out there, work hard to push through the crowd.

DON’T = SPAM LABELS Don’t just hit everything that releases music & don’t do a blind copy (bcc) email to every email address you can get your hands on. A tailored email with a little bit of a personalised message will do wonders for your chances of getting heard.

As a record label there’s plenty of people who think we have some sort of magic key that’ll unlock success.

Yes it’ll take a little longer but you’ll save time from trawling through looking for any type of record company email you can spam. Also, don’t just tweet us saying “Listen to my track” with a link as I’ll look at your profile & see you’re just hitting everyone with the same copy & paste message. If you want people to take time to listen to you, take time to reach out to them properly.

DO = QUESTION IF YOU NEED A LABEL Can you put out music yourself & do it justice?

What will a label actually bring to the table that you’re not already doing?

This key doesn’t exist (I don’t think it does anyway, if you’ve found it can we borrow it for a bit???). We’re skint & struggling as much as the next indie artist/ label/person in this strange business but if we love something we’ll try to get involved in it.

If you want to know what our releases sound like they’re on Spotify, YouTube, Soundcloud & the rest.

We hope you find something useful in what we’ve put here. If not & you fancy pulling us up on something, just find us at the links & fire away...

Words: Sarah Akomanyi cluerecords.wordpress.com facebook.com/ClueRecords

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Anna Stodart GoLightly Media

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Words: Sarah Akomanyi

Golightly Media is a “Media agency that

specialises in getting awesome press for awesome bands: from premieres to out-of-the box features, to tour diaries and more.”

For anyone not familiar with what you do, give a brief outline of what you have done so far to develop your portfolio.

Anna: I’d say that landing placements with top tier outlets would be the PR equivalent of a portfolio. Every time you secure a premiere, or an interview or feature that’s another clipping or page in your portfolio.

While studying Media and Communication at university, what are some key things you learnt that you use for your current career?

Anna: When I was at uni, we focused a lot on the presence of Web2.0- how users interact with the internet and create the experience for themselves. It’s definitely been a useful perspective to have as I see people consume music- often times digitally. Also, we did this really cool project where we mapped out the Brrisbane Media industry- we developed a website that was literally called “The Brisbane Media Map.”

that is something that I am very thankful for.

Expectations vs Reality of PR in the music industry.

Anna: I guess with any job in music or entertainment, people think that life is glamorous- going to lots of shows and hanging out with artists. Which you do get to do! But be prepared to work very hard- the shows and festivals are just one small aspect of the job. You also work tirelessly every day to keep a lot of different people happy. Bands, writers, labels.. And at these shows, you’re also working.

Is there any piece of advice that you were given at the beginning that has stuck with you till now?

Anna: Not sure if this counts- but there’s a line in a Jimmy Eat World song that work’s as a mantra - “The best reward is earned.” It reminds me to keep working even on the days when the result seems far away or not achievable - because when you do reach your goal, it is so worth it.

The person that initially gave you the job at Golightly media was Lily, describing her as a patient and driven individual.

“But my family and friends are so supportive and always there when I need them.”

You are working off a website that students before you made, and then you go it and re-examine the scene, see how it’s changed, locate new businesses and aspects of the industry that aren’t represented or have shifted in someway. Like, last year this company was a record store, now they are releasing their own records and starting a label. So, where does that fit into the map?

Do you believe these are some essential qualities to work in the PR industry?

How hard is moving your life to another country, in order to achieve a career ambition, as you moved from Brisbane to New York City?

Before starting uni, what were some potential career paths you had thought about?

Anna: So very hard! Figuring out how to navigate the music industry and music scene took some getting used to (and still does!) I still work closely with the bands from back home- representing several Australian groups, so

Anna: Absolutely! You have to be so driven and so patient. You also have to be prepared to speak up and stand by the advice that you are giving to peoplewhether it’s management, labels, bands.

Anna: It was always going to be music… Since I was working at my community radio station while I studied, I think working in radio programming was something that interested me. But it was always going to be music related.

16 statemagazine What does a typical day in the life of Anna Stodart consist of?

Anna: Wake up, drink coffee, check my emails. Get to work, send emails, (so many emails). Drink lots of coffee, meet with labels to discuss campaigns, connect interviews with writers and bands, send more emails.

Go to a show, spend time with friends, check emails.

Repeat!

University provides people with a number of skills, but there are somethings that we can only learn though experience. How important is gaining experience within the music industry?

I would never have gotten to where I am today if I didn't spend my time in uni interning, selling merch at shows or working at the radio station. When an employer is looking at your resume, that experience is something that is going to put you ahead.

Not only does it show that you are devoted to the scene, it also shows that you already have an idea of what you’re doing or how things work without the industry. Also, making those industry connections early on is so critical- it’s cliche but this can be one of those times where the saying, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, comes into play.

What sort of musicians attract the attention of Golightly Media?

Anna: We love all kinds of music. I am drawn to a lot of Australian music (obviously!), but in terms of genre, I love my punk, pop, indie… We have to believe in the music and the artist otherwise sending those emails all day every day wouldn’t feel rewarding.

Three albums that remind you of high school or teenage years.

Anna: There are so many! But I guess these best represent my listening habits in high school- Jimmy Eat World - Futures.

Not an album, but pretty much any music that was featured on the first two seasons of The OC (the nostalgia!) and Blink-182

(self-titled).

Challenges you had to overcome in your career Anna: I guess starting new in a new city would be the major one! Everyday I learn something different, I come into so many different scenarios several times a day where I need to solve a problem or be able to react immediately. It’s about learning how to take control of those small situations, not to get too beat up about things because you have to move onto the next problem to solve shortly after.

For anyone looking to pursue a career in PR, what are your top 3 tips?

Anna: Read music blogs, Intern and work hard. golightlymedia.com

"Never Let Anyone tell you how to live your life" Mark Hoppus, Blink-182

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brendan donahue brendandphoto.com

Words: Sarah Akomanyi

“The music industry is full of sharks. ” For anyone who has not checked out your work, give a brief over-view of your photography career so far?

I’ve been photographing live music for about 6 years now. A bit of portrait work here and there, but the majority has been live music. I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and that’s where I started photographing local shows to help build my portfolio. I kept reaching out to bigger and higher up people as my experience increased. I’ve been touring full time for about 2 years now.

What was the first photo you captured that got you thinking pursuing a career in photography was what you wanted to do?

I took a photo of Jaxin Hall of Of Mice & Men at Warped Tour 2010 that got shared a lot and a lot of positive feedback. That was a moment where I thought, “Wow this is cool, I might enjoy this!”

What knowledge have you gained in photography that can be applied to life in general?

Never stop trying to push the boundaries.

What are some common misconceptions that people may think about photography?

It’s not as simple as just “pushing a button”. A lot more practice and knowledge goes into it!

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What aspect of your personality has shone through more so thanks to being a photographer?

I’m a fairly easy-going guy and like to make people laugh, so when I’m able to have a laugh with a musician while they’re performing and capture their reaction, I enjoy that.

You’ve documented a number of Young Guns’ shows over the past few months, photography and video wise. What was it like working with these guys in particular, compared to other bands that you have captured?

The YG guys are some of the best individuals I’ve worked with. I’ve been fortunate enough to tour with them 3 times now, with a 4th one right around the corner.

They’ve put their trust in me as their tour manager lately, and we all get along very well. We know each other’s boundaries. Fraser and I are able to collaborate on a lot of things creatively as well, including their newest video for ‘Rising Up’.

What are your top 3 equipment essentials that you feel would benefit anyone wanting to start getting into photography?

(1) A camera, of any kind. Film, digital, old, new, even a cell phone camera. Just start shooting everything.

Practice is the best teacher. (2) The right lens choice is important. If you were shooting dark subjects (concerts), you would need a lens with a low aperture. (3) Lots of memory cards.

Tying into number one, shoot as much as you can.

