Issue 3 by Symphonatic Magazine

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founder/ editor in chief/ photographer & designer SHANA MYERS

co-designer & photographer BRANDYNN LEIGH

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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

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OCTOBER2014 2013

Album Reviews 7 miley cyrus 7 kings of leon 7 krewella 8 cassadee pope 8 a day to remember 9 echosmith 10 mayday parade 10 ryan beatty 11 panic! at the disco

Show Reviews 12 the dillinger escape plan 14 maybeshewill 16 the house party tour 18 you me at six

Interviews 20 the mowgliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 24 young london 26 real friends 28 risei 32 we are forever

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on the cover 32

WE ARE FOREVER

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ALBUM REVIEWS

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artist: miley cyrus album: bangerz release date: october 4, 2013

Miley cyrus is a women who has mastered the art of self promotion, from the pictures annie leibovitz shot of her for vanity fair all the way back in 2008, to her most recent escapade featuring robin thicke at the 2013 vmas. Sadly, miss cyrus’ recent publicity stunts will be only one of the reasons for the sales of her most recent output, bangerz. Despite being described by cyrus herself as ‘dirty south hip hop’, one would expect a musical element similar, or at least showing influences of the likes of ludacris, chamillionaire or even outkast. Instead there is a bland pop overtone with slight elements of electronica, basic hip hop backing beats and even some parts of songs harkening back to cyrus’ country roots. Although the fast paced tempos of songs such as ‘someone else’ and ‘hands in the air’ have the possibility to become nightclub favourites. The success of the album will have to rely the star power on the album as the list of names includes; britney spears, nelly, future, big sean and french montana as well as the popularity of the two radio friendly singles ‘we can’t stop’ and ‘wrecking ball’ for any considerable chart success. Although this pursuit away from familiar pastures should always be applauded, and it is. But sadly this time miley cyrus has missed the mark in creating a memorable or even true hip hop album. review by: scarlett grant artist: kings of leon album: mechanical bull release date: september 20, 2013

Kings of leon are a band that have been active for almost 15 years Now. So how does a band stay that fresh and interesting for so long?

Usually caleb followill’s vocals can grate afterwhile, but on the opening track ‘supersoaker’ he seems to have much of the shrill, brittle tone of his voice and settled for some thing more soothing, providing a great track that seems perfect for that crosscountry roadtrip. Third song ‘don’t matter’ provides something a bit edgier and similar to kings of leon’s previous repertoire. With a melting guitar solo spliced in the middle, it’s a must for those guitar freaks reading this. Afterwards comes the gentle ‘beautiful minds’, which sounds perfect for a slow dance with a loved one with it’s slow guitars and soft vocals with still have that distinctive followill twang to them. ‘Wait for me’ provides a feeling of relaxation equivalent to the closing music in a film, throughout the song the guitars used infuses a slight tone of psychedelia, which instead of causing the listener to trip out, mellows them out. Although mechanical bull may not exploring new territory, it is pleasing to the ear and no doubt would be pleasing to the fans. I mean if a formula works, why should you change it? review by: scarlett grant artist: krewella album: get wet release date: september 20, 2013

Ever since the release and subsequent success of their EP and the track Alive, the music world has been anxiously waiting for Krewella’s first full-length album. And needless to say, Get Wet does not disappoint! Jahan and Yasmine’s vocals are a testament to the genre, with strong performances from both sisters and simple, yet powerful lyrics. Krewella’s quirky and distinctive mix of drum and bass, electro and dubstep makes this an album more than worthy of dancing to.With the appearance of some of their older tracks, such as Come & Get It and Killin’ It, this album mixes the old with the new to create a dual experience for existing fans, but it’s also an exciting initiation for new fans. The album also features some new gems, particularly Dancing with the Devil featuring Blink-182’s drummer Travis Barker and Fall Out Boy’s very own Patrick Stump, which is a treat for all of you pop-punk/alternative rock fans out there! The song features some very Fall Out Boy-esque lyrics that you’re guaranteed to be singing for the rest of the day. Despite the fact that some critics have cast the album off as “generic pop”, the album does its job as an electro-dance record, and is definitely one of those compilations that can be listened to in the gym, on long journeys or when in need of an escape. review by: mila hrisimava

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artist: cassadee pope album: frame by frame release date: october 8, 2013

Intro – sets the tone nicely with sincere preparation for the songs that are to follow. The band is by no means subtle, and the music sure does set ablaze recent hard rock and metal artists. ‘Devil’s Advocate’ sets up the sound that the band brings during the EP. A classic take on the metal music scene; how we lose ourselves in it but for a place to ‘fit in’. The tone is strong with an electric guitar breakdown that could arguably challenge Slash. My word, watch out for Sean Rodewald, there’s some serious shredding going on. Alongside the pure old rock vocals of front man Matthew Vehemety the band will have your attention from here on out. ‘Straight No Chaser’ allows for the drumming skills to be shown off beautifully, carrying a strong beat throughout, interchanging from crashing cymbals and up-tempo rhythms. There’s a lot more metal vibe to be brought out here with the backing shouts, knowing this would be an exciting one to see live. ‘Holy Wars’ is an interesting creation. Cleverly starting off with a slow intro allowing for intensity to build, then smashing it with aggression and a well thought out composition. Finally we have ‘Waltzing in Hell’ very A7X-esk! Which has a very catchy rhythm, securing a perfect combination of Rock and Metal, pleasing a variety of fans I’m sure. Then the band has been wonderfully kind as to release a bonus track, ‘Innocence, In a Sense’. Ending with a bang the band have got our stamp of approval for creating a unique development for the hard Rock market. Never faulting in their musical skills, providing a tight sound overall. review by: branda cavanna artist: a day to remember album: common courtesy release date: november 25, 2013

