Urban Vinyl Magazine-Issue XIV

URBAN VINYL

Issue XIV

Gordi • Allday •

• SIR SLY • In The Valley Below • • New Politics • The Tambo Rays •

About

Founded and launched in February 2016 by Sophie Hsu, Urban Vinyl Magazine is an independently-run outlet that harmonizes a passion for music and food. Started in New York City and now currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area where both music and food are at their best, the artists and restaurants featured on the site and the upcoming issues are individually handpicked in order to reach a diverse spectrum of sound and taste. Created by a music lover and a foodie, the aim is to provide high quality content for fellow music lovers and foodies.

LISTEN. EAT. EXPLORE.

Sophie Hsu • Founder • Photographer •

Thank You

Stay Connected

• Jim D. • Anna • Violet • Rio • • Jim M. • Jillian • Patrice • • Gordi • • Allday • • SIR SLY • In The Valley Below • • New Politics • The Tambo Rays • • And most importantly, my family and friends for always supporting my photography and my love for music. •

@urbanvinylmag @urbanvinylmag

• And of course, to my readers! You make this happen! •

For booking and inquiries: sophie@urbanvinylmag.com

• This issue would not have been possible without all of you! •

• Editor-In-Chief • Writer • Layout & Design • Content •

On the Cover • Gordi • • Café du Nord, San Francisco • • August 15, 2017 •

urbanvinylmag.com

• All social media icons by Good Stuff No Nonsense •

1

Contents

Main Artist • Gordi • 13-18

Featured Artist • Allday • 7-12

Live Shots • SIR SLY • 3-4

• In The Valley Below • 5-6 • New Politics • 19-20 • The Tambo Rays • 21-22

2

• Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco • July 28, 2017 •

SIR SLY • Los Angeles, California • • Jason Suwito • Landon Jacobs • Hayden Coplen •

@SirSly @sirsly /sirslymusic 3

• Landon Jacobs •

• Jason Suwito •

• Hayden Coplen •

4

• Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco • August 2, 2017 •

In The Valley Below • Grand Rapids, Michigan • • Angela Gail • Jeffrey Jacob •

@bookofITVB

In the Valley Below’s sound in 3 words: Visceral, Dark, Hopeful

Favorite song to perform live: “Hold On Tight”

@inthevalleybelow

Favorite food and/or drink:

On this tour-poke bowl and whiskey ginger

Favorite spot in SF:

/inthevalleybelow 5

Angela-Painted Bird Jeffrey-Beach Blanket Babylon

• Angela Gail •

• Joshua Clair •

• Jeffrey Jacob •

6

• Phoenix Hotel, San Francisco • August 3, 2017 • @alldaychubbyboy @alldaychubbyboy /alldaytunes

Featured Artist • Allday •

alldaytunes.com

At just 26 years old, Allday is rapidly gaining buzz with his catchy rapping and innovative beats. Allday (aka Tom Gaynor), is originally from Adelaide, South Australia, but began his rapping career in Melbourne, Victoria (and currently residing in Los Angeles, California). He put his debut solo EP, Loners Are Cool, on April 15, 2013, followed by his debut record, Startup Cult, on July 4, 2014, via ONETWO (with a later rerelease on January 1, 2015, via Wind-Up Records). Aside from his latest album, Speeding, which came out on April 21, 2017 via Allday Music, he has put out various mixtapes, singles, and EPs. Allday has taken the stage at venues such as Luna Park (Sydney) and universities, and also festivals, such as Marocchy Music & Vis Arts Festival and Rivers & Spires Festival. He has also shared the stage with artists including Japanese Wallpaper, Nicole Millar, and MALLRAT. Allday just finished up an U.S. tour, and stopped at Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco on August 3, 2017. Prior to the show, he generously took a pause to pose for some portraits, and to reflect on his beginning, what happens before he goes onstage, and recommended a few restaurants in San Francisco, Adelaide, and Melbourne.

7

What’s the story behind your passion and talent in music?

I had rap music when I was a kid, like everyone does. A lot people think they can rap. My first thought was, I can definitely do this. I don’t know why, but I was sort of lucky that I had that idea, and I just did it all the time. It was by circumstance that I ended up in situations around rap music and around people who were recording and stuff. I just sort of had those things fall into place for me to do it.

What was the first instrument (musical or non-musical) you started making music with?