The more memory cards you have, the less you need to worry about running out of space!

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When shooting live music, you need to always be on your toes. A special moment could happen in front of you, or off to the side. It could really happen anywhere!

Whereas shooting a subject for still work requires more focus on composition and lighting, which you can usually change or work on while shooting.

Every time I’m able to see a photo of mine physically, whether it be in a magazine or on a T Shirt or a poster, it reminds me of how far the reach of a single photograph can go. Someone around the world could read that magazine.

How does the use of social media and support help to develop your portfolio?

Social media is probably the most important tool I have for my work. Being able to connect with an artist I may not know personally, or their fans, really helps my work get to more people.

If you could turn any movie into a real life event with the chance of being able to document it, what would it be and why?

Wow that’s a tough one! A side of photography I’ve always been intrigued in is photojournalism, specifically in war zones. Any military thriller would be cool to document in real life, like Black Hawk Down or something like that.

What do you hope to capture through your photos?

I always hope to capture raw emotion. Some of my favourite photos have been those when an artist connects with a fan. Those are my favourite.

With any aspects of photography, what was one thing that you had to overcome and how did you go about doing so?

The hardest thing was standing out, and reaching bigger bands than just local bands. Shooting as much as I could, and making lots of connections has been the biggest help. Talk to everyone; give everyone your business card. You never know where it could lead! I also feel like most photographers have their own identifiable style.

21 Try and make your photos stand out.

What else do you think people need to consider about this industry before making their way into it?

The music industry is full of sharks. People that don’t care, or are out to use you. Don’t let someone walk all over you. Stand up for yourself and what you believe is right.

What has been your career highlight so far?

My top moment has been getting to work for my favourite band, Avenged Sevenfold. Their lead singer approached me while on Mayhem Fest last summer with Miss May I and we talked about me photographing their set the last few weeks of the tour.

the stage to take a photo of the band and the crowd. It was awesome.

For anyone wanting to get into photography in general, what are your top 3 tips to encourage this option?

1. Photograph everything. Go everywhere with your camera, or even use your phone camera. Practice lighting, composition, etc.

2. Network as much as you can. Introduce yourself to everyone, hand out business cards, have a conversation if time allows.

3. Tying back to number 14, stand up for yourself. Try things that others may not have tried, or wont try. Stand out, be different, and don’t let anyone put you down.

They had me go out on stage before their set and take a photo of the crowd, then shoot their set, and have a few photos to them by a little bit after they got off stage to post that night. The last night of tour he called me to

"Network as much as you can"

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Hannah Bowns

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Music/Events Photographer, based in Dorset (UK)

First photo. It was actually at an All Time Low show back in 2013. I was in the crowd, fairly near the back of the venue with my little point and shoot camera trying to capture anything that you could tell which band I went to see for my own personal memories.

It wasn’t until a couple of months later that I was contacted by Zack asking if he could incorporate the shot as part of his clothing line, Amerrickan. It was at this point I decided that I should try and adventure into the world of photography and more specifically music photography.

Through Hannah's photos. I always go into the show wanting to capture the emotion and feel of the performance. I always look to create something a bit different.

Advice. The ever so lovely Adam Elmakias actually sent me an email full of advice when I was starting out. The piece of advice from that email that has stuck with me ever since is “Always shoot for yourself and make sure you are enjoying what you are doing… and it will all work out”.

Overcoming Challenges. My biggest

24 statemagazine problem with regards to the type of photography I do is where I live. I am based down in the shire and Dorset doesn’t exactly have the best music scene.

get to see the world. In actual fact it’s gets ridiculously tiring and because you are spending a lot of time with people, you just want your own space.

The other challenge is money. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of money in the music industry nowadays, especially not for photographers. Most music photographers have to branch out into other types of photography if they want to make a living out of it.

Another misconception is just because you are photographing a show, it doesn’t mean that you are best friends with a band and you can get people M&Gs/ Backstage passes etc. I have been asked countless times if I can get someone into a show/backstage/to meet the band. I’m just there to do my job at the end of the day.

Initial Goals. I had never considered photography as a career until the poster collaboration with Zack.

Growing up I always wanted to go into sport and become a sports teacher. My real drive came from wanting to travel the world whilst doing something I love, to be able to tour. My goal now is to work for a magazine such as Kerrang!, NME or Rock Sound as well as continuing to see new parts of the world.

Common Misconceptions. I think that one of the common misconceptions with touring life is people think that it is all an ‘easy ride’ as such. That everyone gets long great and you have so much fun because you

Influences. My biggest influences are the incredible Adam Elmakias, Tom Falcone and Joe Brady.

Working with Blitz Kids. I was really lucky with BK as they were the main support at the second show I ever photographed (Mallory Knox tour back in 2013). They picked me up from there and I was able to shoot as many shows as I wanted for them. They really helped me learn and grow as a photographer as there was absolutely no pressure shooting for them, unlike there is when shooting for a website/magazine. I am always thankful for every opportunity they have given me and

the support I have received from the start has been amazing. Big love to those guys.

Motivation. I think the thing that motivated me the most was the feedback and responses I was getting afterwards. All be it from the band members themselves, fans of the band or other photographers.

That gave me the drive to keep doing what I do and to keep developing and improving my skills.

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To Consider. It’s tough. So tough. You will get a fair amount of no’s – probably 7/10 of the passes you apply for will be a no, but you just have to turn this into motivation to get the next one.

Don’t be afraid to start small and shoot local bands.

One day these bands might get bigger and take you along with them as their photographer because you will get to know them from shooting their local shows to 5 people.

Contacts are also the way into the industry. Go to shows. talk to fans, photographers, band members – basically anyone – and get your name out there.

Don’t look at other photographer’s equipment and think that you’re not good enough to be shooting shows. It’s the photographer, not the equipment.

Favourite band to photograph so far. Baby Godzilla – now known as HECK – are one of my ] favourite bands to shoot just because they are NUTS. One of my other favourite bands to shoot is As It Is purely because Patty is so energetic on stage and that makes for some insane jump shots.

Arena and Small Venues. Arena stages are obviously bigger, so a 24mm Lens might not get you very far. You have to be prepared to shoot from the soundboard as well in an arena, so you will need some sort of telephoto lens. I shoot arenas with a 70-200 F2.8, however I have shot an arena show with smaller lenses which have coped just fine. They other big factor to consider is of course the lighting. Arena shows have the facilities to put on an insane light show and doesn’t just have red LED lights.

Do's and Don'ts of Photography. Respect the band, security and fans. If you have to stand in front of someone to get the shot you need, try to be as quick

as possible and let them know that you’ll only be a couple of seconds. Courtesy is a must. Bands also don’t want you getting on stage if you haven’t consulted them and got previous agreement first (this does happen believe it or not).

Do have fun and enjoy yourself. If you’re not having fun, then this will discourage you from following this path.

Make sure you’re enjoying yourself, but remember that you are there to ‘work’, so don’t be dancing around in the photo pit all night instead of shooting the show. Stay focused. Do be wary of your equipment and look after yourself.

Also when going to/leaving a show, remember that you have a camera on you and that could make you vulnerable, especially if you’re on your own.

Words: Sarah Akomanyi hannahbownsphotography.co.uk

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Andrew Lipovsky

New York City based Music, Portrait, Lifestyle Photographer Photos: Andrew Lipovsky Words: Sarah Akomanyi

The Tonight Show.

Kerrang Magazine.

Getty Images.

www.andrewlipovsky.com

Initial photo captured. Oh man, this is hard to remember. I guess I would have to go way back to my first year in college. I had started being interested in photography in my senior year at high school, but never thought to actually pursue it as a career. In college, I took a couple photo classes, the only ones they offered. I took a very simple image of the shadows of a snow fence in my back yard and converted it to black and white. It was very simple but it won me an award in the art show at my school. With that, people started telling me I should pursue this further and that was the first I considered it. I transferred to an actual photo school (RIT) and the rest is history.