After the contraversy with victory records (the bands former Label) the boys have finally got the chance to digitally self-release their fifth album “common courtesy”. Alone, the album stands as a great defiance against the media and those who have mistreated them. Due to recent events with the lawsuit, it can easily increase the meanings behind some of the songs. For instance ‘the document speaks for itself’ originally featured a voicemail from tony brummel directly warning drew of being sued. After listening to the record myself, and having followed adtr from the start, i think it’s fair to say; eat your words, brummel. With this album, there’s no way they are going anywhere. ‘City of ocala’ fuck yeah, indeed. The best intrduction the band could started with, stating their origins with a stronger presence. Featuring a breakdown that lulls you into the ‘la la’ lullaby that is jeremy’s vocals, they stamp their mark of who they are. Swinging us with the electric string into ‘right back at it again’ that tells of the bands journey. But also a significant message of what their hopes our for the future of the band ‘so here i am, I’m right back at it again. Just like i’ve always said, you’re just too cool for school. I ain’t here to make no friends.’ The album is hoped to succeed and tell their tales, last tales if they have to. But they aren’t trying to force anyone to accept the band, but they are here to do what they always have done. Making music how they feel they want to, and i’m pretty positive the fans will still back them. Assurance and anger also reinforced with the ending growl. ‘Sometimes you’re the hammer, sometimes you’re the nail’ is a beautiful piece of music that you fully appreciate for a screw you instead approach (so-to-speak). Growls and true grit the whole way through, with an honest confession of the up’s and down’s life can bring. With a sincere emotion-filled cymbal breakdown, jeremy’s saddening but strong demand to Stand up for himself. ‘Cast your stones, cast your judgment, you don’t make me who i am’. Angst continues with ‘dead and buried’ which is quite obviously a personal song for whatever the future may hold. But there is also a clever accompaniment of anger and fear; the repetition of the harmonic ‘dead and buried’ reinforces the thought that ‘it’ll pass you by. You have a choice, be your own person, have your own voice.’ ‘Best of me’ returns to the pop punk feel, with straight-to-the-point lyrics. There is a build up Continuously throughout with the crashing bridge, blasted out in the end. Cleverly followed by ‘i’m already gone’ the tone is slowed down vastly with some mellow acoustics. A goodbye to past regrets, that time cannot be wasted on anymore; something everyone can relate to. A peaceful echo of heart aches, that balances the albums sound out incredibly well. ‘Violence (enough is enough)’ works as a commentary for those that need to let loose on the world for every time they have felt insignificant. The intro and breakdown go hand-in-hand to create a phenomenal heavy rock explosion, similar to the early works of the band. Truly spectacular to maintain their place with metal fans i’m sure. ‘Life @ 11’ is catchy and an honest expression of what we fight alone. The cut out of voices and the breakdown from stop grab hold of the listener, to realize they don’t have to feel succumb to their anxieties. Once more, we must have admiration to jeremy for writing such honesty for the fans. ‘I surrender’ gives another acoustic track, with mckinnon’s quirky vocals, presenting arguably first love song for the record. 8 symphonymagazine.net ‘Life lessons learned the hard way’ is clearly a severe personal attack, and whoever you are you’ve earned my disgust too.

‘End of me’ is another stripped back track, with a beautiful harmonic melody. The entry of Percussion harnesses the pain, and the interchange between sounds mirrors the mist of emotions we encounter when in this situation. When you are drained from all you feel you have, and there is an emptiness you are not sure what to do with. ‘The document speaks for itself’ as previously stated, is a direct statement towards tony, but still not too direct to not be appreciated by listeners. But i prefer to hear it from the bands perspective, because they deserve their say. And this album proves how strong they are, and how far their talent and sound will carry them. Lastly, the record closes with ‘i remember’ which is a nostalgic, reminiscent track. With the most important message being ‘it’s in the hardest times we grow the most.’ Remember where you came from, and let yourself grow, but don’t forget what made you. The band has stated numerously how excited they were to release this album, and it’s obvious Why. They provide so much honesty, which is what should be truly admired by fans. We waited for this record, but time doesn’t matter when they are clearly offering their hearts on this album. Sensational creation, for it shows the growth of the band; their setting themselves away from the crowd lyrics, has now turned to not paying attention to the crowd. It’s about the strength of the band now, and they should be incredibly proud. Physical copy is yet to be released or have a set date, but mckinnon has stated that they will Release a special edition for fans, including three more songs to come. review by: sarah kempster artist: echosmith album: talking dreams release date: october 4, 2013

