Issue 10 by Symphonatic Magazine

WE BUTTER THE BREAD WITH BUTTER | KING THE KID | JORDAN JAE | THE KICKBACK & MORE symphonaticmagazine.com

STAFF FOUNDER EDITOR IN CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER & DESIGNER S H A N A MY E R S

co desi gner & photographer B R A N DY N N L E IG H

P HOTOG R A P H E R S Abby Gillardi, Abby Griffey, Amanda Jensen, Amanda Puglisi, Anam Merchant, Brandynn Leigh, Brian Baker, Cassie Deadmond, Chelsea Gresh, Evgeniya, Kait Rairden, Kelli Coyne, Kim Cisneros, Kylee Gregg, Lauren Zaknoun, Lindsy Carr, Lori Gutman, Maeva Valbousquet, Meaghan Brown, Melanie Jacknow, Mika Schmeling, Penelope Martinez, Priten Vora, Sami Wideberg, Shana Myers. Taylor Novak, Victoria George

W R IT E R S Branda Cavanna, Candace Carter, Caitlyn Tanner, Josie Adnit, Lu Lu Green, Maisie King, Mike Martin, Mila Hrisimova, Sarah Kempster, Scarlett Grant, Victoria George

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ON THE COVER

NEW POLITICS

CONTENTS SHOW REVIEWS

ALBUM REVIEWS

A V R I L L A V I G N E 14 D U M B F E S T 16

INTERVIEWS K I L L S W I T C H E N G A G E 18

20 T E E N A G E B O T T L E R O C K E T 22 T H E K I C K B A C K 24 F O X Y S H A Z A M 26 M A T T W E I S S 28 W E B U T T E R T H E B R E A D W I T H B U T T E R 30 K I N G T H E K I D 34 S L E E P O N I T 36 J O R D A N J A E 38 N E W P O L I T I C S

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JULY

a l b u m s t o l i s t e n to

5 SECONDS OF SUMMER 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER

RISE AGAINST T H E B L AC K M A R K ET

19 JASON MRAZ YES

GASLIGHT ANTHEM G ET H U RT

T R EY SO NG Z TRIGGA

29 T H EO RY O F A D E A D M A N SALVAGES

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album r e v i e w s 8

ARTIST: CO N D IT IO N S ALBUM: MISSING HOURS RELEASE DATE: JUNE 3, 2014

For eight years, the guys in Conditions have walked the road of musicianship together, but their road has been cut short. As a result of their breakup announcement in November, they’ve worked diligently to give the fans their third and final record, Missing Hours, which features a combination of new songs, covers, and acoustic classics. The record starts off with “No Mistakes,” which is full of energy and heavy sound. The first thing that got me hooked to Conditions was their well-written lyrics with strong messages. The vocals and lyrics done by Brandon Roundtree illustrate inspiration and strength, with some encouragement for listeners every so often. While the three new songs follow the theme of maintaining hope during the end, “Make Your Art” is a strong standout. The lyrics “Started out with the best intentions / trying for the best connection / eight years, we tried” bring reality to light. Conditions really is breaking up, and this track makes you wish that things worked out for them because the guys have really given it their all since the band’s formation in 2006. The three covers are beautifully done and each one showcases Condition’s unique style. The definite stand out is their cover of “Runaways” by The Killers, which really emphasizes Brandon’s vocal talent. The album closes out with four acoustic tracks. These “new” versions of older songs showcase emotion and talent, and they’re bound to satisfy both older and newer fans alike. The record ends with a mesmerizing acoustic version of “Better Life” followed by a remix of “Best Mistake.” There couldn’t be a better end to Missing hours. Brandon sings, “With lessons learned, comes better life.” As any musician, the band has progressed and changed over their many years, but fans will hold on to their music for years to come. Fans need to certainly catch them on their last show in their hometown of Richmond, Virginia on July 12th. It will be an amazing experience, and the band will absolutely put everything they have into the performance. The band has made a long lasting impact in the music scene, and Conditions will be greatly remembered. R E V I E W BY : L I N D SY C A R R

ARTIST: T H E R E A DY S ET ALBUM: T H E B A D A N D T H E B ETT E R RELEASE DATE: MARCH 18, 2014

Three years after releasing his last album, Jordan Witzigreuter, better known as The Ready Set, is back with The Bad & The Better. Although he did release a few short EPs during the three-year gap, it’s safe to say that fans were ready for some new material. The fourteen-track record begins with the single, “Higher,” which automatically introduces fun pop elements while still maintaining meaningful lyrics found in any song by The Ready Set. The song is about climbing out of a bad place, and “Castaway” follows that same theme while also being a dedication to fans. The lyrics are extraordinarily well written and any devoted fan of the band will be able to connect with them. The Bad & The Better may have some deep, meaningful moments, but it is also full of the trademark fun songs that The Ready Set is known for. My personal favorites, “Carry Me Home” and “Give Me Your Hand,” are two dance-inducing tracks that will definitely be big hits at shows. Another standout track is “Fangz,” which shows that Jordan is not afraid to take a risk with a song that’s different while still incorporating elements found on his older songs. As a whole, by highlight different events throughout the songs, Witzigreuter successfully shows the process of change in a person’s life. The album stays within the style that is unique to The Ready Set while still maturing and continuing in a new direction. Despite that, I believe that he could have strayed out of his element a little bit in order to give the album some diversity. The Bad & The Better isn’t just another pop album and certainly worth the wait. R E V I E W BY : L I N D SY C A R R