I used to learn a lot of different instruments when I was a kid; I never really took to them. I played piano; the piano teacher came over one day. I was fed up, and I remember climbing up the tree. I brought my brothers up into the tree, and we just sat in the tree, and my mom was like, “Come down, it’s time for the lesson.” I was like, “No.” I just remember giving the piano teacher the finger from the tree, she went home, and that was my last piano lesson. The piano and the guitar. Rapping was my thing, I don’t know why. Maybe I was lazy, but I wasn’t lazy with rapping. I would spend hours every day doing it.

You released a new record, Speeding, on April 21, 2017. What was the process of writing, recording, and producing it?

I sometimes start with the beat, I sometimes start with a song title idea, or like a style. I might start with a producer, and we might build it together.

Oftentimes, I’ll record an idea, he’ll take those vocals, and completely overhaul with my producers, and spend the time in figuring out where to go.

Some songs started very differently; we took the vocals and just used them for a completely different song. Recording was mostly in Australia; maybe “Spill My Blood” and a couple were in Los Angeles because my label that I used to be on had a studio in LA. Mostly in Australia, Melbourne actually.

8

9

• Allday • • Mikey HUNJ •

• Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco • August 3, 2017 •

10

Which song (released or unreleased) are you most proud of?

I don’t know. There’s stuff that I like about most of them, and there’s stuff that I hate about most of them. I mean, I like “In Motion”; it’s the most famous one at the moment. Once you start seeing the results of the songs, it’s hard to still love the song the way you did if it’s not as successful as you thought it would be. You’re like, “This is perfect!”, and then you see the results when people don’t really listen to it and then it’s like, “Oh yeah, it wasn’t that good.”

What happens before you go onstage? Is there an Allday pre-show ritual?

It’s interesting because we didn’t realize it, but we’d always have a hug before every set, just like right before. One time we didn’t do it, and the vibe was kind of missing. Or we didn’t have a connection; not completely, but we noticed we didn’t do it.

Out of all your songs, my favorite is “You Always Know the DJ.” Can you touch on the inspiration and creation of that particular track?

Thank you. It’s been a couple years, but I swear every girl that I was with in that era would think it was about her. But that’s just how the human ego was.

It was just a thing that I had in my mind for a little while; I feel like then, I was into writing about a specific story. I felt like my next album was a little bit more vague, and that was kind of a story I wanted to say. I can’t remember, that one was so long ago. It was just about a relationship I had, I suppose.

11

What’s your favorite restaurant and/or food in San Francisco? Any places back home in Adelaide?

We’ve been to a place in San Francisco called Golden Era. It was quite good; it’s like Asian Vegan. I had a good time. That’s got to be my favorite, I kind of just know that place. Adelaide-if you ever go, there’s this place called Zen House, or Vego & Love’n It has this Mexican burger that’s beautiful.

Melbourne-Smith & Deli is this Vegan sandwich place.

If there were a chocolate bar with the name “Allday,” what type of chocolate would it be, and what would it have?

It would be chocolate, hazelnut, caramel, goji berries, and peanut butter. It would be a Vegan chocolate bar.

What can listeners expect in terms of upcoming projects and/or shows?

I mean, I hope to put out more music quickly, and try to get lots of good video and lighting stuff. This is our first American tour, but in Australia, we’ve got a really good set up, just constantly trying to improve our production bigger and faster.

What’s a question you have wanted to get asked in an interview, and what’s the response to it?

I actually had this thought the other day. What’s a good question, I can’t remember. It’s hard. It’s stuff that I love or hate.

12

• Café du Nord, San Francisco • August 15, 2017 • @GordiMusic @gordimusic /music.Gordi

Main Artist • Gordi •

gordimusic.com

Upon the first listen, Gordi will definitely leave you wanting more. Gordi (aka Sophie Payten), is a singer/songwriter hailing from Canowindra, New South Wales, a town just about 189 miles west of Sydney. At just 24 years old, she released her debut EP, Clever Disguise, on May 13, 2016, via Jagjaguwar Records, alongside a few singles. These have led up to her much-anticipated debut record, Reservoir, due August 25, 2017, also via Jagjaguwar Records. Gordi has additionally received the APRA Josh Pyke Partnership Award. Aside from sharing her delicate voice at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, she has shared the stage with names, such as Bon Iver, Of Monsters and Men, Highasakite, San Fermin, and MOTHXR. After wrapping up a short Australia tour, Gordi most recently finished up an U.S. tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at the intimate Café du Nord. Before she treated the San Francisco crowd to a memorable evening, she kindly posed for some portraits, and shared some time to chat about the creation of her debut record, her favorite foods in San Francisco, and even her go-to karaoke tunes.