Echosmith’s new release, Talking Dreams, is the group’s first full-length studio album, but the sophisticated, cohesive sound makes them seem like old pros. Overall, the album has a happy, poppy style that is very much in demand right now, and the subject matter in each song is refreshingly encouraging to listeners rather than the usual sappy love songs and vulgar exploitative rants many popular artists put out these days. Lead singer Sydney Sierota sounds frighteningly and beautifully similar to Hayley Williams, beloved lead singer of Paramore, which will only help this group in the long run. Sierota’s voice shines in tracks like “Surround You,” when the instrumentation fades into the background and she sings breathily; it gives particular moments in each track an exhilarating quality that makes the listener’s experience all the more intense. The lightness of the guitar along with her weightless vocals make for easy listening and easy adoration of the entire album. Tracks such as “Let’s Love” and “Safest Place” further showcase Echosmith’s vocal talent with the addition of male and female harmonies that join Sierota’s melodic crooning to create an unexpected depth to the sound. In part, the music is driven by the unique vocals, but it relies in greater measure on the drums and broader rhythm. Both elements are perfectly timed to bang out every up beat with strength and clarity; the snare drum in particular is sharp and well utilized. The quick rhythm and contrast between the different types of drums in tracks like “Nothing’s Wrong” creates an optimistic record that will get your blood pumping and your heart excited for life. This certain style of drumming and the tingly, plasticky sounding guitar that shows up in tracks like “Talking Dreams” draws delicious connections between Echosmith and British indie-rock group Two Door Cinema Club. In nearly every song Talking Dreams offers there lies at least one subtle element that defines and completes each song’s respective atmosphere. “Let’s Love” features a jamming tambourine that layers nicely with the constant cymbal crashes and contributes to the tension that builds between every verse and the following chorus. Over half the songs feature underlying repetitions of “oh” or “oooh” that beautify the sometimes quick, overpowering instrumentation. “Come With Me” is particularly notable for its plucky string melody that sounds like a baby’s laughter: genuine, good-natured, and completely intrinsic. “Bright” is headed for fame; the clapping hands and uplifting topic of the comfort and beauty of love lend it a homey, enthralling, endearing tone that is characteristic of groups like The Lumineers. The variety of instrumental styles, sweet vocal sounds, and generally optimistic subject matter culminate in an inspiring and authentic album. The music is quintessentially feel-good; it’s great for encouragement, relaxation, and really any other situation you might be in. Echosmith is a band to follow; they are utilizing popular styles to well for them not to make it big eventually. Stand out tracks include “Cool Kids,” “Ran Off in the Night,” and “Tell Her You Love Her.” Talking Dreams is absolutely worth a good, hard listen. review by: candace carter

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artist: mayday parade album: monsters in the closet release date: october 8, 2013

Mayday Parade’s, ‘Monsters In The Closet,’ is not a giant step forward in terms of musical progress, but that’s not what’s important with the release of the bands’ fourth, full-length album. It’s reassuring fans that the band loves the music that they create so much, that they aren’t willing to stray too far from their musical home. Mayday Parade prove that there is nothing wrong with taking the safe road, absolutely nothing. Just like any other Mayday Parade album, ‘Monsters In The Closet’ has a variety of different songs that make up its wellbeing. After listening to the album opener, “Ghosts” and the following track “Girls,” one may be surprised by the guitar solo that sizzles and shines through the bridge of “Last Night For A Table Of Two.” “Even Robots Need Blankets” is an emotional ballad from the opening key of the piano. The song order of ‘Monsters’ help to make the listening experience a great one. “Angels” fits perfectly at the end of the album just like Mayday Parade’s name fits perfectly as a headlining act on the bill of the Van’s Warped Tour. Some people love for bands to experiment with their sound and go on new musical ventures. Some bands do a great job, but not every band can be Panic! At The Disco. Mayday Parade’s decision to keep writing music like this is a good one, because it will keep them featured in Alternative Press Magazine for years to come and touring with bands that have chosen the same musical path. ‘Monsters In The Closet’ is not an attempt to become more mainstream or an attempt to reel in different kinds of fans. It’s a production that will bring back the core fan base. By this time, Mayday Parade fans should be just as loyal to the band, as the band is to the fans. review by: mike martin artist: ryan beatty album: ryan beatty - ep release date: october 8, 2013 Ryan Beatty’s new, self-titled EP packs a good, solid punch into four feel-good songs. provides a positive overall message in each track; this, along with an eclectic collection instruments and styles, has created a hip record that is an easy jam for a Saturday afternoon barbeque. The variety of instruments Beatty sings to is almost shocking. The latter half of “Underdogs” features what seems to be a church bell for only a few measures; it mirrors the low-tone piano chords nicely. A ukulele makes for a perfect opening hook for the whole EP in “Love Will Come My Way,” and relaxes the melody throughout the rhythmdriven. In a great show of building intensity, the uke is replaced by a light electric guitar that flows really well and progresses the track’s sound. The piano featured in almost every track contributes a great deal of depth and resonance to the album, particularly in “Love Will Come My Way.” Beatty’s ability to incorporate and reinterpret a wide range of musical elements and compile them into such cohesive, rolling tracks is a true showcase of his talent as a musician. It’s difficult to characterize Beatty’s style in comparison to other artists. The general vibe and feel of this EP is upbeat and positive similar to the music from the popular Disney Channel original movie, High School Musical, which is in no way a negative comparison. The most interesting aspect of Beatty’s composition is the constant mix of a fast-paced rhythm that’s typical of pop music and his throaty male voice that’s similar to that of Jason Mraz and Michael Buble; he’s similar to Maroon 5 and Bruno Mars in this respect. Just like Mars and lead singer of Maroon 5 Adam Levine, there’s a quality of emotion in Beatty’s voice and in the particular vocal progressions he portrays that bring him close to the audience; his voice is highly personal and relatable. Other than a slightly disappointing, anticlimactic conclusion with “Chameleon,” Ryan Beatty is a fantastic first EP. Beatty’s knack for interesting combinations of styles and his sweetly lilting voice make him a definite stand-out artist. For fans of Jason Mraz, Bruno Mars, and Olly Murs: this is definitely an album to acquire for your collection. review by: candace carter He of

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artist: panic! at the disco album: too weird t live, too rare to die release date: october 4, 2013

