Issue 2 by Symphonatic Magazine

symphonymagazine.net

founder/ editor in chief/ photographer & designer SHANA MYERS

co-designer & photographer BRANDYNN LEIGH

symphonymagazine.net

PHOTOGRAPHERS

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

WRITERS

branda cavanna, candace carter, caitlyn tanner, josie adnit, lu lu green, maisie king, mike martin, mila hrisimova, naomi lugo, sarah kempster, scarlett grant, victoria george

symphonaticmagazine@gmail.com

twitter.com/symphonaticmag facebook.com/symphonaticmagazine instagram.com/symphonaticmagazine symphonaticmag.tumblr.com

symphonymagazine.net

september2014 2013 4

symphonymagazine.net

Album Reviews 7 we came as romans 7 avenged sevenfold 8 arctic monkeys

Show Reviews 10 anberlin 16 hot chelle rae 20 carly rae jepsen 22 gavin degraw 22 warped tour

Interviews 20 the glass cavalry 22 jordan benker 24 radio drive by 26 rookie of the year 28 keep it cute

on the cover 18

letlive

symphonymagazine.net

ALBUM REVIEWS

symphonymagazine.net

artist: we came as romans album: tracing back roots release date: july 23, 2013 We Came As Romans’ third studio release; Tracing Back Roots, provides a complete smorgasbord of musical variety. The techno-glitch like influences as seen in Fade Away and Present, Future, And Past and most significantly seen in A Moment, provide one of the branches on the musical tree which is accompanied by the interesting use of a violin in the song Tell Me Now. The varieties of music used in this album show the expansion of a band seeing to aspire to new astronomical heights within the scene. But We Came As Romans are smart enough to know not to alienate their older audience. As for example in the song Ghosts, it features an intense hardcore feel to it which will surely satisfy the palette of even the most critical ‘original’ fans. However the blending of melodic metalcore woven into the bands fabric will allow for the band to obviously expand their fan base into more mainstream acceptability as shown by the songs Never Let Me Go and Hope. However in these songs there is still the thundering presence of the bands early music fighting back, but then it blends and combines with the newer lighter sounds of the album to project an image and an aura of old and new, black and white. Thirdly, a defining feature on this studio release is the message of hope. In the last track, Through the Darkest Dark and the Brightest Bright there is a repetition of the lyrics ‘This is our song to remember’; these lyrics are also infused by a gang vocal, which completely solidifies the inspirational and uplifting message of the song. Which I am pretty sure the fans of We Came As Romans adore. In conclusion, despite having differences between songs and even within songs, on this album they seem to come together in a way which can only be described as a labour of love. We Came As Romans have tried appealing to older and newer fans, and un-usually this time it is successful. review by: scarlett grant

artist: avenged sevenfold album: hail to the king release date: august 23, 2013 After the release of ‘Carry On’ for the soundtrack to the new Black Ops || game, Avenged Sevenfold went back to the studio accompanied with their new drummer Arin Illejay to record their newest album Hail to the King. The album re awakens the sounds Avenged Sevenfold fans will link back to their second album Waking the Fallen. Guitarist Zacky Vengeance comments, “we styled everything back and went to the core of heavy metal” for the new album and it certainly does have heavier elements of metal than previous releases. The strong sounding tracks evoke a new feeling that both new and old fans can enjoy, the underlying tune in Shepard of Fire the first track indicates the genius sounds in store. The second track Hail To The King, is a solid song and a mix of classic rock and new metal. For all intents and purposes, the album is easier to digest without jumping at every riff, hook, or progression that bears the faintest resemblance to a 90’s Rock/Heavy Metal anthem. The rest of the album continues and proves again the strong solidity of their songs and the newfound maturity in them. However despite their songs being current and more metal, I can’t help but feel their sounds are slightly copies of other great classics so until they conjure up more originality the strength of their album doesn’t seem to cut it. Despite that I think this album is defiantly worth hearing as it really defines them as a band, they’ve proved they’re good enough to top the charts in 2013. In conclusion, despite having differences between songs and even within songs, on this album they seem to come together in a way which can only be described as a labour of love. We Came As Romans have tried appealing to older and newer fans, and un-usually this time it is successful. review by: maisie king