Diversity. I like having a large range of artists to work

with. I feel like not having to stick with one vision or one specific genre of music really helps me stay interested and continue to push my work to be something different. I also like showing some of these bands in a different light than they would normally be shown.

Kerrang has been starting to allow me to put my own twist or vision on my portraits lately and it's really opened doors to creating something a little different than those bands would normally get from a typical music photographer.

Work with. In the music scene I'm in, probably Adam Elmakias, only because I think it would be fun. We've gotten to know each other a bit since I've started at kerrang after running into each other on certain tours.

I think we have a very similar view and would make something really cool. In general, I would really love to collaborate with someone like Mark Seliger or Miller Mobley because I feel like I would learn so much from them. They are what I aspire to be one day.

Spending a day with. I've had the opportunity to do this already actually.

I spent most of a day with Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! who are one of my favorite bands of all time. I loved spending the day with Young Guns as well. We had a great time hanging out and traveling around Pittsburg a couple months ago. In terms of bands that I haven't had the chance to spend a full day with yet but would like to...I would say Rise Against would be number one.

They're my all time favorite band. I was able to shoot them once in LA but it was very rushed and I didn't have a chance to really hang out with them, just a quick conversation after the shoot was over. Then they had to rush off to catch a flight.

27 Kerrang has taught me. How to travel! ha. Learning and changing how I pack and travel with gear has been a lot of "fun". It's a lot of gear and low budget so I have to pack all I can as small as I can and still make the shoot look like I had all the gear in the world. It's taught me a lot about problem solving and working through whatever issues might come up on a shoot. There's ALWAYS something that happens that is not expected so you need to really learn how to adapt to different problems, and quickly. That's the work part of the whole job, the shooting is the fun part.

"If I didn't enjoy what I was doing, what's the point of doing it and hating any of the time I have?"

Portrait and lifestyle photography.

These are both very different types of photography. Music portrait work is usually all lit with strobes, so there's a lot more equipment to think about and make sure you have for every shoot. I also have to fly with all my gear for the music work so it makes it a lot harder and more stressful. The other main thing is that I am working to get a few certain photos that the magazine wants, and you usually only have a few minutes to sometimes an hour for bigger shots, so its stressful in that way too, because you need to know your lighting and make sure everything will run as smooth as possible before the subject gets there.

Lifestyle on the other hand is much less stress.

It's mostly about prodution for those. Casting, location, styling etc are very important, and having a great day and great light to work with also helps. For most of my lifestyle work, there's not anything specific that I need to get unless I am shooting for an actual client who wants something specific.

Otherwise I have a lot of freedom to shoot whatever I want, however I want and switch things up as I go along.

Favourite photoshoot so far. Against Me! First off, they are one of my favorite bands. Second, I got to spend basically the whole day with Laura, following her around and then hanging out for the show. I also had one of my favorite PR girls who flew in from the UK to help out with the shoot, so she made everything a lot less stressful for me.

Initial Goals. My goals were always to shoot. I never wanted to do anything other than that. I started

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29 the shoot. When you have that mutual understanding it makes things sooooo much easier.

assisting to learn as much as I could about lighting, traveling, packing and how to interact with subjects.

I never took jobs where I wasn't going to shoot, or where I wasn't learning something about shooting. I didn't take jobs for money, as badly as I needed it when I was starting out.

Working with new clients. I don't really do much. I just be myself and talk to them like they're my friend, like I've known them for years. I usually gel with most people pretty quick, or at least the types of clients I tend to shoot for.

Working with Young Guns. I love all these guys, they're a great group of people- genuine, caring, and just a lot of fun to shoot the shit with.

That always makes it very easy. The first shoot I did with them, I spent the whole day walking around NYC doing all the touristy things. This really allowed us to get to know each other, unlike a lot of other bands who I don't have that time with.

When I got the brief for that particular shoot, I had no idea how I was going to make it work.

Misconceptions. A lot of what is said about the industry is very true. There's no money there anymore, it's completely oversaturated with bands, and there's a lot of awful bands that continue to become bigger than they ever should be. I think the one thing that I've found very interesting though, is how if a person doesn't like a band's music, they tend to dismiss the actual people in the band playing the music and talk down about them like they're awful people because they don't appreciate their style. I've met some of the best people I know in this scene and in this industry.

Tips. DON'T QUIT - I see way too many kids give up way too soon because they're not getting where they want to be or someone tells them it's not a real job (which it's not, but that's the best job you can find).

Assist - It was the best thing I ever did, and I wish I had time to still do it more often. I learned so much from the people I worked with. Your constantly learning new things in photography. It never ends. Embrace that and keep growing.

"Don't Quit"

They wanted them peeling away their skin and to do it they wanted to use a face peel, which i didn't even know existed. I ended up having to buy the peel when I got to pittsburgh the night before the shoot and test it out on myself. I was very surprised at how well it worked.

Next, it was talking them into the shoot idea, since it's not often that the band knows the full concept before

Take a step back - I've missed so much so many times because I didn't step back and actually see where I am and what I'm doing. I've tried to focus more on being in the moment, on taking a step back and being thankful that this is where I am and that this is what I get to do for a living, because a lot of people aren't this lucky to love what they do.

Even if you're not a "success" yet, take a step back, when your at a show, or out shooting with a friend, and look at where you are, and what your doing, and be thankful for not in an office, sitting at a desk. This has inspired me to keep pushing to get better and do even more and not give up because I've never wanted to be someone who hates what they do...

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Having played in countries such as Thailand, Australia and America to name a few, there are undoubtedly a number of new things Young Guns picked up along the way in terms of bettering themselves in the live performance aspect. Not only do they learn from their own experiences, but from bands as well. Gustav Wood also gives State Magazine his advice for working within the music industry.

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young guns Photos: Brendan Donahue Andrew Lipovsky Words: Sarah Akomanyi I loved that atmosphere and the energy but I want it to be more than that. Hopefully the strength of the songs will carry it.

Gustav: We’ve always approach each tour in the same way, which is to go out and make every show like it is important and special- each show is important and should be special. To be able to get in a room with someone and connect which is really great, kind of life affirming moments.

better band then we have been before. We play better and our songs are better. You know, it never stops being fun, applying those things to playing shows again.

Been there. Done that. When it comes to crazy antics on stage, Young Guns know all too well.

Being a band for just over 5 years now, there are bound to be questions that are asked all the time that people should already know the answer to.

I can’t wait to have a whole series of them. I think in the past couple of years, we’ve become a better band, by playing more and playing further away, meeting new people and meeting new bands and l earning from them. I just think we are at a point now in our career where we are just a

Gustav: (laughs) we’ve kind of already done that stuff when we first started out. You know energy will always be an important part of our show. I think for all rock shows, it has to feel energetic and alive which is really important. We grew up going to punk rock shows, metal shows and hard-core shows and

Gustav: That’s a good question. I think probably the questions we get asked a lot is ‘what should people expect from Young Guns’ show?’ and I suppose the answer is always going to be primarily a good time, a good show and hopefully something that feels real. You know, we're not a

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progressive 8 minute jam band, but I think we do what we do well, we apply ourselves hard and we try and give each show everything we’ve got and hopefully that is something people already know at this point.

thing for me.

We just met through a friend and they asked me to join the band and I was playing bass at the time and I’d never played that before and that was great. You know, I came across a number of people First impression are key, especially who were totally likeminded and when it means having to spend that was totally a really great a large portion of your time with feeling and even then I kind of them. When it comes to feel like we were supposed to do looking back on how they all met, something together. it brings back memories that adds up and leads them to where they I’m just lucky I’m in are today. a band with really great people.