Panic! At the Disco are back with their fourth album Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die, which is a mixture of the classic pop-oriented rock band they were at the time of their third album Vices & Virtues with mainstream dance beats. Panic!’s songs are somewhat dark and whimsical mixed with catchy uplifting melodies as seen in their previous albums, however Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die includes many faux pop punk sounds enhanced by techno and auto editing loosing the original rock band they were. The first song on the album ‘This Is Gospel’ is the first song effected by the electronic sounds featured on this album, the song doesn’t sound like the Panic!’s typical stuff but is never the less catchy. Instantly the album feels mainstream and completely opposite to the pop-styled rock band they started out as. The second song is the first single from the album, ‘Miss Jackson’ which was released in July 2013 alongside a music video. The song is one of the best on the album as it doesn’t stray too much from the classic Panic! sound and Brendon Urie puts his usual edge on it. Although the album disintegrates more and becomes very electronic based after here, ‘Vegas Lights’ has a strong dance beat to it and is annoyingly catchy, and the momentum of the melody hands you the urge to not dislike it. ‘Girl That You Love’ is too far fetched from their original rock sound that it makes you question if its still Panic! you’re listening to, unfortunately yes, ‘Girl That You Love’ doesn’t quite cut it for me. The next track ‘Nicotine’ starts off with Urie’s poetic vocals, but quickly descends into a dance beat ruining yet again the melodramatic band they once were and all but one of the remaining tracks continue with this feel too. ‘Collar Full’ is the last shot Panic! take as being true to their originality and rock sound, it sounds the least altered which is re assuring if you’d given up hope by this point in the album. It thankfully avoids sounding too electronic and edited and has a lot of the typical Panic! sound you would associate with their older albums. Unfortunately Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die has earned Panic! At The Disco another genre to file under alongside the many variations of they had before however it doesn’t seem to fit in with their previous albums which means Panic! yet again succeed in their aim to create more of a diverse sound in their music. Like the lyrics in one of their older songs from their album ‘A Fever You Cant Sweat Out’s song ‘The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage’ stating simply “Swear to shake it up if you swear to listen!” they really have done that and i believe they will continue on that streak. review by: maisie king

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SHOW REVIEWS Do we have to introduce The Dillinger Escape Plan anymore? Kings of mathcore, drowning in chaos back in 2007 with Ire Works, with Greg Puciato’s amazingly strong and powerful vocals, and Ben Weinman trying to reinvent meter, time signatures and giving the mathcore all the ‘maths’ in it. First show of the tour with their less brutal but still chaotic opus ‘One of us is the killer’... And the killer was obviously the Dillinger Escape Plan. But first off, the show started with Maybeshewill. Their calm math rock was a nice introduction before the inferno riffs of The Dillinger Escape Plan. The audience was concentrated on the instrumental rock, maybe far away, floating with the electronic sounds and night lights of Leceister, where the band was founded. The band played some of their most famous songs, but also less known ones such as ‘Opening Take To His Heart’, ‘Red Paper Lanterns’ or ‘Critical Distance’. And I cannot but mention the stage performance of the current bassist Jamie Ward, who made the show a lot more interesting by dancing and moving around. And we could not but forgive the drummer James Collins who apologized with a cute smile for missing one of the intro, since it was his first live show ever. The post rock band’s set ended with the powerful ‘Not For Want Of Trying’, and its speech from ‘Network’ screaming us ‘I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!’ Soon they left the stage, and it was time for the Dillinger Escape Plan to get on stage. The crowd gathered in the hall, letting the tension grow as the techs were checking the instruments one last time. And as it started, I gained my place in the photo pit. The powerful and familiar typical math rock intro riff of ‘Prancer’, starting the show as well as the album with the same efficiency. The white flashing lights blew my mind, as the band followed up with some of their most famous songs like ‘Farewell, Mona Lisa’ and ‘Milk Lizard’. Personal favorite that is Milk Lizard, with Ben Weinman jumping around like a monkey on acid all over my photographer head, playing with his Freddie Mercury way of acting, and giving us what we expected of this show: a big slap in the face. A real kick in the teeth.

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review and photos by: maeva valbousquet

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Because the sound was incredible. Powerful bass shaking me inside, and perfect vocals, with Greg Puciato sounding just like on the record, both on the screams and clean vocals. The band went on with the setlist, getting deeper in the violence, until it reached its climax, with ‘Hero of the Soviet Union’. The song, with its three minutes of exceptional mathcore, diabolical guitar arpeggios and cartoonish embellishments eventually collapses into a roaring breakdown of Greg’s screaming. And this is where we feel such a strong experience can only be followed by the second reason why we like The Dillinger Escape Plan: pop-ish choruses. With ‘Nothing’s Funny’, the band went for a transition to something softer, though Greg Puciato’s vocals led you to the 7th sky... Only to let you fall down into more terror, with another hellish breakdown. Followed by ‘One of us is the killer’ ; and I believe every single person in the hall was screaming the chorus together with The Dillinger Escape Plan. A few more tracks before the encore. I thought this was time to check the audience out, since The Dillinger Escape Plan is known for being one of the best live experiences you could have. I let my photo gear aside, and joined in the mosh. The songs that followed were When I Lost My Bet, and 43% Burnt. The fans will say that ending a show with one of their most liked, and also most violent songs was the best idea one could have. And I do agree with this. From the first note of ‘Prancer’, up until the last riff of ‘43% Burnt’, this show was one of the most violent, but delicious live experience I had in my whole life. From the fan screaming the extremely addictive melodies, to the mathcore addict enjoying the brutal riffs and polyrythmy, everyone could enjoy the wonderful performance of the Dillinger Escape Plan.