symphonymagazine.net

artist: arctic monkeys album: am release date: september 9, 2013 British indie-rockers Arctic Monkeys have long been a personal favourite of mine. Falling in love with Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not and not losing interest in them since, their latest release AM had a lot to live up to. It starts off slow and moody and it’s highly addictive. “Do I Wanna Know?”, the first track, is reminiscent of their 2009 release Humbug, similar in style to “Crying Lightning”, full to the brim with Turner’s signature obscure lyrics and deep bass riffs. The next track “R U Mine?” picks up the pace and it’s already an album of instant classics, much like “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” was. Arctic Monkey’s have always drawn influence from classic punk acts like The Clash to an extent, and it’s particularly evident in the guitar lines and vocals - there’s even authentic poor quality recording to mix up the texture of the song. “Arabella” is similar in style, much more old-school indie rock than modern day indie, making it much more engaging because it sounds less produced and way more DIY. “One For The Road” doesn’t quite grab your attention in the same way the first two do, but if you take the time and concentration to listen to it, musically it’s very well written and lyrically it’s almost poetic. It’s probably very well suited to long train journeys in the rain. “No.1 Party Anthem” fits this description to, although it could also be played as a slow dance track by an in-house band at a 70’s school dance and I don’t think anyone would so much as bat an eyelid. “Mad Sounds” is much the same. “I Want It All” makes me want to get up and dance instead of staring broodingly into the distance. It’s still got that melancholic edge to it which makes it a suitable middle ground for non-dancers and dancers but it’s faster paced and restrained use of the synthesiser is highly effective, reinforcing the fact that less is always more when it comes to popular music. It also demonstrates a clear experimentation in styles. “Fireside” demonstrates their use of 70’s/80’s sounds with modern elements woven in - largely through Turner’s voice and more current guitar parts. It’s the backing vocals and drumming that give it such a 70’s feel. “Snap Out Of It” carries on this theme just a little faster paced and packing more attitude. Despite the fact the rest of the album has been wonderful, the definitive hit is certainly “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?”. Slow paced but thick with heavy deep drum beats and ringing high notes, it’s catchy and it practically pulls you in. By the end of the song it’s impossible not to be moving - from foot tapping to twirling around the room. It’s a shame when it ends - definitely the highlight of the entire record. The penultimate track, “Knee Socks” is a little drab compared to the rest of the album and it’s a shame it feels like an ‘album filler’. It’s not bad as such, just not as well written as the rest and in amongst an album as good as this, that’s very noticeable. Finally, “I Wanna Be Yours” is sadly a slow end. I was hoping to go out on a bit of a high, but it’s toned down and feels like it would have been at home more in the middle of the album as it’s an undeniably good, well written song but it’s placement lets it down slightly. Overall, AM is easily one of the best albums released this year - destined to be sung by many a crowd and played on repeat even more, I’d go as far as to say it’s an instant classic and it’s good to hear Arctic Monkeys returning to their rock roots, even if it is a little toned down sometimes. 8/10. For fans of: The Libertines, The Strokes, Editors, The Fratellis review by: josie adnitt

symphonymagazine.net

upcoming releases

symphonymagazine.net

ANBERLIN I’ve never been much of an acoustic tour kind of person. I personally love acoustic songs, but i’ve always felt like the shows are dull and boring and has a lack of movement. Though it’s nice to sit there and listen to the stripped down songs and focus on nothing but the artists voice, if a show isn’t interesting then it just isn’t any fun. I feel like the artists don’t Really get into the songs so they just stand still. I feel like if you’re going to do an acoustic tour, , you should at least make it a Little interesting somehow. Be creative and just have fun. Not many artists (that i’ve seen) will do that with an acoustic tour. When i went to this show, that’s what i was expecting out of it. I expected to leave this show wondering why i even bothered going in the first place. It was nice to see that for once, a band proved me wrong. Though they still didn’t move around a lot (it was a small stage so i can’t say i really blame them. There was barely enough to room to move) anberlin still managed to make the show Interesting. They talked to the crowd quite often and even gave a fan the microphone to sing a little bit of the song they were on. The band was so impressed with her that they brought her onstage to finish off the song. They joked on occasion, getting the crowd to laugh. Most importantly, every single one of their fans in that room seemed to be having the best time of their life. That right there is what matters the most. photos & review by: shana myers