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artist: PASSENGER album: WHISPERS release date: JUNE 10, 2014

In 2013, the song “Let Her Go” became a megahit. Everyone was singing it, and it played on the radio probably twenty times a day. And although you may know every single word of this radio hit, you may or may not know Passenger, the creator of this heartbreaking song. The British singer/songwriter released his sixth album, Whispers, this past month and, although the artist himself isn’t wildly popular, this album has the potential to truly make his talents known. Passenger has a special talent for telling stories through his music, which is probably why he’s been able to write so many songs in the past few years without recycling storylines. In “Riding to New York,” he tells the story of a man he meets who is dying of lung cancer. He also talks about going to visit all of his family one last time, and it really does pull at your heartstrings. Of course, there are also songs of love and losing love, and, if you’re having a hard time getting over a breakup, be sure to have a box of tissues by your side when listening. The song “Scare Away the Dark” is a new anthem for everyone, with a message about being who you are, standing up for yourself, and getting up off your arses and going outside to do something with your lives. Unfortunately, it is a terribly accurate song about how society is nowadays, especially when he sings, “It’s the meaning of life and it’s streamed live on YouTube / But I bet Gangnam Style will still get more views / We’re scared of drowning, flying and shooters / But we’re all slowly dying in front of computers.” It starts out slow and, by the end, everyone’s singing and dancing, making it a great upbeat song that is somewhat reminiscent of Pharrell’s “Happy.” Overall, I believe that this record is a compilation of musical literature, and I highly recommend it. Now, if you don’t necessarily prefer one genre to another and have a taste for a bit of everything, or you love folk-rock music, this album is for you. However, if you don’t really have a soft side for music and only really love the hardcore or electronic genres, don’t even bother with this album. To enjoy Whispers, you must have an acquired taste for a simple guy with a guitar singing his heart out. In other words, all of you Ed Sheeran fans should listen up, because this album will probably be your next purchase. REVIEW BY: MIRIAM MOREK

artist: ED SHEERAN album: X release date: JUNE 2O, 2014

By now, everyone has heard of Ed Sheeran, the British singer/songwriter who has won the hearts of almost every girl and guy who’s heard his voice. He hit it big with the widely popular “A Team,” but nothing compares love lyrics coupled with the voice of an angel. Now, with his second full-length album, Ed has done it again. Using his Martin and a loop pedal, he has managed to stun everyone with his unique style and lyrics, making Multiply just as good, if not better, than Plus. Considering his single, “Sing,” has been playing on the radio, in stores, and on TV nonstop, you may have noticed a bit of a new style. For those of you dedicated fans that are worried that he may have gone too mainstream with this new project, let me assure you that you shouldn’t base your opinions on the one song. Ed has smothered this album with his signature style, and I mean that in a very, very good way. Expect to be blown away by the many beautiful love songs, most notably “One,” “Thinking Out Loud,” and “Photograph.” “Tenerife Sea,” with its melody and guitar, is both relaxing and captivating. Multiply also has its fair share of memorable, faster tunes. You’re sure to be mindlessly singing along to “I’m a Mess” and “Don’t” for the next few weeks. “Afire Love” is a catchy, albeit serious, track about his grandfather suffering from Alzheimer’s. Many people have felt loss after watching someone’s life slowly fade away, and, unfortunately, this song is very relatable. Ed Sheeran certainly knows how to translate emotions into music, and that is where the album shines. No matter if you’re a fan of Mr. Sheeran or not, you’re sure to like at least one song on this eclectic record. Ed never fails to disappoint, and that certainly hasn’t changed now. REVIEW BY: MIRIAM MOREK

N EW F E AT U R E

ARTIST REVIEWS FO U RT H & CO A ST R E V I E W BY : L I N D SY C A R R

I came across the California “pop duo”, Fourth and Coast while searching for new music to listen to. Jordan Witzigreuter (The Ready Set), had posted a link to the recently released song, Young Hearts which he is featured on. The song gets you hooked from the beginning and has you singing along by the end. Absolutely the type of song you’d hear on the radio and topping the charts. The band is made up of Stephen Ordonez and James Colla. Both provide vocals and play guitar (real instruments are refreshing from any pop artist as opposed to pre done backtracks).They currently have two EP’s out and just finished a tour supporting Jennel Garcia (of the X factor) with Stay Seventeen and Crash the Party. The two are extremely loyal to fans. While out on their tour, Fourth and Coast and Crash The Party were the only bands able to make it to a show. Instead of canceling, the two bands played a free show at a local Denny’s. Fourth and Coast even played their first ever headliner the next day in Toronto. They’re a great up and coming band so make sure you follow them and keep up.

T H E ROC K ET S U M M E R R E V I E W BY : S A R A H K E M P ST E R

The Rocket Summer is a solo artist project performed and created by Bryce Avary from Dallas, Fortworth Texas. Since 2000 Bryce has released numerous EP’s and albums to grace fans with real music, a collection of life changing tracks, or early fun beat tracks. His vocals are a musky, yet soft, maintaining a rather high-pitched voice. One that provides a comfort yet can also burst passion through his lyrics. Being a one man band, Bryce records everything himself. The band’s sound is very rock-pop, feel-good music, and some melancholic beautiful emotive pieces. Every mood seems to be covered musically, ranging from stunning piano tracks, to ukuleles. Each instrument strums out loud and clear, for each is performed at the same skill and talent, which brings the music soaring alive. Bryce is very much in touch with his fans. He communicates with his fans twitter appreciation page, as well as often stopping throughout shows to get to know each fan. He often keeps fans updated on his song writing progression via his own Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He is a humble musician and appreciates his fans support continuously. For those that may not have listened before, I highly recommend songs such as; I Want Something To Live For, All I Have, and Circa ’46.