Gustav: Well, I met these guys probably 10 years ago now after Being 80s kids, a mutual friend. They grew up in musicians like Blink-182, a different part of England than Michael Jackson to Fear me. I grew up right in the Factory was music they centre of London, in a place listened to growing up. called Buckinghamshire. I lead a really different lifestyle.

Gustav: I was born in the 80s of course. But I grew up playing in a local venue my earliest music outside of London, in a punk experience was through my band and that was a completely mom and my older brother so I new thing for me. did grow up surrounded by music like Michael Jackson and The For me, this was something I Clash. sort of discovered on my own, it wasn’t part of the community Just stuff from the 80s really and or the scene which I stumbled that stayed with me, but I also upon in my brother’s albums and listen to a broader cross section things like that. These guys had of music. You know when I was kind of lived the teenage life I had a teenager it was punk rock or wanted. metal or whatever. I wasn’t interested in anything else.

"I don’t really keep up to speed with kids TV"

Growing up playing music together in little shows and learning about music that way and that was a really exciting

Nowadays, I enjoy listening to Taylor Swift as much as I enjoy listening to Metallica. I think I’ve learnt as I’ve gotten older to appreciate music for what it is and not to be concerned with

genres I suppose.

I also think that the world we live in today genre breads into each other. You can look into the charts now and there is a greater variety of music which is doing well than ever. You can be a rock band and be on the radio, a pop band. Whatever you want! I find that really inspiring personally.

It seems like influences and musicians from the 80s are making a reappearance in the music we listen to today.

As well as music, we ask ‘What TV shows do you feel kids these days are missing out on?’

Gustav: That’s a tough question. I think that the main thing is in the 80s/90s it was still a time in for new emerging forms of music.

You’ve got punk in the 70s and 80s which was such a big thing, new wave and all that sort of stuff.

Nowadays, it feels like music tends to be much more retrospective, modern music.

Look at the moment, pop and the more 80s influence that is occurring in mainstream music and that is a cool thing.

These days it tends to be a lot of music that looks back at influences. The 80s coming into the 90s, grunge and all that sort of stuff. It’s probably not as

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exploratory as it was back then but I think that’s ok. So I don’t think anyone is missing out on anything. You don’t want to fall into the trap of being an older person saying ‘it was better back then’. That’s dangerous and not always entirely true.

When I was really little, it was the Transformers and all these new really exciting things. I don’t really keep up to speed with kids TV. Since the release of their music video for the track ‘In the Night’ back in 2009, a lot has changed with the band in terms of their progression and the concepts for their music videos. Gus discusses the idea of the music video for ‘Speaking In Tongues’.

Gustav: Primarily what we wanted to do was something different/unique and quite dark.

The whole point of the song

‘Speaking In Tongues’ was that on the surface in terms of the rhythm it almost did have the influence of the 80s from the music we grew up listening to, but lyrically, they were a little darker in its tone and the subject matter and metaphors used to talk about the breakdown of communication.

We just wanted something that was a little eerie and dark and wasn’t your generic rock video.

The production company, 'Favourite Colour Black' had a trippy and slightly disturbing idea

for the music video and that’s what we wanted- a little out of the box and that’s something we always want to do. We did the first video for ‘In the Night’ and I think it cost us around £50.

We just got really drunk and snuck onto an abandoned railway and filmed until we weren’t allowed to anymore haha but things have changed in that respect. I think fundamentally we want to do something new and interesting. That’s what we managed to do with ‘Speaking In Tongues’.

Wind Up Records Studio was where Young Guns demoed new material for ‘Bones’. This was where Tupac was shot, in the lift below. There are a bunch of things that Gus had found out being a band that he may not have known otherwise.

Gustav: The most important

thing that I have found while being in a band is working with other people. You know, five people are doing one thing, painting one picture and that’s a really difficult thing from a human perspective.

You’ve got to balance your ego and your desire for things to be how you want it with what other people think. What I’ve really learnt is that there is something that happens when five people make something together that cannot happen when you make something on your own.

A song will end up completely different from the way you imagined it, until it’s a kind of song you never dreamt of writing if it wasn’t for having everyone else in there.

Everyone is influenced by someone in whatever career they want to go into. Apart from musicians, Gus tell us other forms of media have influenced him when it came to creativity.

Gustav: My mom taught me to read really early on before I started school. Literature was

always a big part of my life, I’ve also always really enjoyed being creative.

I write a lot and all that kind of stuff. I think it’s really important for people to be able to express themselves which is actually quite difficult in this day and age.

I think it’s really important for people to be able to express themselves and I always really struggled with that and this has given me an outlet and a way to satisfy myself in the way of being good for the soul really.

“Literature was always a big part of my life” GUS' TIPS FOR A CHALLENGING, YET REWARDING INDUSTRY

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To not lose track of what you are doing. Being in a band is really tough and if you desperately want to headline arenas and sell millions of records, I think you’re going in with a bad/loaded expectation that is very unlikely. But if you just start a band with your friends, try and enjoy it.

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Make each song better than the one before it. Make sure you get on with the people you’re around and talk freely and can give each other opinions and criticisms and it not be a problem.

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And three, just try and play shows. You’ve got to play show! Play shows to one person, two people and then hopefully to five people. You’re not going to make any money. It’s not going to be immediately beneficial, but you’ve got to learn fast, like everything you do- take time, learn and get better at it. Just always be open, be a sponge. Try and learn everything.

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Photo: Peter Brew-Bevan words: Sarah Akomanyi Michael Botsch

tonight alive Jenna Mcdougall talks

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TOURS. BEING A BAND. ADVICE. Change. positivity. and more.

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With having recently toured the UK with Milk Teeth and Our Last Night, Jenna McDougall speaks to State Magazine about the experiences this tour had provided, compared to previous times Tonight Alive stepped foot in the country.

“Our UK tours have always been special to us, and have contained some of the best shows we’ve ever played” says Jenna. “The biggest difference this time was that we were giving four songs from Limitless their debut. We think Birmingham took the crown off Manchester for best show this time around.”

only natural that the music we create changes with us” Jenna mentions.

“It’s unhealthy to fight what’s coming naturally in your life for the sake of someone else.”

From a career point of view, change is always a gamble. “History shows those brave enough to develop their sound, have created some of the best music of all time.”

From the new album, the final track ‘The Greatest’, was the song that TA felt that their fans would relate to the most as they ‘have a love for Jenna’s lyrics and storytelling ability’, alongside the ‘dynamic musically and the song came together in Here’s what Jenna had to say on the importance of a way we are all proud of.’Limitless’, an album by change, both personally and pursuing a career. “It’s TA. incredibly important. Personally it’s important But is this a reflection of where the band feel they because as we grow and change as people, it’s are now? They answer is ‘Absolutely’! What they The release of the band’s latest album, Limitless (2016) saw a progression in their music, from their debut album What Are You So Scared Of? (2011).

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“History shows those brave enough to develop their sound, have created some of the best music of all time.” jenna mcdougall feel now are ‘free and excited’ about what the future holds. “It’s incredibly important.

Personally it’s important because as we grow and change as people, it’s only natural that the music we create changes with us. It’s unhealthy to fight what’s coming naturally in your life for the sake of someone else.”

What is it about Bring Me The Horizon that influences Tonight Alive? ‘They challenge themselves, and fearlessly created an amazing album in Sempiternal (2013), which broke them out of allpre-existing moulds people placed them in” Jenna states.

Although this was the case, Jenna comments that Tonight Alive are still able to retain their own identity. “ We want to be the only ones who define our identity, so in that sense, we were inspired by

BMTH.” Inspired by ‘the early 00’s pop punk bands’, after band practice, they would all come together to watch band DVDs and ‘dream of doing what they were doing.’

In terms of motivation and encouragement, a quote that presents positivity is ‘Ships in harbour are safe, but that’s not what ships are built for’ by John A. Shedd.

Additionally, Jenna adds ‘I always think of this quote and relate it to our lifestyle of constant travelling. We are nomadic by nature and it’s liberating to not play life safe.’