symphonymagazine.net

Choosing Hot Chelle Rae as an opening act was possibly the best decision Carly could have made. With their undeniable catchy and fun pop songs along with Ryan’s amazing vocals, this band is going to go pretty far in their career. When you can sit there and watch a band on stage and see that they’re enjoying every minute of their time on that stage, you can’t help but have a good time yourself. The band played songs from their album ‘whatever’ along with some newer songs that will be available on their newest album that is set to be released sometime next year. Judging from the new songs they played at this show, this album is going to prove to the world that they’re putting their heart and soul into making this album. When the band played their most popular hit, ‘tonight, tonight’, the crowd went Insane. Screaming at the top of their lungs and singing along to every word, you could tell that the crowd was really enjoying the band. They were not afraid to dance, either. I loved when the band added in the fresh prince of belair rap. The kids were completely confused and had no idea what ryan was singing, which was quite entertaining to see. In my personal opinion, the most impressive moment is when an artist will bring someone up on stage and sing to them. Watching them as the smile spreads across their face or a tear drops down their cheek, has to be the most rewarding part about being an artist. Making someone that happy over something so small would be heart warming. When ryan chose a girl from the crowd, he asked her what her name was and handed her something. I’m assuming it was a guitar pick, but i’m not exactly sure. As she started to walk away, he asked her if she wanted to come on stage. I can’t recall ever seeing an artist actually help a person onto the stage rather than making them go all the way around to the back, so i was a little shocked when ryan helped her up on the stage by grabbing her hands and pulling her up. All in all, witht this being the second time i’ve seen hot chelle rae live, i would still love to go see them again. Their infectious energy and pure happiness is contagious. You can’t help but leave one of their shows with a smile. photos & review by: shana myers

symphonymagazine.net

As the fans impatiently waited for carly to come on stage, they began chanting her name in hopes that it would get her out faster. Their excitement grew stronger and stronger as it continued to get closer to the moment they’ve been waiting for, for months. It was mostly little girls, which i wasn’t really expecting. I expected to see teenagers and an occasional child here and there considering the fact that her song ‘call me maybe’ was a favorite amongst people of every age group. Once carly took the stage, her fans lit up with excitement. Their role Model was right there in front of them for what may have been the first time. They danced a sang along with her, putting a huge smile on her face the entire time. When you hear an artist on the radio, you often wonder if that’s mostly auto-tune or if they can actually sing. You can never really tell until you see them live and you might find yourself a little worried that you’ll leave the show and not like the artist half as much as you did when you got there. While some people assume the worst and don’t even bother giving the artist a chance, there are always people like me who would rather get an

symphonymagazine.net

accurate opinion first. If they can’t sing live then it always ends up being a disappointment. You feel like your cd’s are a lie and you wasted your money. That’s not the case with carly. Knowing she was on canadian idol, i assumed she could sing live. I had seen her once before and thought she did a wonderful job. I expected her to be just as good as she was when i first seen her. What i wasn’t expecting was for her to be better, but somehow she managed to surprise me. I personally feel like her music doesn’t show half of her talent, which is quite a shame. Her stage presence was amazing. I loved when she brought four little kids up on stage to dance for her. You could see it on their faces that they were having the time of their life. This show will go down in history for these four children and will be a night they will never forget. photos & review by: shana myers

symphonymagazine.net

GAVIN DEGRAW photos & review by: shana myers

symphonymagazine.net

Gavin degraw is one of those artists that you can’t forget about. His older songs, such as ‘chariot’ and ‘don’t wanna be’, were played on the radio so much that you had no choice but to remember the lyrics. His song ‘don’t wanna be’ was the theme song for the popular tv show, ‘one tree hill’, which helped his career tremendously, i assume. I’ve been a fan of gavin for a while now but really never got the chance to see him until earlier this year when he performed a live show for the indy 500. I knew he was an excellent performer and was excited to get the opportunity to see him open up for the script and train. Unfortunately, the security held me back so much due to my camera, that they caused me to miss the first two songs of his set. As unhappy about that as i was, i was happy just to be there. One thing i’ve noticed about gavin is That he loves to play the piano. He’s good at it, too. He gets so into playing the music that he seems to forget where he’s at for a moment. Like he’s in his own world, playing music to some of the most important people in his. Doesn’t matter if he knows them personally, his fans mean a lot to him. You can see it in his face and the way he looks out at the crowd. Watching him and seeing how happy he is on stage is inspiring. You can feel his enjoyment, you can feel how happy he is. That’s