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staff picks top 5: SONGS

b y : Hannah Liming

a r t i s t : MKTO S O N G : Classic

a r t i s t : John Legend S O N G : All of Me

a r t i s t : Paramore S O N G : Ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t It Fun

a r t i s t : Ed Sheeran S O N G : Sing

a r t i s t : Martin Garrix S O N G : Animals

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SHOWR EV I EW S

Sometimes, when you’re a music photographer, it’s nice to go to concerts for fun to remember why it is that you got into music photography in the first place. For me, it’s fun to take a regular point and shoot camera and take photos with that, that way I’ve still got something to look back on and think, “I had so much fun that day. I hope I get to experience something like that again.” That’s what I did when I went and seen Avril Lavigne and Backstreet Boys. I took my little Canon Powershot SX230 HS camera in and took photos. But, these weren’t just for myself. These were for myself and my friend, who finally got to see a full performance by her. I had seen Avril Lavigne twice before this. Once was when she was on tour with Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, and the other was when she was at the Summer Bash in Illinois last year, so I wasn’t really surprised by the fact that her vocals are outstanding live and her performance is full of energy. She’s been doing this since she was 13 years old and she still seems to love every minute of it. Some people, once

they’re doing what they thought they wanted to do for the rest of their life, eventually realize that they’ve been chasing the wrong dream. It’s not always easy to keep your passion, and if she’s had any doubt in her mind that this is no longer what she wants to do, she doesn’t show it. Seeing Avril Lavigne in concert is a really fun experience, and quite honestly, I feel like, if you at least enjoy her music, you should go and see exactly what it is that I’m talking about. I promise you that you will have fun and fully enjoy yourself as you dance and since a long to every song she’s had on the radio.

P HO TO S A N D R E V I E W BY : S H A N A MY E R S DATE OF SHOW: JUNE 13,2014 WHERE: INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA VENUE: K L I P SC H M U S IC C E NT E R

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SOOPER SWAG

DOOMSAYER

Have you ever been to large music festivals like Riot Fest or Warped Tour, in favor of smaller, local ones? Do you think you know what they might be like? If your local music festivals are anything like the absolute punk extravaganza that was Dumb Fest 2014 in Springfield, IL, chances are you’re probably not prepared. Last year, a few main members of the local punk scene in Springfield decided to start and host a new annual festival by the name of Dumb Fest. They got around twenty five local and touring bands to come play and put together a two-day festival filled with music, moshing, and good times. It was a tremendous success, and this year, after also opening up a record store next to the venue, they looked to one-up themselves with more bands, more music, and more of everything that made the first fest so well-received. It’s safe to say that they succeeded. Over the course of two days, namely June 13-14, punk music lovers in the area could come and watch bands perform at one of three different stages: the Black Sheep Cafe, which is the local punk venue, Skank Skates International, an indoor skate park next to Black Sheep, and Dumb Records, the aforementioned record store. The bands were scheduled and the festival laid out in such a way that just after a band finished playing on one stage, another one would start on one of the other stages. Thanks to this method, people could simply go from one to the next without having to miss a single performance. It was quite an ingenious layout, and my hat is off to the organizers for keeping things so tight. Even with all of that, it’s not a punk music festival until you’ve got some kickass music and a large amount of people rocking and moshing along, and it was in this department that Dumb Fest really shined. Local favorites like Soap Scum and Our Lady kept the energy on a constant high, and the rest of the locals didn’t disappoint. Both days were jam packed with bands playing one after another, but every act managed to have people jumping, dancing, singing along, or moshing. A couple of bands instigated silly string shenanigans, circle pits were formed aplenty, and people rocked out all weekend long.

ITTO

SOOPER SWAG

Dumb Fest serves as an eye-opening reminder about why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so crucial to keep supporting local music scenes. Small, local shows and festivals have a very unique atmosphere about them. They are far more intimate than most concerts, and they have an easygoing freedom about that is extremely rare to see at larger festivals and venues. There are no security guards, no barriers, and no real restrictions. The organizers choose to trust people to regulate themselves, and the local community responds by not letting them down. Dumb Fest hits a sweet spot when it combines the efficiency needed to run events like this with the ability to give showgoers the sense of freedom to do whatever they want, and I look forward to attending for many years to come.

PHOTOS & REVIEW BY: PRITEN VORA

SOAP SCUM

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PHOTOS & REVIEW BY: BRIAN BAKER

On and off rain didn’t stop the San Antonio crowd to head out of the AT&T Center’s parking lot on Saturday, May 24th. Massachusetts-natives, Killswitch Engage, performed for about an hour, screaming and growling their fans into a frenzy. Killswitch’s lyrics focus on positivity through unity and love, which they deliver in a different way. Like most modern metal bands, they often switch back and forth between singing and screaming, and through the recently returned vocalist Jesse Leach, who left the band after his marriage in 2002, this was achieved very well. The crowd went nuts for famous songs like “My Curse” and “The End of Heartache,” which they sang along to passionately. Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz entertained the audience with his comedic and vibrant style of play. Dutkiewicz is known for his interesting stage attire, wearing everything from tutus to superhero capes at different concerts. This time he came out wearing a “Trash” bandana and a spray painted women breasted t shirt and Nike gym shorts.