13

What’s the story behind your passion and talent in music?

Part of it is just my mom’s really musical. She came from a really musical family, so I just grew up singing and playing the piano. She’s a piano teacher, we had a piano in the house, and I kind of took it up. My brother played the guitar, so I kind of helped him work out the guitar. I don’t know, I loved it because my mom loved it. It was a really special thing; she and I had would listen to the same record. We would listen to Billy Joel together and Carole King.

She’d play, and I sing, and it was such a nice activity to do together, and I’ve loved performing from a young age. I wasn’t afraid of the limelight as a child. I think it was from there and the support I had from friends and family, and I kind of just kept going. There’s no feeling the same as you get when you’re on a stage, and that’s something I want to keep doing.

What was the first instrument (musical or non-musical) you started making music with?

Probably the piano, I remember I was 4 playing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and sitting with my friend Lucy. She’s still a really good friend of mine; we were sitting at the piano with our legs not even touching the ground, and teaching her how to play it was the coolest thing. The piano is where I feel the most comfortable; I’m not a great pianist, by any means, but by feel, I’m really relaxed. It’s very centering for me.

You’re getting ready to release your debut record, Reservoir, on August 25, 2017.

What was the process of writing, recording, and producing it?

Writing it happened over a number of years. Half the songs were written last year in 2016, and half the songs were written from 2013-2015. It’s not like I was like, “I’m going to write a record,” and then I started writing it, and that’s how artists deal with their first record. Then you’re like, now I’m going to write my second album. When you release your first album, it’s like a recollection of songs over a period of time, and you have to kind of retrospectively review them all with an initial concept and just kind of go for it. For the production part, I wanted to work with two different producers for the record, and we reached out. The people were available and came, we linked up, and I spent some time in the studio with them and recorded everywhere from LA to Sydney to Iceland to Wisconsin, and a lot of different places. The recording was the most fun part because it was all around the world with all these great people.

14

15

• Lachlan West •

• Mickey Kojak •

• Café du Nord, San Francisco • August 15, 2017 •

16

Which song (released or unreleased) are you most proud of?

I think “Heaven I Know,” which is the first song that came out from the record. There’s a few reasons because it was first song I ever produced, and I had a really good idea of what I wanted it to sound like. I had a proper vision for it, and it got executed. It was amazing to pick up something and just hear it kind of finished. It’s also special because it was the last song I wrote for the record; I wrote it after I had already started recording some of the album.

I wrote it in August about the idea of growing apart, which is really central to the whole record, when I think about it. It’s kind of a real centerpiece because it really captures the feeling of a lot of what’s underneath the other stuff. There’s this idea of being in your early 20s; it’s a period of such change, and you’re trying to work out who’s been in your life for so long and who’s still going to be in there for another ten years; that’s quite a heartbreaking process. It’s not a romantic breakup or anything, it’s kind of a slow distancing. I was really struck by how sad that is, and I had this dream about my really close friend who had moved away indefinitely. We were ten years older, and we just stopped talking, calling, and being in each other’s lives. So that line, “Cause we got older/And I got tired/Heaven I know we tried” kept going around and around in my head. Still, when I play it live, I get quite emotional about it. It’s a very powerful song for me.

What happens before you go onstage? Is there a Gordi pre-show ritual?

If I have the time, there is. On this tour, I’m literally chucking on make up in the van, so in an ideal world, I usually don’t like to eat a big meal before I go on. I like to snack on hummus and carrots, to be honest. I might have like one drink, and I need to listen to a soothing instrumental playlist for a while. The morning of, I’ll listen to a couple songs that we’re going to play in the live set to get in the mood. Half an hour, I’ll warm up my voice, and fifteen minutes before, I do star jumps and start running around a little bit. Before we go onstage, we’ll high five. I always have to put my right boot on before my left.

Out of all your songs, my favorite song is “Wanting.” Can you touch on the inspiration and creation of that particular song?