Why is music important to Tonight Alive?

Speaking proudly, Jenna explains the meaning of music to her personally. “It’s the first thing I ever truly loved and connected with.

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It’s provided me with my greatest friendships, and given me purpose."

Whether starting a new job, project or activity, there is going to be advice that friends and family give to you in order to help you through a new situation.

As a band, the advice that TA were given was ‘writing good songs is the most important part of being in a band. I always say to people that you have to be friends with your band mates, and actively work to support each other at all times.

Favourite tour memory so far? “When we played our second record The Other Side (2013) in full at London KOKO. It was a special show for everyone and one I’ll never forget. Felt like a true achievement.”

The atmosphere on stage is ‘relaxed unless it’s a big festival show’. What the band like to do is collectively ‘stretch and warm up. Nothing too crazy.

But we are known to be stress heads sometimes, and like things to run smoothly.’

Honesty.

Melody.

Friendship.

Jenna speaks about the impact positivity plays amongst the band during the writing and recording process. “Our band has always been united, and faced every challenge together.

During recording, we each had low moments, and every night we would drive home from the studio together, then eat food and watch movies together to wind down.

To get into the right frame of mind before hitting the stage, everyone ‘hugs each other one at a time, brings you back to earth and reminds you that we are in this together’.

Top 3 tips for anyone wanting to work in this challenging yet rewarding industry- “Fall in love with music. Believe in yourself. Work hard. Make sacrifices. Enjoy the ride!”

Honesty. Melody and friendship are a few aspects that Tonight Alive would like to see more of in the music industry.

Every Sunday, Whak would make pancakes for everyone. The collective group atmosphere was Additionally, Jenna adds “I wish the industry crucial for us to get through recording.” wasn’t as competitive, and that young bands start finding their way to radio and movie ‘Passion. Work ethic and a degree of talent’ (in soundtracks again.” order) lists Jenna, when asked about some key qualities anyone looking to become a musician Tonight Alive’s latest album, should possess.

Limitless, is out now!

There were also challenges that the band had to overcome, including ‘trust issues from certain relationships’ and Jenna’s personal ‘struggle with Eczema, which was managed carefully while touring’.

“If you aren’t great friends, touring will be a miserable time.”

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JOE BRADY

photographer joebrady.co.uk

Worked withTaking Back Sunday Yellowcard Gallows Bowling For Soup Chiodos Bastille And more.

Photos: Joe Brady First photo captured- It has to be one of the photos from the first show I ever shot back in 2010. My friend asked me to shoot his band at The Forum in London - they had just won a Battle of the Bands competition to play there so wanted to capture the memory. I had no idea how to shoot live music back then, but I had a great time and the band seemed happy with the images so I must've done something right! That was the show which gave me the bug to shoot live music.

On tour with The Ocean's Eyes- The Ocean's Eyes gave me my first touring experience which I will forever be grateful for.

Words: Sarah Akomanyi If it wasn't for them, I don't think I would've made that initial leap to touring, which in-turn opened up many more doors for me. It's hard to say where I would be now if it wasn't for that opportunity, so I'm glad they asked me!

Working with Hevypetal- Working for HP was a great learning experience for me. Shooting alongside photographers who had been shooting a lot longer than me, then having to deliver photos by a certain deadline was great practice for the rest of my career. HP provided me with my first photopasses to bigger shows, which I'll always be thankful for.

45 Weddings- To be completely honest, shooting a wedding was relatively easy compared to shooting live music. The lighting was great, people weren't jumping around like crazy and the clients were paying for my services, so they did their best to accommodate me. On the downside, the editing process was a real task. I think I took around 3,000 photos for my first wedding, so it took me quite a while to edit that!

Warped Tour- Warped Tour was definitely the peak of my career up to that point. It was pretty much my life goal to shoot that tour, so to be able to do it less than three years after quitting my job in TV to do photography full time was really insane. I got to meet so many new people and saw some really cool places.

Having such a huge selection of bands to shoot each day was a dream come true! I am still sitting on a huge pile of photos I'm yet to edit from that tour, you don't even want to know how many images I shot while I was out there.

We Are The In Crowd- I'm pretty sure WATIC have a vague idea how grateful I am for giving me the opportunity to shoot that tour, but I don't think they'll ever really know just how much I appreciate it. That tour opened up so many new doors for me and I made friends for life, I will always be eternally grateful for that chance.

time deadlines and work quickly while still maintaining a high standard.

Through his photos- I enjoying capturing any moment which is special to somebody. If I manage to capture a photo which somebody will appreciate for the rest of their life, then I've done my job.

Favourite experience on the road so far- I have to say that the tour I'm currently on has been and hopefully will be the best experience of my life so far.

I've just started a three month world tour with Against The Current. We are currently in Bangkok which has been a lot of fun so far! I won't be home from this tour until December, so I'm sure I will have plenty of crazy stories to tell by then...

Common Misconceptions- People often think my job is glamorous. It totally isn't. I haven't had a single day off this year, I never see my friends outside of the industry, I'm away from my family a lot, my sleeping schedule is a mess and I spend an absolute fortune on gear. If you Documenting Joe's Life- To be honest I don't get want to be a photographer, be prepared to deal with a much down-time, I'm yet to have a day off in 2015. But if lot of crap!

I do have a spare hour, I like to get lost in a good game.

I also recently treated myself to a convertible sports Advice- The best advice I can give is just to keep car, so I like to take that out for a spin when I have the working hard, do the best job you can and don't be an chance. It's a good way to take my mind off work for a asshole. If you work hard to a good standard while! consistently, people will start to notice you and doors will begin to open. In most cases, it's not what you Working relationships- It's absolutely crucial to know, but who you know. maintain good relationships within the touring world.

Most jobs come from personal recommendations, and it's almost always a case of who you know, not what you know.

"People often think my job is glamorous"

Knowledge- Photography has helped me to be more efficient with my time management. I'm rather easily distracted and am often late for generally everything, but touring especially has taught me to stick to strict

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Tori Kravitz.

Rock Forever Magazine/ Warped Tour Pit Reporter

"Oprah has inspired me because I admire her fearlessness during interviews" Words: Sarah Akomanyi

Tori's previous work till now. I started my own online publication in August 2010 when I was 14 years old. I wanted to promote the music I loved and really wanted to be involved in the music industry. I didn’t know where to start so I took matters into my own hands. Initially, Rock Forever Magazine was a music news blog.

Then I started doing video interviews with bands on my youtube channel and I absolutely fell in love with it. Six years later and I’m still going! Then, in 2015 I landed a job with the Vans Warped Tour as the Monster Energy Pit Reporter. Now I work with the tour to create exclusive content on the Warped social media platforms before, during, and after the tour. The best part of my job is creating daily video blogs for every single date of the tour.

make a career out of this” and so I put more energy into it.

Social Media. Social media is undoubtedly the most effective way to promote your work but it takes more than just making an account and posting a status update to get results. There are a lot of unique strategies for promoting yourself online; it can take a lot University. I think everyone should follow his or her own path. Personally, I am in college studying Broadcast of time and work to fully take advantage of the different social media platforms. For example, when I Journalism and it has been a valuable experience for me. It has allowed me to have a better understanding of started Rock Forever Magazine I reached out directly to potential fans on Twitter and sent them my interviews my responsibilities as a journalist. It also helped me one-by-one. Social media can be incredible for your become well rounded and knowledgeable on the industry. School combined with experience has definitely career if you put enough time and energy into it! made me a better journalist.