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TEENAGE

INTERVIEWS

BOTT L E ROC K ET

How did you get signed to Rise Records? We made friends with the guys at Rise a while back. They had been talking about wanting to do a release for a while, as Craig is a big fan of the band. We saw that they had been working with some really rad bands recently, such as Face to Face, Bouncing Souls and Seven Seconds. Still, we were happy over at Fat Wreck Chords. Those people are very dear friends, so it definitely took a lot of deep thought. Eventually, we talked with the people at both labels and decided that it was time to try something new. The people at Fat gave us their blessings, and now here we are… Newly signed to Rise Records and super stoked on life!

How has Warped Tour been for you thus far? Warped Tour has been great so far! We’re having a blast hanging out, enjoying the sun, watching bands, and performing. People around here are really friendly. What are five bands that you discovered on Warped Tour that you have never heard before? Protomen, Plague Vendor, Heart to Heart, Scare Don’t Fear and Dangerkids

What did you think of Linkin Park’s surprise Warped Tour performance? Did you have any other labels in mind, and did any other label That’s not really my favorite band, but I will say this: people try and reach out to you? will like what they like and, as long as it makes them happy, Honestly, before Rise, we hadn’t considered leaving Fat it’s good by me. Wreck Chords. We weren’t really looking for a different label or anything, but Rise came to us at a very key point in our What has been your favorite Warped Tour lineup over the careers. The label is very hard working and believes in the past twenty years? band, and that’s exactly what we want out of a label. I went one year and it had NOFX, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, Lagwagon, No Use for a Name, Anti-Flag, and a ton of other People like to blame labels when a band changes their really rad bands on the lineup. sound, and Rise is at the top of the list of labels accused of “changing” a band’s sound after signing them. What are your Are there any younger bands on Warped that have captured thoughts on that? your attention? People are going to think whatever they want to think, but We’re sharing a ride with a band called I Fight Dragons. I I certainly don’t think it has anything to do with Rise. Bands hadn’t heard of them before this tour, but they’re actually grow and change how they will, but I don’t believe the label really good. On top of that, they’re all great dudes. Geeks will has as much pull as people think they do. inherit the earth! Do you think a label does have an effect on a band’s sound? I think that it might be more prevalent when dealing with major labels. But, as far as Rise Records and Fat Wreck Chords, I feel like both labels really let bands do their own thing. We are going to do the same thing we have always done: write a record that we can feel proud about.

What are you planning on doing when you’re done with Warped? After Warped Tour, we’re heading to Brazil for the first time, and we’re super stoked about that! Later in the year, we’ll be at the Blasting Room recording our new full-length for Rise Records.

I N T E R V I E W B Y: C Y D N E E B U R D E N

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THE KICKBACK Can you introduce yourself and state your role in the band? My name is Billy, and I sing and play guitar. When did you form and how did you all meet? In 2009, my brother and I moved left South Dakota to live in Chicago and be in a band. The band name has been in my head since 2006. That’s a long time to be lugging that thing around. Three of us have been together for a couple years now. Our drummer Ryan is new. If you’re keeping track, I’ve given you at least four dates to choose from. My parents conceived me sometime in January of ‘86, so that’s also an option.

South Dakota, studying for a Criminal Justice exam. There was a blurb about the Enron case that included descriptions of a bunch of financial kickbacks. I texted my hair-metal-inclined roommate—his musical preferences have nothing to do with this story—that I finally figured out what my non-existent band would be called. It seems simple enough, but we get billed as either Kickback or The Kickbacks at almost every show. I don’t think anyone thinks “seedy money” when they think of the band name. I’ve lost on all fronts.

For those who haven’t heard of you before, how would you describe your music? We were on a bill with our friends in Deleted Scenes recently. What’s it like being a band for so many years? It was called “A Night of Ecstatic Bummer Music,” which made I’ve been in a band since I was sixteen, so it feels like supper and putting on your pants before you leave the house. I used to me laugh out loud. I want to write upbeat songs for your parents to get divorced to. I would like to be the painfully chipper carry around guitar picks in my wallet before I could even play an instrument, just so that people would ask me about it. Now, soundtrack to your conscious uncoupling with somebody you if there aren’t picks in every pair of pants I own, it’s a legitimate thought you had a shot with. I want to write songs that you can sing along to and only realize later that it was probably a terproblem, and that makes me happy. If I huffed paint every rible idea to jump in on the chorus. I want to be a band whose morning at 8:30, I imagine that would eventually start to feel drum sounds get written about by aliens. like par for the week, too. How did you come up with the name of your band? I was on the second floor of the I.D. Weeks Library in Vermillion,

Who are some of your biggest influences? Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne as Batman. Randy Newman. Phil Spector. Mike Love as Wrestling Heel. Julian Casablancas.

Jim Henson. Spoon. If I start listing authors, I’ll respect myself less, so let’s just call it.