review and photos by: maeva valbousquet

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It’s been almost two weeks since I photographed the house party tour, and I still can’t believe how crazy it was. And don’t get me wrong - it was the best possible kind of crazy. A Day To Remember, Pierce The Veil, All Time Low, and The Wonder Years together provided a pop-punk / punk rock show that rivaled the excitement of Warped Tour and managed to provide even better production values. The wonder years had been added to this monster of a tour roster a little late, but right from the start, they made it clear that their addition wasn’t just an afterthought. It was my third time in less than a year seeing them perform, and they haven’t yet stopped impressing and surprising me. They came out swinging (reference / pun intended!) and managed to get the crowd roaring and moving early. It’s hard not to get into it when you have six very energetic people on stage giving it their all. Frontman Dan ‘Soupy’ Campbell is a pro at keeping up the interaction between the band and the crowd in between songs, and seemed to have at least a few important, meaningful words to say about almost every song before they played it. And after recently having released what is easily one of the best albums of the year (The Greatest Generation), you could feel the band’s confidence and energy pouring off the stage. All Time Low took the stage next, and proved exactly why this tour has been such a huge one. They are easily headliner material in their own right, and here they were, opening for two other incredible acts. They picked up the energy that The Wonder Years had left behind and danced all over the stage with it. The band’s well-loved crude humor, Jack Barakat’s nightly bra collection, Alex Gaskarth’s melodic voice, and Rian and Zack’s insane amounts of energy and more than a fair bit of muscle… it was all present as the band demonstrated why, even after so many years, they are still one of the most recognizable faces of pop-punk music. Their set was also full of guest vocalists, as a fan named Kyle was brought up on stage and absolutely killed it during their performance of “Time-Bomb”, and the crowd got a little preview of Pierce The Veil’s Vic Fuentes when he came out to perform the recently released “A Love Like War” with his good friends. Of course, fans were clamoring for vic to stay, but luckily they didn’t have to wait too long before they saw him again Pierce The Veil took the stage with authority. Vic, warmed up

from performing earlier, exuded delight throughout their performance, and the energy seemed to carry around the room and excite both the rest of the band and the crowd. Mike, Jaime, and Tony played their hearts out all set long, and frequently switched sides of the stage and went around everywhere to make sure everyone got some up close and personal moments. After bringing out Jeremy McKinnon of A Day To Remember for a performance of “Caraphernelia”, the band absolutely launched full speed ahead into “King For A Day”, driving the crowd into a frenzy and closing their set out in a commanding manner. And finally, there was only a day to remember left. The venue was silent in anticipation, and the lights had gone down. Suddenly a video popped up, showing a rather funny little skit about Jeremy coming home to an unexpected house party being planned. A curtain rose, revealing a house that had just been constructed on stage, the garage door opened, and the band sauntered about and started to play. Throughout the set, the top-notch production values for this tour served to accentuate the crushing performance this band delivered. Pyrotechnics, a guy dressed as Santa launching T-shirts into the crowd, the band members taking turns getting on top of the roof of the house and playing from up there, bringing dozens of fans on stage… The band absolutely lived up to their name and made sure that not a single attendee would forget this show for the rest of their lives.

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THE HOUSE PARTY TOUR

review and photos by: priten vora

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review and photos by: amanda jensen

YOU ME AT SIX You Me At Sixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s show was a pretty lively and had a decent-sized crowd. They went nuts for every band, and every band just completely set it off. Conditions warmed the crowd up really well and when YMAS came on, the crowd went insane. They put on such a dynamic and fun performance, it actually really exceeded my expectations!

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INTERVIEWS

photos by: anam merchant interview by: shana myers

THE MOWGLI’S

First, can you introduce yourselves and list what you do in the band? Hello, my name is Matt and I play bass and I sing when we are in a venue that can supply 8 vocal microphones.

When and why did you start playing? I started playing music when I was 12. I messed around with drums and piano at first, but realized I sucked at it. I picked up guitar a few months later and have been playing ever since. I started playing bass about 7 years ago. I began playing music because it was in my families nature to be musical. My father had been playing guitar and bass his whole life so it just seemed natural to want to play music. What do you consider your music genre to be? It’s easy for people to write us off as an “indie” band or “folk” or “edward sharpish,” but at the end of the day we are a rock and roll band. We like to think of it as “Love Rock” and we hope people can understand why we think of it that way. Can you tell us a brief history on your band how you met? Well, I will give you the brief history of how I met everyone in the band. Sound good?...cause its happening. I met Katie, Michael, David, and Andy in middle school. I then attended high school with Michael, David, Andy, and Spencer. After high school we all met Josh when he moved from Oklahoma. A few years after that I met Colin at a friends house…I think he had just been in a fight so I thought he was a bad ass. Made friends really fast with everyone because it just seemed so natural. In 2009 Michael and Colin invited me to play bass on some tracks and to start performing live. We played our first show in January 2010 and haven’t looked back since. Who inspired you to become a band? For me I was inspired by a ton of different artists, but mostly I was inspired by my family and friends. Everyone had been pushing me for so many years with music so it seemed natural to go down that path. Musically I am influenced