Misconceptions. One of the biggest misconceptions that I struggled with (and still deal with) is the idea that Inspiration. To be honest, I never considered a job in as a young woman in music journalism, I only care journalism before I started Rock Forever Magazine; it about hanging out with the bands. That couldn’t be sort of happened by accident. I am absolutely in love with music and I wanted to share my favorite artists with further from the truth. Yes, it is a fun aspect of my job but it is a small fraction of what I do. For every hour I other people while doing something fun. That’s how it spend with a band, I spend another 10 hours working all started – this was a hobby and I never expected to on videos at home. If you want to get into music gain anything from it. journalism because you want to hang out backstage every night, you will be very disappointed.

Then as it started growing I realised “hey, I could

48 statemagazine Feeling differently after an interview. Jason Aalon Butler from letlive. He is one of the most amazing people I have ever had the pleasure of interviewing.

He constantly emits so much love and positivity and he has an incredibly inspiring outlook on life. His energy is infectious. Every time I see him, I walk away with a fresh perspective on music, society, and life. letlive. is one of my all-time favorite bands and he is such a great man.

Oprah and Ellen. This is a great question! Oprah has inspired me because I admire her fearlessness during interviews. She isn’t afraid to tackle the deep and difficult questions and yet, she always makes her guests feel comfortable and open. She is a master so I love to analyze her work and learn from her as much as I can.

On the other hand, Ellen is unapologetically herself and she inspires me to allow my personality to shine through during interviews. She has a unique approach to interviewing because it is very conversational – sometimes you forget you’re watching an interview. I try to replicate the same vibe during my videos too. I also admire how quirky, genuine, and warm she is.

Warped Tour Pit Reporter. I tried to gain as much experience on my own as I possibly could. I did that mainly through Rock Forever Magazine. I did over 300 interviews independently before I applied for the job. In addition, I vlogged during Warped Tour for two years and those videos were basically samples of what my future Pit Blogs would look like. I also built a small photography portfolio from previous years of Warped Tour. When the time came to apply for the Pit Reporter job, I was able to submit all of my past work and show them that I was qualified for the job.

Experiences. I visited so many incredible places during the tour! Being in a different city every day was a surreal experience. Every morning was the start of a new adventure and I never knew what was in store for the day. I loved exploring new places during our days off and I got to see some really amazing places. Our days off in Nashville, Las Vegas, and Lake Shasta were a few of my favorites.

Motivation. One of the most life changing concepts has been learning to live in the moment.

I know it sounds simple, but it truly changed the way I do interviews. I always strive to focus on the present moment and clear my mind of everything else.

The quality of my work improved greatly when I realised the importance of this. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle is a great book if you want to learn more!

Appreciation. The sense of community on Warped Tour is unlike anything I have ever experienced. The friends I made during the tour have become my family. Everyone is so passionate about the tour and we all come together every day to make it happen – that brought us together in a really special way. I met the best people last summer and I have a new appreciation for the camaraderie on the tour. The love, support, and good vibes I received from the crew on Warped Tour was (and still is) really special.

Contacts. Contacts and experience are super important in journalism. The only way to improve in this field is through experience because journalism is very hands-on. Throughout the years I have learned from my mistakes, figured out what works and what doesn’t work, and discovered better ways to do things. It is important to always find new ways to grow from your experiences. Contacts are also vital because you need to build good relationships with publicists and managers.

Gaining credibility and earning trust is one of the most valuable aspects of a music journalist’s career.

Advice. If you want to start a YouTube channel, dedicate all of your energy to making it awesome and stick with it! Post regularly (I posted at least one video per week when RFM was active), make sure your videos are consistent, only post your best work, and figure out some good strategies to spread the word about your channel. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see instant success and stay persistent. It took me a couple years to start seeing results but it was totally worth it!

youtube/rockforevermagazine

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Words: Sarah Akomanyi

Sophie Eggleton "YouTuber, Journalist, Interviewer, Blogger, FILM/MUSIC/ART nut"

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"I try to be confIdent, friendly, but ultimately professional" Here’s an outline as to what Sophie has done so far to develop her portfolio.

Goodness me, I’m quite old, so that would take a while. I graduated in Fine Art. Then I went on to gain experience in the fashion cupboards of Glamour, First, Eve, Elle and Vogue. I then went to Alexander McQueen in the role of an artwork assistant.

Following on from that, I went into styling and assistant styling, consulting brands and PR (both music and fashion). I then went to work at Cheer Up Clothing where I could pretty much combine everything I had done till then. Alongside this I was working as a freelance journalist and blogger, the bulk of my work being in the form of video interviews.

You’ve previously done work ranging from music to fashion journalism. How would you say this has personally helped develop your skills as a writer, compared to sticking to one subject?

All different forms of creativity have a influence on each other and they often crossover. The more industries/ mediums/styles you have knowledge of the more things you have to reference and compare. I also love to feel like I am constantly learning and expanding my knowledge because it spurs my passion for it further.

I think passion shows through your writing - and will hopefully translate to the reader.

You’ve talked previously about the effect social media can sometimes have on people negatively. How important is it through your ‘Honest Vlogs that we put ourselves first rather than wishing for what we don’t have?

It's a difficult one. So many of the things I try to encourage others to do I find so very hard to do for myself. It’s very difficult to stop comparing yourselves to others, and to stop caring what people think of you. In a way I want to maintain some of that worry because I think it helps ensure I stay a nice and

grounded person….because I’d hate people to think I wasn’t a decent human.

If you completely stop caring what people think of you there is a danger you become selfish.

I’ve created a board in my room which features words and images that help me remain positive grateful, but also ambitious.

On the days that I am feeling a bit sorry for myself, or lacking in something (money/ followers/confidence) I try and look at that.

Compared to your first YouTube video to now, how do you feel you have developed your channel when it comes to its content?

When I first started I didn’t really know what I was doing at all. I had always uploaded my interviews there, but had no idea I could even get subscribers or that there was a whole community on there, and that it could actually become your job. It’s funwhen you are in that world you can’t imagine not knowing about it, or thepeople at the helm of it, but it’s one of those things you either in…or you are out. I didn’t subscribe to anyone, and had no idea about the common TAG videos, who was friends with who in the industry, and how it really worked. I’m still learning and still not really on board with it all.

I think now I’ve realised that, although i’m aware it is important to build and audience and subscribers, the most important thing for me is to feel I am contributing in a positive way. My honest vlogs for example, won’t be big hitters, but from the lengthy responses I get I can tell they are of comfort to a few people. That means the world to me. I feel you should do what represents you, and be genuine - I think savvy people will spot the phoneys.

What is one thing that you wish to see more of on YouTube?

People using their vast audience to talk about important issue and topics - sometimes it feels a bit vacuous. That said, it is so important that people have somewhere they can go to for an escape. It would be

52 statemagazine a bit hard going and miserable if all YouTubers were tacking tricky issues, sometimes it’s nice to give your brain a break and watch a silly video. I wish more of the fashion/beauty bloggers promoted positive body images and confidence….too many are about how to change how you look rather than embracing the wonderful things you already have.

You’ve interviewed a number of musicians through to people working within the creative industry. Who were some of the people that left you thinking differently for any reason after the interview?

Ohh that’s tricky, my brain always goes blank. I know that after the hour I spent with Brandon Boyd of incubus I felt inspired to get into art again, I also wanted to make shifts in my life that would lead me to being a calmer self, having spoken to him about his daily meditation.

What would you like viewers to take away from your channel?

I hope they would come away feeling comforted, perhaps more confident regarding a certain situation whether it be about their body, a job interview, losing their virginity. I also hope that they feel they are seeing the real me, embarrassing tales, cringe behaviour and all.

Challenges you had to overcome when it came to getting into journalism?

This is a constant challenge…lack of money. So many places expect you to write or do interviews for free, and you do it because you think ‘this may be the one to change everything’….it rarely does. It is important to pay your dues but it is also very important to put value on the work you do. I have got this balance very wrong over the years and people have taken advantage.