You are preparing to release a new album called Sorry All Over The Place. What can fans expect from this album? How What made you want to become a musician? far along are you on this album? Is it nearing completion? All of my brothers were in bands. That was square one. When The album is done. It’s mastered. I’m looking at it as I type this. I saw The Strokes play “Soma” on Conan O’Brien when I was a It’s in a box that my now-wife made for me when we were freshman in high school, I knew it was over. Around that time, I dating and contains cut-outs from all of my favorites: the ‘89 was busy memorizing all of the between-song-banter from the Batman, American Psycho, and comic stills from The Punisher. live Blink 182 album, so it was kind of a big turnaround. She made it for me, and I don’t think I really stopped to think about all of the warning signs inherent in one small present. She Which one of your songs are you most proud of, and why? should have just given me a red flag to wear for my birthday. I can’t afford to be reflective right now. Any song that makes it through a practice a little bit stronger and a little more fineAnyways, we waited a long time to put out our first record. I tuned is a victory and worth living another day for. The ones refused to even put it on the table until I was sure we could do that bomb or won’t turn over send you home contemplating it the way I wanted to do it. This sure as hell better reaffirm veering into an oncoming lane. The sweet is the sweetest and that it was worth the wait. We recorded it with Jim Eno from the sour makes you want to kill yourself. Spoon, and I believe that band has some of the best sounds in the history of recorded music. It’s nice to have the album done. You are currently on tour—how has that been going? What Time for the next one. has been the most memorable moment so far? We just wrapped up our first run of summer dates. Touring is I N T E R V I E W B Y: B R A N D A C A V A N N A like what Marc Maron calls “trauma bonding.” You spend a lot P H O T O B Y: J I M V O N D R U S K A of time trying to collectivize as a unit because it’s you four in a metal can spiraling at fatal speeds and basically all alone in the world. You have each other, but you also get sick of each other fairly quickly, so it’s a tangled web of trying to claim five glorious minutes of alone time in a Taco Bell bathroom and also trying to be a united front against a world that’s cold and unforgiving. Be sure to check out the links below If you’re near a truck stop in Joplin, Missouri, you have to deal with people occasionally yelling out homophobic slurs from the Sting’s Teacher Years Video back of a pickup while you’re trying to check your oil. I know this http://t.ymlp313.net/jwqhjaaaubmuwataeueazabys/click.php sounds stereotypical and hack, but it was the Fourth of July and these assholes were shooting off fireworks from the back When I Die Stream of a pickup truck while driving down the highway. I have friends http://t.ymlp313.net/jwqhbagaubmuwapaeueanabys/click.php back in South Dakota who majored in that in college, but they aren’t the type to start railing on total strangers at a gas station. You have a podcast that you update every few weeks and it’s already past the 90th episode. Do you have any plans for the 100th? Do you have a favorite episode so far? Do you have a favorite segment on the show? The podcast was initially started as a way for us to leave behind some kind of record of what it was like to be in an (allegedly) hardworking band that wasn’t on a tour bus or traveling with an entourage. It’s seen some cool ups and some frightening lows along the way, and I have to imagine the 100th will be some monument to both of those…Hopefully the former moreso than the latter. Every episode is a small miracle because there are still four guys working toward a common goal and trying to keep their lives on the same page. I’ve had the honor of interviewing some people I greatly respect, from Spoon’s Jim Eno—who produced our record, to my friend and comedian Greg Behrendt, to some music journalists I greatly admire. My mom even wound up on an episode. That one meant the most to me, I think. But my favorite episodes tend to be when I’m binging on mania and planning out elaborate hang-out sessions for me and Michael Keaton in case he ever writes back on Twitter. A lot of the podcast veers that way, unfortunately.

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FOXY SHAZAM You’ve been compared to Queen, My Chemical Romance, and The Darkness to name a few, but who do you feel your main musical inspirations are? We like all those bands just fine, but I always thought they were weird comparisons for our band... Inspiration-wise, we are six dudes with really different tastes in music, so you’d almost have to go person by person. Loren loves Pantera, Sky loves surf music, I’m into Shellac and Sarah McLaughlin, Eric’s into balladeer-type guys like Leonard Cohen, Aaron likes rap and Green Day, and Alex pretty much only listens to Chuck Mangione and Against Me!. So yeah, we’re pretty all over the place... We meet in the middle. Your distinctive sound has developed over the course of five albums and continues to evolve - do you think you’ll ever find and stick to a particular style? I think we do stick to a particular style; All of our albums sound like us at a particular moment in time. People change over time, but they remain the same person. As said above, we have to multiply by six. It’s psychic fascism to demand that one person be the same one-dimensional cartoon of themselves forever, so why expect the same thing from a band? If you could tour with anyone, alive, dead or undead, who would it be? Quadruple bill with us, Larry and his Flask, Fela Kuti, and Die Antwoord. If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be? Cincinnati. If you could collaborate with anyone, alive, dead or undead, who would it be? God himself, and we’d collaborate on re-creating the universe, then make a sick album. Favourite place in the world to perform? Cincinnati. What is the most exciting thing that being in Foxy Shazam has given you the opportunity to experience? The act of traveling literally over a million miles in a decade. It’s always a thrill to watch the world go by outside of a van or airplane window. Don’t know why, but it’s just perfect all the time.