something i have never experienced before. Another thing that i’ve noticed is he Appreciates every moment he has on stage while it lasts. Alomst like he’s trying savior each moment, knowing that one day it’ll all be gone. Whether it be 50 years from now, or 2 years from now. Too many artists take it all for granted, so i really respect that in him. Playing songs such as ‘chariot’ and ‘don’t wanna be’ got the crowd going. They sang and cheered, some sitting there realizing they know the songs and didn’t know who sang them. Honestly, i don’t think there was a moment where he stood still for any longer than five seconds. I truly believe he’s exactly where he’s meant to be. He has a natural talent that a lot of artists lack these days.

symphonymagazine.net

WARPED TOUR

photos & review by: shana myers

The thing I love the most about music festivals like Warped Tour is that it gives newer artists a chance to make a name for themselves. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never gone and need new artists to listen to, this is the place to go. It covers a variety of different genres that will make most music lovers happy. The tour stops at several different states once a year,, giving nearly everyone the opportunity to see the show.

symphonymagazine.net

INTERVIEWS

the glass cavalry Band name, location, members names? The Glass Cavalry. St. Louis, MO. Grant Barnum: guitar & vocals, Katie Lindhorst: synth & vocals, Shannon Durington: bass, Lyndsey Rawley: drums When did TGC officially begin? TGC started in September 2011 when Grant and Shannon started playing together. Katie joined a couple weeks later. Lyndsey joined about 6 months ago.

list a few: muse, third eye blind, ludo, metric, led zeppelin, jack’s mannequin, m83, queens of the stone age, pink floyd, modest mouse, phantogram, motion city soundtrack, everclear, coheed and cambria, walk the moon.

What has been your favorite venue to play in and why? Every venue has gained some sort of epic taill, but without a doubt gymzzouri in jefferson city, mo. We played a halloween party, dressed as power i’ve head the story of you all met a number of times, rangers, to a group of 7 year old gymnasts. We but i would love to hear it again. then ended our night jumping triumphantly on Katie and Shannon met through craigslist in massive trampolines. Dream come true. columbia looking for musicians. They were in a band together before tgc. Katie knew grant through one What has been your best memory with tgc thus of her coworkers in a coffee shop. And grant met far? lyndsey while posting flyers looking for a drummer Our cd release instantly pops to mind. First off, it at her work. was a plush saint louis which is a gorgeous venue with incredible sound. We had the honor of sharing What is one thing that separates your band from the stage with our good friends logos. On top of the rest of the St. Louis music scene? the high you get from releasing your first album We like to blend a sense of intensity with an ever, with great friends, family, in a beautiful space obscene amount of fun. We strive to not only cross there was an art exhibit and fire dancing! How many genres, but feelings, moods, and mindsets. bands can say they had fire dancing at their debut release?! It’s a night none of us will ever forget. What was the inspiration behind your recent LP? Each track has it’s own unique inspiration, but as What is the greatest accomplishment of tgc to whole burn and void was born out of thirst to prove happen since forming the band? we were driven and creative enough to compile a Burn and void being completed and released made group of sounds, ideas, words, and songs that we us smile ear to ear, but new music. The ability felt we could share with the world. to finally start writing new tunes, with our new drummer, in a whole new light, fresh ideas, nothing If you could tour with any band right here, right now setting us back. Working on something totally who would it be and why? unexpected is a giant step for all of us. While there are so many bands we look up to, metric. Without a hiccup of thought. They share Where do you hope to see your band in the next 1-3 an energy we attempt to exert in every thing years? we write. Each album they put out has it’s own Traveling a national circuit with more music to share, flavor, and none is a bad one. Not to mention the finding new experiences everyday, while holding on obvious similar instrumentation. Traveling alongside tight to every new friend we’ve made along the way. metric we could see so many incredible things, photos by: kylee gregg and take away so much knowledge from their vast experience. What artists do you look to as inspiration for your music making process? This list could be never ending coming from us, but we’ll try and narrow it down to a small novella. To