It is also very competitive, and sadly people who are better at networking end up getting the opportunities you want. I’ve had to become resilient, sometimes you send over pitch after pitch with no result, but you got to keep going. People in this industry can be very flaky to so you will often be let down, so you have to try very hard not to get bitter

and twisted about it all.

Common misconceptions about music journalism.

I guess the most obvious one is that it’s glamorous… far from it. You are often left waiting in a very dingy backstage room, for an artist who makes it very obvious they don’t want to talk to you. Sometimes you will prep for an interview for a whole day for the artists to say he can’t be bothered to do press - often meaning a wasted commute and loss of money.

I think some people think it’s an amazing job because you get to meet ‘famous’ musicians, but sadly this part has never been a pull for me. I guess after a little while you realise that they are just humans, same as you and me, some are nice, some are not, some have bad breath, some are sleazy….some are completely different to the brand they project.

If you are doing press at festivals it also means that you generally don’t get to see any live music, because you are stuck in the press tent all day. It is occasionally harder for women too….sometimes artists expect you not to know what you’re talking about.

What is one thing you wish someone had told you about this industry before getting started?

I wish I had known how hard it was to progress. Hard work doesn’t equal success/money/jobs sadly.

Neither does talent. Unfortunately I see a lot of people getting work others deserve because of who they know. That said, it should never stop you from trying to do a good job - as that certainly does your chances some good. I wish I had thought of the implications of putting yourself out there online and in publications. As you can imagine you are open to all sorts of comments when reviewing or chatting to people’s favourite bands.

For anyone wanting to start getting into this industry, what are the main things to consider?

Make sure you are hugely passionate about music - you will need to be to keep going, as it isn’t always easy and there won’t be a lot of money in it.

Do work experience and internships as soon as you can,

preferably when you are still studying, so that when you graduate you already have experience and contacts under your belt. Make sure you are doing it for the reasons - don’t do it just to meet your idols, because quite often you will be disappointed.

53 alongside this work, just for financial stability. Be repared to work very odd hours and miss out on wedding/ birthdays etc.

Don’t give up. Persevere. Don’t hound them and become a nuisance. Don’t expect things to go to plan.

Try to be flexible as best you can and stay calm.

Be in it for the love of the songs, the lyrics, the performance….and having an interest in finding out incredible stories and investigating intriguing personalities.

It will be a lot easier for you if you have a secure job

instagram.com/sophieeggleton twitter.com/SophieEggleton sophieeggleton.blospot.co.uk

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Q&A WITH YouTube Content Creator/ Comedian If you have not yet come across the work of content creator, Jarrod Alonge, here is a summary of what he has got up to so far.

"I guess I would be in medical school or something right now (arguably the wiser course of action)"

It’s hard to say when I started since this entire thing started off as a hobby that I slowly eased into as a full-time job. I have a few viral videos including the “Every Vocalist” and “Misheard Lyrics” series. Since then I’ve been operating some sort of “alternative music satire” YouTube channel.

I’ve also released a 15-song album called “Beating A Dead Horse.”

What were your initial goals when you started a YouTube channel?

Simply to have fun. What started off as a dumb video for a few friends became a series of videos targeted at this big audience I’ve acquired. I still don’t really know what my goals are yet.

Favourite/Least favourite video to film so far and why?

Misheard Lyrics. It’s a pain to edit, it’s not that funny (in my opinion), and it’s based on user submissions, therefore not involving much creative input on my end.

"Nothing in life should be taken too seriously"

You said previously that you don’t regret anything major apart from caring what people thought about you when you were younger. How do you think this has influenced you now in terms of creative content?

It hasn’t influenced me too much, seeing that it was just an issue as a high schooler.

I’m a college graduate now and there’s nothing too relevant in my adult life that I regret.

How was Warped Tour as an experience overall?

It was both fun and educational, and that’s really all I can say at this point. I literally just got back to Tennessee yesterday, so I still need time to process everything. I definitely made many connections and learned a crap-ton about the in-and-outs of

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What is one thing you learnt on Warped Tour that can be applied for life in general?

Give others the benefit of the doubt.

Be polite and understanding. Give others the benefit of the doubt. These are things I already knew, but were only strengthened by my experience on Warped Tour.

Compared to your first YouTube videos to now, how do you feel you have developed your channel when it comes to its content?

Hopefully less gimmicky. My early content had no real direction (and rightfully so, it was just a hobby while I was in school). I try to lean more into social commentary and using humour to make people think about the real world.

What would you like viewers to take away from your channel?

Nothing in life should be taken too seriously. There is always humour in every situation, even in the face of death. Just enjoy a good laugh and don’t make a big deal about things.

What were some of the challenges you may have had to overcome when working on your album ‘Beating A Dead Horse’?

Inexperience. I had never made an album before, let alone an nichealternative-music-subtle-satire-album. It’s a well-oiled machine at this point.

Where do you think your channel would have lead you if it wasn’t for the videos such as ‘Misheard Lyrics’ and ‘Every Pop Punk Vocalist’?

Nowhere. I never set out to “be a YouTuber,” so it probably would have died out. I guess I would be in medical school or something right now (arguably the wiser course of action).

For someone who doesn’t venture too far into the music industry, how was it being a part of As It Is’ set on Warped Tour, being on the other side?

Pretty fun. The allure of being on a stage and hanging out with people in bands doesn’t really exist. There’s this stigma that the people in your favorite bands are “special” humans, but in reality they’re people just like you and I that are only set apart by their initiative to do something riskier with their lives. Right now I’m good friends August Burns Red, a band that I have adored since 7th grade. It’s not even surreal, we’re just - friends.

What do you enjoy more about YouTube now that you didn’t before?

I’m essentially my own boss and I can do whatever I want without anyone else’s input or filter. The internet is an incredible place, and I’m beyond thankful to have 100% creative freedom with what I do.

Words: Sarah Akomanyi Photo: Graham Fielder jarrodalonge.com

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Raul Gonzo Music video director. fashion photographer.

Raul's work. For awhile now I’ve been shooting photography and music videos. I’ve shot over 120 music videos and countless photos. Bands such as PVRIS, Crosses †††, Versa:Emerge and All Time Low to name a few. The photography I shoot is mostly conceptual fashion photography.

Growing up/Raul's interest in photography and videography. I grew up watching movies constantly as my dad was a nut about renting them. I loved Beetlejuice and Nightmare on Elm Street especially, but I would watch almost anything.

When I was eleven, I was given my first camera. After my dad got the film back, he looked at the pictures for a long time. He had a weird expression on his face so I assumed I was in trouble for something, but when he gave me the photos he said he couldn’t believe how good they were.

It might have been from watching films for so long, but every shot had looked very cinematic. This small encouragement has stayed with me since.

First photo captured. The first shots were of my family and surroundings on Christmas day, the day I’d gotten my first camera. I don’t recall what kind of camera it was, only that it was blue and took 110 film.

To take away from his work. I really hope that people will be smiling after they see my work.

then we were all fast friends. Lynn and I would talk about ideas and I feel as though neither of us ever had said no to anything. I promised them I’d make a video for every single song, because each song deserved one- so I’m glad we made that happen.

I think most importantly all Lynn, Alex and Brian are all such down to earth, goofy, talented and overall amazing people- who could say no to them?

Visually representing. What’s their style or what are they going for? Overall though, I first listen to the song and just ask myself how the song makes me feel. If I don’t have an emotional reaction where I can imagine the video in some creative way, then I pass on it.

What Raul learnt from working with Paper Melody. I learned that you don’t normally get a month to builds sets and four days to shoot an actual music video (haha). I learned quite a lot about getting things done with very very little money.

When I was eleven, I was given my first camera.

Most of the time I’m trying to make myself smile, but it’s good to know others will too. It’s the kid in me that hopes to befriend the kid in others.

Working with PVRIS. I think PVRIS and I gel well.

Their album blew my mind. I was instantly hooked and

Also, that when you work with people who become your friends, you’ll generally get better work done.