I N T E R V I E W B Y: J O S I E A D N I T T P H O T O B Y: S T E V E N K I N G symphonaticmagazine.com

MATT WEISS

Please tell us a little about yourself for those who don’t know you. My name is Matt Weiss. I’m a nineteen year old singer/ songwriter from Dix Hills, New York. I’ve been singing and writing for six years now How did you first get involved with music? When I was in the third grade, I started playing cello for my elementary school orchestra. My private teacher and conductor, Mr. Sher, was the man who motivated me to be the best musician I could be. You were in a band called Love In Motion. You guys played a lot of shows on the East Coast and clearly had a loyal fanbase. Overall, what was that experience like? Being in Love In Motion was an unforgettable experience for me. It taught me a lot about business and people in general. Our supporters were insane, but in a good way. Performing with Jake Miller, Allstar Weekend, Before You Exit, and Cute Is What We Aim For was really cool too. Why did you leave the band to pursue a solo career instead? The main reason I left Love In Motion was because I wanted to write calmer acoustic music with deeper lyrics. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed our songs. I just couldn’t emotionally connect with them as well as I can connect with my own songs. What inspires you when writing music? What is your songwriting process? My biggest inspirations are singers like Ed Sheeran, Brendon Urie, and Jack Johnson. When I write a song, I usually come up with the melody and lyrics at the same time. Then I throw a basic chord progression over it.

was trying to stay focused on work. I’m pretty bad at paying attention when it comes to sound checks and stage coordination. When I started playing bigger shows, I had to adapt quickly. You play local shows in Long Island and NYC. Do you have any plans to hop on a tour anytime soon? I don’t have any shows or tours lined up at the moment, but I’m definitely trying to hop on a tour with Evan Pharmakis of Vanna and Wind In Sails. For now, I’m probably just going to be playing random shows here and there. You do a lot of covers on Youtube, but you also released an original song, “You Are The One,” a few weeks ago. Do you think you’ll be recording an EP or full-length album in the near future? I’m actually planning on recording a three-song EP this summer! What are your long-term goals as a musician? I would love to play venues like the Staples Center, Madison Square Garden, etc. I also think doing a full summer on Vans Warped Tour would be really cool. My dream tour would be Ed Sheeran, 2 Chainz, Juicy J, and yours truly. Interview by: Lori Gutman Photo by: Christina Basile Get connected: https://www.facebook.com/MattWeissMusic http://youtube.com/mattweissofficial https://twitter.com/mattweissmusic

What are some struggles you’ve had to face within the music industry, and how did you overcome them? A big struggle I faced when entering the music industry

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WE BUTTER THE BREAD WITH BUTTER I N T E R V I E W B Y: J O S I E A D N I T T

According to your Wikipedia page, WBTBWB started initially as a joke but progressed to more serious music. What prompted this progression? Never trust a Wikipedia page! Haha. Of course this band was founded without any bigger goals or future plans. But I don’t think anyone would call something that he puts a lot of power, passion and energy into a joke. There was a natural development within this band. I guess everybody who is twenty-four likes different music than he did when he was seventeen. That was one reason. And it’s very important for us to be true to ourselves, rather than just repeating ourselves to make others happy. It’s all about going on and creating our music while being true to ourselves. Due to Germany’s reputation as a center for European metal, would you say that it was easier for you to find support there than it would have been elsewhere? Nowadays, I think that it’s harder than ever before to get REAL fans with REAL support. Unfortunately, the modern metal scene started destroying itself during the last few years. People care more about “being cool” in their own surroundings and showing that they’re from any scene in

general, instead of being fans of particular bands. You can see it at any concert: band A is playing while the audience is wearing band B caps, band C shirts, band D trousers, band E shoes, and scene fashion accessories. Still, there are a ton of new bands coming up every day. This could be a great thing, if everything didn’t sound exactly the same. It’s more about being accepted as fast as possible, instead of being special and standing out. As such, it wasn’t easy for us to find the right support, because we still love the old rock ‘n roll rules. For us, it’s always about creating something new, something that hasn’t been there before. But this is the only way to get REAL fans. Your latest album, Goldkinder, sounds more mature and developed when compared to your previous two. Is this a result of the band’s growing experience and progression to more serious music, or are there other reasons behind the changes? It is way more detailed than that. We took the time that we needed to create songs and melodies that we’ve never reached before. Of course this is also a result of all the experiences we made when we were constantly on tour and on festivals. We were able to see so many great bands and gain

more fans. Now we have the responsibility of working on our music. Originally, electronic music techniques were part of the band’s selling point. How did you incorporate them in your latest album? There are more electronic elements on the latest record, but they’re used in a different way. In the past, we just threw the electronics directly onto our music, and it was loud and in-your-face. This time, it was more about using those techniques to underline and push the main emotion or melody, and even to create some dark atmospheres. Do you actually butter your bread with butter? Oh, c’mon, I’ve never heard this question before! But if you really want to know, I use vegan options on my bread. Bread or toast? Daily: Bread At Barbeques: Toast!

show every night! If you could collaborate with anyone alive, dead, or undead, who would it be? That’s a hard question. We’re all very big music fans and are influenced by so many great artists. I think it would be a mixture of classical artists like Chopin, with a bit of Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga, and some Slipknot and Muse. I would love to hear that combination in our music! If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be? Somewhere where there are nearly no human beings, I guess. I don’t like people that much and I’m often very confused about a lot of nonsense behaviors due to our destructive attitudes. I would like to live with the nature and how it should be, without putting my ego over everything else. What’s your favorite place in the world to perform at? Touring the USA was very, very special for us. We had a lot of great moments and the people have been amazing to us both times that we’ve toured there! I hope we’re going to play some concerts in Asia and Indonesia soon. It seems like we have an awesome fanbase over there and I’m very interested in their cultures.