symphonymagazine.net

jordan benker interview by: shana myers

symphonymagazine.net

First, can you introduce yourself to those who don’t know who you are? Hi! I’m Jordan Benker and I’m a solo artist from Chicago, IL. I make pop songs that make people happy. You just recently released a new ep that sounds like never shout never’s older music. Are you planning on staying with this style of music or was this just for fun? The style of this past EP was different than some of my older stuff yes, but I would just say it’s the way my music is progressing and evolving. I never try to aim for a certain sound or genre, I just let what comes naturally come natural. Who inspired you to be a musician? I’ve been surrounded by music my whole life…so the love for it has always been there. As far as becoming a musician, The Beatles were definitely my main influence. John Lennon specifically sculpted me into the musician I am today. Also I don’t think I would have picked up a guitar had I not been inspired by Eddie Van Halen’s sensational guitar playing. What’s the last song you listened to? The last song I listened to was “If It Means a Lot to You” by A Day to Remember Who would you like to tour with? I would love to tour with The Ready Set. I think our sounds would work really well together on a live bill. The Maine would also be an awesome band to tour with. Favorite song you’ve ever written and why? I’d say my favorite song I’ve ever written would be Polaroid. I put a lot of time and effort into that song, and I couldn’t be happier with its outcome. What is your favorite childhood memory? My favorite childhood memory isn’t necessarily specific, but as a kid, my family and I would all get together at Christmas or family gatherings and play games and everyone would just be really happy and have a great time. Out of the dreams you remember, which one terrified you the most?

I don’t really have nightmares, if I do can’t remember any… but one dream I’ll never forget is somehow I got an enormous tattoo sleeve of Tony the Tiger across my entire arm and I was kicking myself for getting it. Pretty ridiculous, I know, but I couldn’t be more thankful it was a dream. Best advice anyone has ever given you? Best advice I’ve been given is to stay positive. The more good energy you put out into the universe, the more you’ll receive. What are three things you like to do that your fans may not know? I love Frisbee golf and ultimate Frisbee, I like to break dance and I like to cook even though I’m a very picky eater. What is your favorite and least favorite thing about living in chicago? Chicago is an awesome city; I love it because there’s always something to do. I’ll admit though, being a musician in Chicago is not as great as you’d think. There’s an overwhelming amount of bands and it’s very easy to get lost amongst the masses. Also, the EDM movement is the only “musical” part of Chicago that’s actually booming, so if you’re not a DJ or an electronic producer, you’re kind of left hanging. What are some of your favorite things to eat? My favorite food is sandwiches. I can eat them everyday for every meal. Also it’s very difficult for me to turn down pizza. What is 5 things your fans may not know about you? I’ve never eaten sushi before, my parents have been divorced my whole life, I went to Berklee College of Music for 2 years, I play all the instruments in all of my songs, and I can hold my breath for over 2 minutes. What is something you hop to accomplish in the next 10 years? I’d love to get signed by a solid label and continue to tour and make records that everyone loves. Anything you’d like to tell your fans? I couldn’t be more grateful for everyone’s support; while some bands take their fans for granted, mine truly mean the world to me.

symphonymagazine.net

interview by: shana myers

Radio Drive By is a pop - rock quintet from Tempe, AZ that formed in 2010. Named “Arizona’s Pop Princes” by Alternative Press Magazine, RadioDriveBy has built a worldwide fan-base through a dedicated online presence, grassroots marketing, and frequent touring. RadioDriveBy creates their own special blend of stuck-in-your-head melodies and clever lyricism, with a dash of rock n’ roll. Known for their energetic and interactive live performances, RadioDriveBy has shared the stage with artists such as Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Secondhand Serenade, Forever The Sickest Kids, Every Avenue, Hoobastank, This Century, Anarbor and many more. Since 2012 RadioDriveBy has seen radio placements in not only the U.S., but also the Philippines and Brazil. In March of 2013, RadioDriveBy released a free sampler of three songs entitled, “MMXIII” or 2013. Currently, RadioDriveBy is seeing tremendous response from their new single “Go All Night.” In addition to performing at the Vans Warped Tour in Phoenix this year, the band will be touring the U.S. more and performing in the Philippines in August with All Time Low, Anberlin, and A Rocket to the Moon among others. RadioDriveBy will