by everything from ZZ Top to Kelly Clarkson to R Kelly and then back to something like Between The Buried and Me. For the band, we all have so many influences, but we have all had the support and inspiration from our families to make this a possibility. Those are the people who in the last year have really seen that we aren’t just dicking around in a band, but that this is a full time job. Where do you hope to be in the next five years? The Mowgli’s will be on tour as far as I am concerned. We will continue to release records and tour and meet new fans and friends. This band is in this for the long haul and we are willing to stay on the road as long as possible in order to get people to understand what we are trying to accomplish. Where do you hope to be in the next five years? The lyrics are written between a few members. Colin, Michael, Josh, & Katie have written a majority of the lyrics, but other members have contributed. How often and for how long do you practice? We haven’t had a proper rehearsal since March, but we jam as often as we can on the road…and by jam I mean we set up at whatever venue that night and hope that we have an extra 10 minutes to just play music. When we are home and we actually can rehearse, we go to Swing House Studios in Hollywood because they are family and they have the best rehearsal space in all of Los Angeles. Everyone has their own creative style and their own thoughts as to what they not only want the music to sound like, but what they want their songs to mean. How do you decide which ideas get used and which ideas don’t? Does that affect the band member or do you guys usually agree on everything? Generally one of the band members will bring a song to the rest of the band. Sometimes that song has all the proper moving parts, but most of the time we all still have something to add to piece. We are all very good about listening to each other when it comes to writing a song. There are no stupid suggestions as we all have a common goal to create the best song possible.

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What image do you think your music conveys? We want everyone to understand that we are all in this together, humans that is. We have to take care of each other instead of fighting against each other. Everyone has to have the same basic human rights. We all deserve to drink clean water, eat healthy food, and to be able to coexist in a positive environment. To me this band is working on helping the world as much as possible.

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YOUNG LONDON First, can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about you? This is Matt and I sing/produce everything for Young London. When and why did you start playing music? I’ve been playing music since middle school. I started playing music because a music teacher brought a drum set into school and it felt so amazing. I couldn’t stop. What do you consider your music genre to be? Electro dance pop indie stuff? Can you tell us a brief history on your band and you met? We started Young London after writing together and really feeling the chemistry in the studio. You were on this years warped tour. What was that like? Would you ever do it again if you had the chance? Warped Tour was incredible. Super hard work, but for us it was a huge dance party almost every day. I really love festival crowds because I think I get the mentality of raging during the day under the hot sun. I’d do it again for sure. Who inspired you to become a band? I live, so day to day it’s hard for me to say exactly. I guess I hope to still be as happy making music… maybe a little more stable

financially haha

Who in the band writes the lyrics to your songs? We both do. It’s definitely a collaboration. How often and for how long do you practice? Depends what for. We don’t practice just to practice anymore. I consider us and our band to be professional musicians, so we really only rehearse for tours or one off gigs. For this past fall tour we had a challenging set so we put in a lot of hours. Everyone has their own creative style and their own thoughts as to they not only one the music to sound like, but what they want their songs to mean. How do you decide which ideas get used and which ideas don’t? Don’t that affect the band members or do you guys usually agree on everything? In terms of music, I always make the final decision. I put in the most hours with each track so I like to think that I get the final product most. Lyrically, I love debating and challenging myself with others ideas. Is there anything you’ve learned out of the experience of touring with warped? Great question. I learned that crowds will dance to 140bpm still (our song Broken), which is interesting because all dance music

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photos & interview by: shana myers

is basically 128bpm now. What image do you think your music conveys? Definitely a little dark and moody on some tracks… I like dark and moody. How do you describe your music to people? I just say we are dance. What have you found to be the easiest and most successful way to promote your band? We do really well live. We are all great performers and I put a lot of effort into our sets and lights and energy. When we tour in front of people we do really well. Could you describe your shows? A very synchronized light show with a lot of fog and jumping. Do you think that online presence is important for fans to find you and critics to find your music to write about? I do! We suck at online presence. It’s just not natural for me to do well with social media… However, I don’t really feel that the internet translates into sales and success because there are bands with triple our online ratings that we sell and draw more than… interesting?

What do you think about the direction the music industry is heading? I like it. It’s all DIY now, the major label bands have just as many opportunities as the ones on their own. There is NO middle class. What inspires you to do what you do? I love when a song sounds done. That motivates me, the finished product. What are some of your pet peeves? I can be really pessimistic sometimes, so my pet peeve list is too long. How does music affect you and the world around you? Music is everything to me. A good song makes me feel good and can make my day better. I love new productions. What are the biggest obstacles for bands? Money, motivation, unified direction and seeing the big picture. Can you tell us about your next shows and why we should be there? Wether you like our music or not, I promise you will be impressed with the effort that goes into our show. <3

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REAL FR

photos and interview by: penelope martinez symphonymagazine.net

RIENDS

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What started out as a hobby for some, turned into a lifestyle for kyle fasel, guitarist/manager of real friends. Real friends began in 2010 with kyle and dave being the first members. “I wasn’t really happy with what i was doing musically. It just kinda wasn’t in the level I wanted to do music. It was more of a hobby to the other guys.” Kyle says as he explains the beginning of real friends. “Our guitar player, dave, i hit him up. He was actually playing drums in the band that I used to be in and we just decided to start a band. We started writing songs.” But why do people start bands? For the money? Fame? Their love for music? For kyle, it started out as a fun thing to do seeing how he loved music, and let’s be honest, being in a band is cool. As he reflects now though, he explains how his mindset has changed through his life. “As i got older, i grew into actually wanting to be in a band, because you can reach out to people and help them with something that you enjoy doing. That’s kind of my motivation now at 24.” He didn’t get here alone though, the one person who has supported him since day one he says, is his dad. “My dad was always a big support for me, he always thought it was really cool.” To this day, his dad still thinks the band is cool, traveling with the band on short tours. Luckily, not only did he have his dad’s support, but also his whole family’s. Not everyone has the support kyle has had though, but the fans of real fans can always count on the band to be there. Whether you’re listening to their music or looking at their facebook statuses, there’s always a piece of advice someone can relate to. “The stuff we post on facebook is usually new song lyrics. A lot of it is just something that’s on my mind.” It’s hard to find people who understand what you’re going through or have gone through, but music is a language everyone speaks, it connects us. “I think there’s more depth to sadness and struggles than there is to happi- ness, that’s why i write about that. But i think that when people say that it helped you, it gives it more meaning. I went through depression and i wrote some songs about it. That’s pretty much everyone that dragged you here, our second ep.” The response from fans to the new ep was overall positive, many expressing through comments and tweets how the music helped them overcome obstacles and get through the day. The process of writing the music and then having it being heard by people who need someone who understands is described as therapy for kyle. “It gives a meaning to the struggle. It’s therapy for kids and therapy for me.” With their headlining tour this fall, the band literally depends on the fans. “We were all working jobs up unil spring. Most of use quit because we’re on the road so much. Brian is a server when he’s home, the other four of us don’t have jobs. This is all we do.” Although they’re not ‘making bank’ as some say, the band has enough money to eat and travel to play shows. “The thing about tour life is that when you’re on tour, there’s not as much expenses. When i’m at home, i’m pay for