That one’s on the EP, and I wrote that I think in about 2013. I was kind of in a situation with those sorts of relationships that never really get started. It’s always sort back and forth, and there’s always this drama, and it’s this idea that I’m found wanting. Every time, I’m still there, and I’m like left wanting more out of the situation. It was the repetitive nature of the song “I’ve played this before”; I sing that line like three times, and it’s like, “Oh my god, when I am going to stop going around and around in circles and start this thing?” A lot of it was the frustration of finding yourself in the same place despite trying to learn from your mistakes.

17

What’s your favorite restaurant and/or food in San Francisco? Any places back home in Sydney?

Last time we were here in San Francisco, we played at the Swedish American Hall just next door, and we went to this place that I think is still one of the best dinners I’ve ever had in my whole life. We went to Mission Chinese over in the Mission, and it was so good. We had this chicken that was so spicy that it made our lips numb, and it was just a really cool space in there, and the food was out of this world delicious. That would be my favorite spot. We also went to this brunch spot, I can’t remember what it was called, but we had this really delicious brunch in San Francisco. Sydney-I’ve got a lot of favorite spots. A really good one is The Apollo, if you’re up for a fancy meal; it’s really delicious Greek food. Buffalo Dining Club is my other favorite, and then you can get some good fried chicken at Butter.

If there were a chocolate bar with the name “Gordi,” what type of chocolate would it be, and what would it have?

I’m kind of thinking along the lines of a Twix, where you have the outer coating that’s obviously delicious. Then, you have the layers and textures—a sticky caramel, the wafer; I’m basically describing a Twix. I mean, I think in terms of my life with music, I think you have different layers and parts you show to different people, and you have to have some things you preserve for yourself to keep private. I’m going to go with something with layers.

What can listeners expect in terms of upcoming projects and/or shows?

The record’s coming out next week; in terms of the live show, I’m really keen on building it to make enough disposable income to build the live show; I want to get more players in there.

When we tour in Australia, we had someone on horns, but I can’t afford to fly another person here. I’d love to ideally travel with a horns player and a strings player to add some more of those organic elements and contrast to the electronic stuff that’s happening onstage. To be honest, there’s so much focus on the record that I can’t see too far ahead, but I am really excited to get back into writing once the peak of the record release stuff quiets down. It’s been pretty full on.

I’ve been listening to a lot of instrumental music at the moment, and not that I’m going to make an instrumental album, but I’m kind of into the idea of building soundscapes, like melodies and countermelodies and then trying to add lyrics on top. I’ve going to experiment with that and deviate a little. I’m usually sitting with an instrument and just playing, which is something I’ll come back to, but I just want to get more into that way of making music. I don’t have a lot of time at the moment, but I’m looking forward to the day where I can just sit at the computer and create something for myself.

What’s a question you have wanted to get asked in an interview, and what’s the response to it?

What’s your karaoke song?

I have two, for different occasions. One is “Cleaning Out My Closer” by Eminem, and the other is “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” from The Lion King.

18

• City National Civic, San Jose • August 16, 2017 •

New Politics • Copenhagen, Denmark • Brooklyn, New York • • Louis Vecchio • David Boyd • Søren Hansen •

@NewPolitics

Upcoming Release: @newpoliticsrock

/newpolitics 19

Lost in Translation October 6, 2017 (Warner Bros. Records/DCD2)

• Søren Hansen •

• David Boyd •

• Louis Vecchio •

20

• 20th Street Block Party, San Francisco • August 19, 2017 •

The Tambo Rays • Oakland, California • • Brian DaMert • Sara DaMert • Bob Jakubs • Greg Sellin •

The Tambo Rays’ sound in 3 words: Posi. Indie. Rock

@THETAMBORAYS

Favorite song to perform live:

Hard to pick a favorite, but we always have fun playing “Yes and No”!

@thetamborayss

/thetamborays 21

Favorite food and/or drink:

Almost impossible to narrow down favorite food in this city, so we will stick to the classics and go with pizza.

With that in mind, Pizza Hacker is our top pick :)

Favorite spot in SF:

Bernal Heights summit is my favorite spot to catch an amazing view of SF. You might find us in the back patio of El Rio on a nice day.

• Lisa Weiss •

• Brian DaMert •

• Sara DaMert •

• Bob Jakubs •

• Greg Sellin •

LISTEN. EAT. EXPLORE.

urbanvinylmag.com