also be releasing a new album later this year. We had the opportunity to sit down and ask them some questions. First, can you introduce yourselves and list what you do in the band? Hi, I’m Austin Gavin & I beat drums in RadioDriveBy. I’m Evan and I play bass! My name is David and I play guitar. A lot can happen in a year. Where do you hope to be in your career, this time next year? Evan: Extensive touring. There’s nothing more that I would want than to continue to go out on the road and play music for people. What is one band you would love to get the chance to tour with? Austin: I would love to tour with a band like All Time Low or some veterans like Jimmy Eat World. Truly anyone that we

RADIO DRIVE B 24

symphonymagazine.net

can learn a lot from and have a good time with. David: I would love to tour with Paramore! Their shows are so full of energy, it’d be amazing to play beside them night after night. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Evan: Australia. It seems like such a peaceful place and the culture there is so interesting. Definitely a place that fits for me.

ating high school. I realized i had to give myself this opportunity to do what i really loved. There’s still goals that i want to achieve but i can’t complain about where we are and the fans we have. What is your favorite animal? Evan: Giraffe! I would love to be able to grab leaves from a tree!

What is the worst experience you had when you were in school? David: once i had to write about a current If you could stop one thing from being invent- event in my social studies class and i wrote ed, what would it be and why? about my opinion on who would win an elecDavid: I would stop smart phones from being tion in ohio, talking about it as if the election invented. I’m sure everybody would find an- hadn’t taken place yet. Little did i know the other distraction in their place, though. election was finished and all my predictions were dead wrong. It was pretty embarrassWhat is something you think should be ining. vented? Evan: Probably any time i had to present a Evan: Hoverboards. Like the ones in “Back to speech. It was something i hated doing and the Future: Part II”. I’d probably be the first dreaded anytime i had to do it. That and person to get my hands on one of those but being sick and having to go to school at the who knows when we’ll see the day! same time. What is the biggest thing that has happened for your band? David: We’ve got to experience a lot of cool stuff as a band but getting to go over to the Philippines in August is probably the coolest thing we get to do yet.

What is something that your fans don’t know about you? Evan: Three years ago i went snowboarding and broke my collarbone on the first run within the first fifteen minutes. Two weeks later, i played a show with still, a broken collarbone. And it hurt. It was one of the more There are a lot of bands out there who are punk-rock moments of my life. hoping to make it even half as far as you David: i’m a pretty shy guy! A lot of people guys have. When someone is asked what assume that since you play in a band that advice they would give to aspiring musicians, you are really outgoing but i’m actually kind it’s usually the same answer every time. Is of the opposite! there any advice you could give them, that might help them? Something you wish you An artist fans would be surprised to find out would’ve known before you started the you like? band? Austin: Play music and play shows and have Austin: I love disneyland. Evan: top 40. It really is a guilty pleasure of fun with it, please! Oh and drummers, play and practice to a click. My mentor has taught mine. me that and I have noticed an outstanding result and change in my playing. The click and What is your top five must haves while on tour? yourself need to be in sync. Drummers are Austin: My camera phone, pen, notebook, the backbone of the set and band. wallet and music. David: The only advice I can give is be preEvan: socks, shorts, sunflower seeds, sunpared for hardship. There are times when glasses, and like fifty pillows. things can get tough and get you discouraged but getting through those times will define your success.

What is your favorite movie? David: im really in to crime/dramas. My favorite movie is either ‘the departed’ or ‘the town’.