If you could tour with anyone, who would it be? I think it would be a band or artist who doesn’t play metal, because we love to play for audiences that have never heard this kind of music before. It’s a great challenge to convince people during a concert to like your band if they’ve never Thanks for this interview! gotten in touch with your type of music before. I also think that Marcel Neumann any combinations that involve us playing alongside Rammstein We Butter The Bread With Butter would be pretty awesome. That way, we could watch their

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KING THE KID

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Going back to your roots and the starting point of the band: how did it form? What inspired you to make music together? We all moved to Los Angeles around the same time, coincidentally. Ricky and David met while backing other musicians, and Jose and David met through mutual friends. One fateful late night, a jam session took place where we were all together, and our personalities and style just clicked.

“Bend or Break,” and “Tale of a Secret Admirer.”

In regards to your sound and lyrics, who would you say are your musical influences? We all come from different backgrounds, so you’ll hear us bring up artists such as Blink-182, Muse, John Mayer, Foo Fighters, and a lot of in-betweens that have influenced us.

I have to ask... Why did you decide to shoot the Wrecking Ball video? It was an idea that spiraled into actuality really quickly. We saw her video had gone viral in a day, and David brought up how crazy it would be if we mimicked it. Ricky was on board instantly. Jose not so much, haha. We ran to get all of the supplies (food, a fitness ball, white underwear, sledge hammer, etc.) and contacted a videographer friend. The next day, we were filming over the cover track we had finished producing the night before.

Where do you usually gather song-writing inspiration? What is your usual song writing process? We get inspiration from our lives and the lives of those around us. The process varies. It just starts with a small piece—whether it’s a guitar riff, a melody, or lyrics—that interests us enough to put it into a session and start building around it.

What can fans expect from the second album? It might have a more mature sound, but we’re just writing the music that we want to write… It’s also more “rock” in the sense of instrumentation. The lyrics are also more introspective; they’re a little deeper and more personal.

Have you had any weird or crazy experiences with any fans yet? Nothing weird or crazy comes to mind… We get a good of With all the huge success, how has the past year been for the amount of food and gifts. Some have taken on the roles of band? parental figures, and they always make sure we have enough It’s been busy. Good, but busy. The band is our sole focus. We food, toiletries, and medicine. don’t have side jobs or other things to do, so we put all of our efforts into what we can do next for King The Kid. If, for whatever reason, music didn’t work out for you guys, what would you being doing instead? With the increase in attention, do you feel more pressure It’s hard to say, but for the sake of imagination... David would when creating new music? most likely be producing, Jose would be doing something in Nothing’s really changed in the way we write and record the medical field, and Ricky would be in college. music as of yet. We don’t pay too much attention to what’s expected or what we “should” do. We do what we want from Thankfully, all has gone well and your music is being noticed. a musical standpoint. All fun, all love. What image do you think your music conveys? I think it conveys a very do-it-yourself mentality where we The band obviously has its own sound, and you’ve been stay true to who we are. In a fun, listenable form. noticed for stamping that sound onto the covers you have produced. What pushes you to do that, and what do you think What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you it accomplishes in the long run? been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? Having grown up with different bands, we each have our own The band is just us three. We do everything and, while it’s music styles. Still, when we get together, we just do, write, and great to have that creative control in every area, it can defirecord what feels natural to us or what seems like a good nitely be taxing. Sometimes we’re limited because it is just idea, regardless of the genre it might fall under. Staying true three guys, especially when it comes down to the managerial, to yourself is important. It’ll keep you, your music, and your financial, statistical, and every-other-business aspects that audience happier in the long run. come with being a full-time band. However, we love doing this and we take each challenge willingly knowing that we can Is there a particular path you guys are on right now? Are make it through no matter what. there any big future prospects in sight? At the moment, it’s a nonstop cycle of writing and recording Thank you for your time. We wish you the best of luck on the music, and touring/playing shows. Looking ahead, we just next steps for King The Kid. Are there any last words you’d want to keep doing that. Perhaps we’ll branch out into other like to say to your fans? markets, cities, or countries we haven’t visited yet. The goal We just want to say the biggest thank you. Their support is for our shows to keep getting better and for our songs and has been crucial in the band’s success thus far and definitely live shows to keep progressing. moving forward. Without people to listen or care, our music wouldn’t go anywhere, and we’re incredibly grateful that we Bringing fans’ attention to your own material, what would have the amazing fanbase that we do. The fans are always you say is your favorite song from Start Something? there and they have our success as a goal of theirs too. We each have our own, so let’s go with “Counting Down,” Thank you again.

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For those who don’t know, can you introduce yourself and share how the band formed? Hi, I’m Jake from Sleep On It, and I play guitar/sing/yell quasi-melodically. The idea for the band originated about two years ago, but, as an official unit that makes music, the band is a little over a year old. I met John, who does lead vocals, at a Four Year Strong concert about three years ago, and we began jamming together a couple of months after that. The rest of the members fell into place over the next two years, but things didn’t feel real until we had the current line up of Luka, TJ, AJ, John and I. We recorded our first demos in May of 2013 and released our first EP, Everything All At Once, on February 11, 2014. How did you come up with the band name? I was actually on the train agonizing about what our band name should be. We were throwing around a few names; I distinctly remember “Overcast” and “Against the Current.” I came up with Sleep On It out of frustration. I shared it with the guys and they dug it. What do you hope to achieve with your music? We really like the connections that fans have to our lyrics and songs, especially when people tell us that our songs mean something to them or speak to them in a certain way. I think that’s what makes it all worth it. If our songs make you feel a raw emotion, then I believe we’re doing something right.