gas and for this and that. But when you’re on tour, the band pays for gas because you’re going to shows and you get a small amount of money for food.” From their first ep, this is honesty, to today, the band has released 4 eps, their most recent being put yourself back together. The sound may not have changed, but the purpose has. “When we started, it was just ‘oh this cool, let’s write some music.’ But it’s grown into helping people and giving kids an outlet and something to connect to.’ -And that’s what real friends is about. “I’ve had kids come up to me and say ‘you wrote this song and helped me so much.’ And thats the meaning of our band.” “You’re not alone.” That’s what real friends is, summed up in three simple words. Whether you’re there to watch the band play, or you’re a member of the band, you’re not alone. Kyle admits that when he’s playing on stage, a lot of the things that the songs are about, run through his head, but then he looks at the fans and realizes that it’s not so bad. “It’s so weird in life, something negative and people are singing about it. But the fact that it’s helping them, it turns around into a postive. I do get emotional but it usually ends in a positive way.”“ This goes to show that without the fans, a band would be lost. It’s the people who go and watch you do what you love, that help you without even knowing it. If you’ve been a fan of real friends for some time, or have at least heard many of their songs, you might have noticed their use of bony knees and sleepy eyes in many of their songs. Many fans ask why they use it in a lot of their songs, and we asked for you. “It basically reflects from depression that i was through in 2011; i was really upset. Sleepy eyes comes from being so tired and overworked, emotionally and physically. At the time, i was depressed, i was working full time and i was going through some stuff with this girl that i had dated for five years. We split up, she was dating someone else, then we started talking again but she still talked to him. It was weird. It was a weird triangle thing. It was one of those situations that just doesn’t leave your head. I’d be up at 3 or 4 in the morning, tired, wanting to go to sleep but i couldn’t. So i had sleep eyes. Bony knees came from, well, one people always telling me i had bony knees and in floorboards, it reflects getting up off of your knees. It pretty much means getting up and moving forward. I do think people say ‘i’m sick of hearing that’ and we’ve been writing now and i feel like we’ve grown past that, but it defintely has a meaning. This band is all of our lives rolled up in one thing. I wouldn’t write just some stupid meaningless stuff. “ Through it all, real friends has had an amazing year, they toured with great bands such as major league and senses fail, were a part of warped tour this summer, released a new ep, and now they’re headlining a us tour. So what’s next for these 5 guys?

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Risei

interview & photos by: maeva valbousquet

change in lineup. Jee: Yeah that was a great show. We had a lot of fun playing home for our tour opening. We were lucky to have all the staff from THIS IS FOR US, our label, to film us and make a 20mn live clip of great quality that you can find on our YouTube channel. Hi guys! Can you tell me more about risei and it’s concept? Martin: That’s right! I had to learn the set very quickly, since Jee: Hey bonjour! We don’t really have a particular ‘concept’. the previous bassist left the band in a hurry. I had to learn it at I had this project idea a few years ago, and it was supposed home, since our rehearsal room was closed for the holidays. to be just a side project from ‘Dla Coke et des Putes’ (a I had only one rehearsal with the band before the opening famous french hxc band). Last year we brought the idea back, of the tour, but I really wanted to play in front of people and together with Gégé (bass). Dams (guitar) and have a lot of fun, so I did my best. And I didn’t mess up that Niko (drums) joined Risei a little bit later, and then Nico much! That was a great experience, in great conditions. (screams). A few rehearsals, a first con- cert, and it was rolling! When it comes to the music videos, what are you inspired by? Martin: We check the news a lot, and try to com- pare what’s What are your influences? happening nowadays, with what happened in the past. Jee: We have few influences, but they are really strong. We Sometimes it gives an interesting feeling of ‘deja-vu’, or a don’t feel confident enough to say we are bringing something confusion between what’s recent and what is already a few new to the post-rock, or screamo genre. I personally get my decades old. That’s the kind of vibe we wantinspiration from bands like Envy, Rinoa, Mono when I write ed to give in the music video for Life as concept. I think it music, in the way I try to describe the emoillustrates well what the song is about. tion, would it be rage, pain, excitement, in the melodies, since it is what I really appreciate in these bands’ music. But we In most of the songs, there are people speaking french, play music with all our flaws, the lack of maturity, but with our spanish, english... What does it mean to you? Is it related to the sincerity, without claiming anything else than having a lot of lyrics? fun. Jee: Absolutely. In ‘Overcome’, you can hear an extract from Martin: My influences are a bit ecclectic. I love listening to ‘Thus spoke Zarathustra’. It speaks of a very nihilistic vision bands like Envy, but I like new school hardcore like Hatebreed, of humanity. ‘Life as concept’ is an idea from Lacan, about Nueva Etica... I don’t really know if you can feel it in my bass taking life as a concept. It’s seeing life in a very paradoxal lines though. way. We have to endure life because we are aware that it’s not eternal. I won’t be talking much longer about philosophy, I had a blast at your show even though you had a recent but it’s something I think is really interesting. We also used a ‘Risei’ is the japanese word for ‘consciousness’. A name that fits the band perfectly, for their music will make you plunge inside your own consciousness with the help of melancholic post-rock riffs and the powerful, soul-tearing screams of nico. I had the chance to interview them.