What is your favorite song to perform? Can either be an original or a cover. David: I really enjoy playing our new single What is your favorite movie that’s recently ‘Go All Night’! It’s an easy song to get the crowd in to which makes playing all the more been released? (Theater and/or dvd) Evan: “this is the end” was a really funny enjoyable. movie and probably one of the most craziest movies i’ve seen in a while. I also recently How old were you when you realized you watched “lawless” again. I forgot how much i wanted to become a musician? Is it everyenjoyed that movie. thing you had hoped it would be? Evan: I was like 17 and i had just been gradu-

symphonymagazine.net

rookie of the year 26

symphonymagazine.net

“The Goodnight Moon Part II” was released on August 13th, how both records. does it feel to finally have it finished and released? Thankful I completed it. Took a few years.. haha I think it will How was the writing and recording process with this coming easily be the best Rookie record. album? Well some of it was written on the road while doing solo rookie In your single “Love/Me/Crazy” there’s a line “the lessons I shows. but most was written the week before going into the could’ve learned”, are there any good lessons that you’ve studio and completing the ideas while at the studio. learned in your time making music? Major Labels suck. Writing with people for your own record Your breakout album, “The Goodnight Moon” is on vinyl now, doesn’t work unless it’s your producer. It should be your how does that feel in comparison to selling CDs or digital creation. copies? I love vinyl! I just bought Acceptance and 1975 today on Vinyl! Are there any moments that stand out as a favourite in your I was very Thankful to see them sell so many copies of The time spent touring? Goodnight Moon! I think the 2009 tour with Secondhand Serenade, White Tie Affair and Meg and Dia was my favorite Is there any specific song that you like to preform the most at tour. every show was soldout and we killed it every night. But this moment? a close second would be the European Tour we did in January Raleigh of the new record.. I’ve only done it maybe 10 times.. but with Mae. it has gone over very very well!. What are some of your favourite albums, songs, and bands you’ve been listening to over the summer? More Amor, 1975, Jimmy Eat World, Robyn and Goo Goo Dolls all had new records so I would definitely checked them out. Are you getting anxious to start touring with the release? Yes! very! I haven’t done a full band tour in years. We will be doing a THE GOODNIGHT MOON tour and playing just songs off

Is there anyone you’d like to perform with in the coming future? 1975. Best live band in years

interview by: brandynn leigh

symphonymagazine.net

First, can you introduce yourselves and tell us what your part in the band is? Ryan - Vocals, Matt - Guitar, Kevin - Drums, Aldo - Bass What do you think about your opportunity to tour with We the Kings? This is one of the greatest opportunities of our careers, so far and one of the most fun. This is our very first major tour, and we are looking to make the most out of it and have the most fun. What do you think about how far you’ve gotten so far? We are so blessed to be where we are as a band right now at such a young age. We couldn’t do this without the love and support of our family, friends and fans.

What does your music reflect about you? I think that our music reflects the fun part in living life. What are your plans after your tour with We the Kings? After our tour with we the kings, we plan to hit the road again with a fall tour, more details coming soon. How long have you been a band? Keep It Cute has been a band for about a year and a half now. Best advise to give to a fan? Always pursue your dreams, and never, ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. First song ever written together? The first song we wrote as a band was “Action”

Where is your hometown and do people back at home support you? Your favorite artists/bands who inspire you the most? We are all from San Antonio, Texas and we receive SO much There are way to many artists or bands to answer that quessupport from home, it’s amazing tion haha. We listen to anything from Justin Bieber and One Direction to Kiss and Mötley Crüe What gave you the idea to form Keep It Cute? Just the dream of being in a rock n’ roll/ pop band. What embarrassing songs might we find on your iPod? Party In The USA by Miley Cyrus Who inspired you to become a band? We were all Inspired by our various musical influences, but the majority of our inspiration comes from our fans. Who would you love to tour with? We would absolutely love to tour with Justin Bieber, One DiWhere do you get the ideas to write your music? rection, Hot Chelle Rae, Karmin, Parachute, there are so many! We get the ideas for our music from all over the place. We are Inspired by experiences in life, friends, girls, and being on the Any hidden talents? road. Aldo has a hidden talent of exotic dancing.

interview by: becky clark photos by: jaclyn david-martinez

symphonymagazine.net

GALLERY

HOT CHELLE RAE

symphonymagazine.net photo by: shana myers

E symphonymagazine.net

photos by: shana myers

symphonymagazine.net