Finally, I’ve learned not to date the singer of band you shoot for!

Other media forms inspire Raul's work. Dr. Seuss is one of my biggest inspirations. All sorts of films, photos of all kinds, fashion, cars, nature- generally all of life. You never know where it’ll come from.

59 ‘Walk On Water’ Music Video with Blessthefall in less than a week.

That’s always a bit of a scary timeline.

There’s a lot trust involved. Basically, we have to have an idea that’s rather simple. I have a tendency to try new crazy things, but on a tight schedule I’ll stick to my strengths for the most part.

Time management is always important and for some reason it always seems to be a crazy crunch with music videos, so a week isn’t impossible. The real strength with time is working out the creative part and having time to build, revise, build, revise, build, revise, sleep.

Challenges faced when working towards becoming a director.

The biggest challenge is sticking to your vision.

With music videos it’s even harder, because you’re taking someone else’s art and becoming a part of it. Also, for a long time I would give up any pay and just sink it into a better production. I always want my videos to be the very best they could be no matter the cost on my part.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t- you’re right."- Henry Ford. I can’t say how many times I’ve heard “it can’t be done”. To which I’d reply, “Yes it can”. When I’m thinking up ideas there’s an annoying part of me that sometimes interrupts the purest part of my creative side - how we afford this? I push that thought aside and think of a creative way to do the thing.

When I presented All Time Low with the concept for our video for Somewhere in Neveland, they said, “We are just so excited about a hot air balloon that looks like a butt, how are you going to do it?” I didn’t really know, I just knew I’d find a way.

Photoshoot vs Video shoot.

Planning for a photoshoot typically requires a smaller crew. It’s also based around a single concept in a moment rather than a series of events or visuals.

I do feel though, that in good video/film should look like a photo if paused, so much of everything else is planned the same way.

University. I didn’t attend a university- most definitely wish I could have. I was much too poor.

I did go to a JC and took all electives. Art and mass communication classes. I did that for three years total and then started an internship with the local television station.

While in school though I made a couple features, a bunch of short films and created a weekly sketch comedy show. The courses encouraged me to do the work, meet others who wanted to help and eventually my professor would tell me about the internship. A very good experience.

Previous experiences. To build my portfolio I had to take on a lot of work that I wouldn’t have normally. I worked on very small or no budgeted projects. I wrote countless ideas to bands and was rejected by 90% of them for the first year or two. I wrote a concept for every song my agency sent me though, and that eventually lead to more and more work.

A band you would like to work with. I’d love to work with Radiohead - that would be a dream come true. Also would be good to work with Phantogram, Lana Del Rey, Broods, Bjork, Banks, Sigur Ros, Nine Inch Nails, Sleigh Bells- it goes on and on actually.

Top 3 tips to pursue a career as a video director.

(1) Work with good people over experienced people.

There are many that are both thankfully.

(2) Rejection is okay, keep at it. Not every idea is for everyone. Save your ideas for later if you can.

(3) Set goals for yourself, no matter how small. Work towards a bigger goal with small goals.

(Bonus: Great videos are made without money, so don’t ever let it hold you back.

Words: Sarah Akomanyi and Michael Botsch raulgonzo.com

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My Inspiration

KURT COBAIN

by Michael Botsch

“I’d rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not” are the words that helped me realise exactly what I was doing wrong.

In Kurt Cobain, I found somebody who I could relate to when it felt like everybody was against me. Although he passed away before I was born, he is still one of the most inspiring and influential artists in my life to this very day. Cobain wasn’t concerned with conforming to society. What he did do was use his massive following to encourage his fans to take part in his non-conformist beliefs, and these beliefs continue to make an impact on fans and other artists in the scene even 22 years after his passing.

Because of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, I believe that more teenagers picked up an instrument and created music than ever before. Out of these masses came all kinds of artists from Fall Out Boy to Lana Del Rey. Personally, I was never inspired to create music, but I was inspired by Kurt to write and to be myself. His lyrics were so impactful on his listeners, and they were all interpreted differently. His journal and his songs helped cultivate my love for the written word and for music at a very young age.

Kurt once said, “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.” It is almost as if Kurt was the reincarnate of Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said, “Envy is ignorance. Imitation is suicide.” Cobain was spreading the same message that had been forgotten for so long. If we are all trying to be someone else, who are we actually?

As a teenager, the most important lessons one can learn are how to be yourself and to not care about what anybody else thinks. Kurt Cobain helped me and so many others through this ethic.

Although he was a hero who could not be saved, his message lives past his death and will continue to do so for years to come.

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"Kurt's message still guides me through life and reminds me that I am unique."

BEING MY OW ZIGGY STARD

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Prior to my discovery, I had

"I no interest in classic rock, or any music, really. I was discovered thirteen and my taste in music was limited to David Bowie whatever top 40 pop hits was playing on the radio. by accident."

My dad, however, has always had an impeccable taste in music, and has always made an effort to turn me on to a variety of artists and genres. He was showing me some old episodes of Soul Train and then there he was: David Bowie, with piercing eyes, orange hair slicked back, in a blue suit, singing “Fame” and “Golden Years”.

Still, it took a while for my obsession to fully develop. My next Bowie encounter wasn’t until the summer of 2014, when Guardians of The Galaxy was showing in theatres.

The film’s soundtrack is one of the best movie soundtracks I’ve ever heard, and it include Bowie’s hit, “Moonage Daydream”. I was hooked.

From there, I began to explore his albums - Low and Diamond Dogs were my firsts - and fell for the Bowie sound; the perfect blend of rock and that otherworldly, futuristic sound that was all his own.

I discovered songs that made me sway and dance

and just feel - most notably “Soul Love”, “Life On Mars”, “Modern Love”, “Rebel Rebel”, “Pablo Picasso”, “Queen Bitch”, “Valentine’s Day”, “Ricochet”, and “The Buddha of Suburbia”.

But it wasn’t just his music that caught my eye. It was the man himself. David Bowie has shaped me as a person; molded me into who I am today. His outrageous personas and fearless outlook have inspired and empowered me to be my own freak.

The media is swarming with faceless celebrities who blend perfectly with their kind, setting a poor example for teens in particular, who are heavily influenced by popular media. David Bowie was never one of them. We’re taught that we have to blend in in order to be liked, but David Bowie never blended in, and he became one of rock’s greatest

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by Zoe Corazón

legends.Out of all Bowie’s personas, Ziggy Stardust (the orange-haired, bisexual alien rock star from Mars) has stood out to me the most.

Bowie truly became Ziggy, and he never had any restraints with where he wanted to take the character. It was the early 1970s and bisexuality and gender ambiguity were often frowned upon because they weren’t seen as “the norm”. David Bowie pertained to no norms. He rebelled in the most bizarre fashion, and it worked for him.

Bowie’s headfirst approach throughout his life and career has encouraged me to be my own Ziggy Stardust. To be bizarre and crazy and just be myself, and to never apologize for it. I’ve struggled with anxiety for the majority of my life and I’ve always been self-conscious.

Entering my adolescence, I developed a tendency to constantly worry about the “image” I was wprojecting to the people around me. It became a habit to erase or tuck away the parts of myself that stood out too much.

Adults are always shoving the “be yourself” cliché down kids’ throats. The media displays another

message, a silent one: Don’t stick out. If you do that, people won’t like you.

Being different is bad. Being unique is unattractive.

There comes a point when you can’t keep filtering yourself. You get tired of it. I’m sixteen and I’m tired of painting over myself. David Bowie sticks out in an endless sea of people who are too busy camouflaging themselves to do anything else.

He taught me we’re all aliens. Most of us are too scared to admit it. But we shouldn’t be. I choose not to be.

He certainly lived up to those words. I’m trying too.

Discovering David Bowie was the happiest mistake I ever made.

"To be bizarre and crazy and just be myself, and to never apologize for it"