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sample of Earthlings in ‘Predator’ because we think ani- mal rights have to be respected. But I can tell you that there will be a lot more coming soon! If you could only listen to one song, what would it be? Jee: I’m such a fanboy... Envy’s ‘Scene’. Tintin: It would be Further ahead of warp, from Envy too, for me. With the ep, upcoming tour, music videos... It has been quite a busy year for you! What’s coming next? Martin: We’re touring until December. Then, second part of the tour from January to March. We’ll try going to the UK, and Spain too. It’s something we really do or best to make true, but still has to be confirmed. Jee: Yeah, that year was a bit of a test, and we’re really satisfied with it. We played a lot of gigs, and sold quite a lot of our EP, and had comments about it that were both positive, and negative. Our public is extremely objective and it’s something we really enjoy. We want to work even more, and go back to the studio when the tour is over. Maybe for an album, a single, no one knows yet! (laughs) But there is going to be a song featuring KROM from MINUSHUMAN, and a music video. Thanks a lot for answering my questions! Jee: Thanks to you and Symphony Magazine! We had a great time :) Martin: Thank you and see you on the road!

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we are forever

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photos & interview by: shana myers

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First, can you introduce yourselves and state what it is that you do in the band? Ricky Ayala - Guitar, Aren Andersen - Vocals, Evan Ogden Bass, Alex Ayala - Drums, Alex Nauth - Guitar/Vocals

much and it made them want to be in a band, that was probably 5 or 6 years ago Ricky would’ve been 14 and he’s 19 now, and Alex would’ve been around 10 or 11 and he’s 16 now. The other Alex wanted to be in a band when he was around 8 or 9 and is now 19. Evan really got into music when he was around 16 You recently just released your first full length album. What was and wanted to be in a band, he is now 22. Aren really started the recording process like? getting into music when he was around 15 and started listening We sure did! The recording process for To Be Alive was a pretty to more and more bands and wanted to be in one, he is now 21. long, but very fun process. We were in the studio for a total of about 3 weeks so we had a lot more time to record this album How do you feel about the direction the music industry is headthan the last album Seasons. We’re very happy that we spent ing? that much time because it gave us more time to develop the We think good rock bands are slowly making a comeback and songs and make them as perfect as we possibly could. will be getting bigger and bigger in next 5-10 years which we really like. The past 5 or so years haven’t been very good for the What is your favorite song off of the new album and why? music industry, to us, but we feel its going into a new time and We’ve all tried to pick a favorite from this album, but none of that less people will be making electronic music and more bands us can seem to find one. We all love all the songs because each will be on the top billboard charts. one has a little something different that we love. The variety that we put in this album is something we really liked. We love all What are five bands you would love to tour with? the songs on the album! Marianas Trench, Mayday Parade, Fall Out Boy, All Time Low, Panic at the Disco Who has been your biggest influences? As a band some of our big influences have been from, Fall Out What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Boy, Marianas Trench, All Time Low, Mayday Parade, and some We think of our music as a pop/rock type genre. Our last album older classic rock like Queen. We have a lot more than those, Seasons, was definitely more pop/punk and we still have some but those are just a few of the biggest ones. aspects of that, but we have gone more towards the rock side and a little more pop. We like where our music is at and where You guys have only been a band for 2, going on 3 years. Within its heading. that short amount of time, you’ve managed to become quite successful. What do you think has helped you the most on How did you meet? getting your name out? Aren and Ricky both met in choir class in high school and beThe number one thing that has made us so successful is our cause friends, and Ricky met Alex (Nauth) from his sister and amazing fans who always share all our music with all their knew him from other local bands he had been in. Ricky finally friends and come out and support us at every show. Other than asked Aren to be in his band and he also asked Alex and they that we spend a lot of time online trying to reach out to anyboth said yes. At this time, Ricky and his brother (Alex Ayala) body and everybody who might like our music, and we also try and our old guitarist, Chris had already been playing together. to write good music, we like to think that helps. After a couple years Chris left the band and we picked up Evan Ogden. Alex (Nauth) knew Evan from other local bands and How old were you when you realized you wanted to be in a had played with him in another band before and knew he was band and how old are you now? a great bass player, and that how we got the band we have Ricky and Alex (Ayala) have wanted to be in a band for a while, today. probably around when Guitar Hero came out, they loved it so

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AREN ANDERSON

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Evan Ogden

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Alex Ayala symphonymagazine.net

Ricky Ayala symphonymagazine.net

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Alex Nauth

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GALLERY symphonymagazine.net

photo by: amanda jensen

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photo by: amanda jensen

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THE NEIGHB

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BOURHOOD symphonymagazine.net

BEST FRIENDS

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BEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DEN photo by: anam merchant

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DAUGHTER

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