Touring! We haven’t made the official announcement yet, but we’ll be touring the Midwest and the East Coast in August with a band called Real Talk. We’re extremely excited. We’re also releasing a three-song acoustic EP called Hollow in the next few months. On top of that, we’ve been writing lots of new, electric songs... What do you think is the most essential part of touring? Keeping healthy. Personally, that’s what I’m most concerned about on the road. Long drives, little sleep, lots of cheap food; the tour life isn’t exactly good for you. I think touring is also what you make it, so we’re going to have as much fun as humanly possible… Positive vibes all around. Your drummer, Luka, was recently injured. How did this affect the group as a whole? It was so unexpected that it kinda threw us all for a loop. His lung collapsed after a basement show we had in April. We knew it was pretty serious, and it meant we had to find fill-in drummers for the next few shows. Mike from Victorian Halls and Eric from Marina City both respectively ruled as replacements, but nobody beats Luka. We were nervous that it’d be a long term problem, but we’re happy to report that he’s playing with us regularly. We’re just glad he’s okay.

Are there plans for an album anytime soon? That is the big question, isn’t it? We’re sort of debating Congratulations on the release of your debut EP, Everything, between another EP and a full-length… Maybe even a split. It’s all about funding, time, and where we want to All At Once. What did you think of the recording process? record. We’re really itching to get down to Baltimore and Thanks! We’re really proud of it. The recording process record with Paul Leavitt, who’s worked with All Time Low, was tough on all of us. When you put five people in a small space to create music under a time constraint, it can The Dangerous Summer, and Senses Fail. He mixed and be really stressful. Gravity Studios was a learning process mastered our EP, but we’d really love to track with him too. We’re taking things three months at a time right now. for us, and we definitely came out a tighter band. It was After we tour this summer, release the acoustic EP, and completely necessary for our evolution. That being said, figure out how many new songs we have, we’ll move from we would probably not record there again. there. What song are you most proud of? Lastly, is there anything you’d like to say to your fans? I think our personal favorite is “Cut Me Out.” It was the most co-written song on the EP, and we all love playing it Our fans are the only reason anyone cares about what live. It has a certain anthemic quality to it that we always I have to say right now. They make this possible. The continued support from our friends, family and fans has gravitate towards. enabled this band to grow so much in just one year. You guys motivate us to keep writing, and we want every reWho are your musical influences? We love so many bands, which makes it hard to pick, but lease to be better than the last. We hope we get to meet all of you soon! we all seem to agree on a few: Brand New, Yellowcard, Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday, Queen, Saves The Day, Sincerely, The Movielife, and New Found Glory. Jake, TJ, John, AJ and Luka 34 What is the next step for the band?

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I N T E R V I E W B Y: S A R Asymphonaticmagazine.com H K E M P ST E R

JORDAN JAE Hey Jordan JAE! Would you mind telling us a little bit about yourself, for those who don’t know who you are? I’m a fourteen year-old singer songwriter who was born and raised in New York City. I have a best friend and twin brother named Tyler. I also have two puppies, Hudson and Brooklyn. I love to sing, play piano and guitar, write music, and hang out with my family and friends. Who are some artists that you hope to work with one day? I would love to work with Ed Sheeran someday because I think his lyrics are beautiful and complex. I would also love to work with Avril Lavigne. When I was little, I absolutely adored her. I grew up listening to her, and she was my first concert.

Does anyone else in your family sing? My mom and my dad sung when they were younger, my cousin used to sing opera, and my grandpa sings whenever he can as a hobby. What kind of music do you listen to for inspiration? I listen to every genre of music. I feel that you can get inspiration from anywhere, and all of the different types of music have something to offer to any musician, singer, and songwriter. What is your favorite thing to do on your days off? I like to either hang out with my friends or read on my days off. I love to read and I always have. Most of my friends complain about summer reading, but you will always find me in a bookstore picking out a new book.

What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment to I N T E R V I E W B Y: S H A N A M Y E R S date? I think that my biggest accomplishment to date is releasing my debut single, “Said No One Ever.” I had been waiting for a while to release any of my original music. The fact that “Said No One Ever” has almost 50,000 hits is just amazing! I see that you started on YouTube. What advice could you give for those who are struggling to make a name for themselves on such a popular website? Just be yourself and don’t give up! Keep putting your music up on YouTube, and eventually you’ll gain followers who will listen to your stuff. Try to always make sure that whatever you post is a true representation of yourself. What is something that you are looking forward to in the near future? I’m looking forward to releasing new content, including covers and originals. Can fans expect new music from you soon? Definitely! I’m aiming to release my next single in August, and then my EP shortly after… Probably in September or October. You started singing at the age of seven, and you’re currently only fourteen. What has been the most encouraging and supportive moment from your family? There hasn’t really been one specific moment when my family has been more supportive than the next. They’ve just always been incredibly supportive and understanding. They always encourage me to follow my dreams. I’m so lucky to have them. The fact that they cancel their own plans to take me to a last minute session is incredible, and I’m very grateful to them. Without a doubt, I truly am who I am today because of them.

GET CONNECTED: Twitter: JordanJAEMusic Youtube: JordanJAEMusic Instagram: jordanjaemusic Facebook: JAE Tumblr: http://jordanjaemusic.tumblr.com Website: http://www.jordanjae.com

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