URBAN VINYL
Issue XVIII
courtship.
• Neyla Pekarek • Company of Thieves • • WALK THE MOON • The Accidentals • Del Water Gap •
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 and currently based in New York City 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
• Marisa • Anna • Lily • Emma • • Editor-In-Chief • Writer • Layout & • Spencer • Michelle • Michael • Design • Content • • courtship. • • Neyla Pekarek • • Company of Thieves • • courtship. Band Logo, • WALK THE MOON • Courtesy of courtship. • • The Accidentals • Del Water Gap • • And most importantly, my family and friends for always supporting my photography and my love for urbanvinylmag.com music. • @urbanvinylmag
On the Cover
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For booking and inquiries: sophie@urbanvinylmag.com
• And of course, to my readers! You make this happen! •
• This issue would not have been possible without all of you! • • All social media icons by Good Stuff No Nonsense •
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Contents
Main Artist • courtship. • 3-8
Live Shots • Neyla Pekarek • 9-10 • Company of Thieves • 11-12 • WALK THE MOON • 13-14 • The Accidentals • 15-16 • Del Water Gap • 17-18
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• Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn • January 10, 2017 • @wearecourtship
Main Artist
@wearecourtship
• courtship. •
/wearecourtship
When one door closes, another opens. courtship., formed and based in Los Angeles, California in July 2016, features the musical talents and ideas of Micah Gordon (vocals, keyboard) and Eli Hirsch (vocals, guitar). They released their debut single, “Stop for Nothing,” on August 16, 2016, followed by “Love for Everyone,” “Sail Away,” “Sunroof,” “Perfect People,” “Tell Me, Tell Me,” and most recently, “Bad Fun.” Immediately gaining more buzz after each show, they have shared the stage with acts such as Passion Pit, COIN, and Flagship. They recently finished two tours, one supporting The Wombats, and the other supporting Passion Pit. They stopped to share their irresistible sound at Brooklyn Steel, opening for The Wombats, alongside Nation of Language, on January 10, 2018. Amidst their busy schedule on the road, Micah kindly contributed some time to discuss the start of courtship., recommended a couple of 3 restaurants, and gave a hint of new music to expect.
What’s the story behind the formation of courtship.? Eli had been playing in a local LA band, when I [Micah] got called in to replace the keys player. We kind of eyed each other back and forth for a few months, like “What the hell is this guy doing here?” Then after a proper vetting process, a full body scan, and an IQ test, I invited Eli over to my house to make some music. That day, we made our first song “Stop For Nothing,” and we were like, “Woah, this is pretty cool...let’s make more songs.”
What was the first instrument (musical or non-musical) you started making music with? I grew up playing piano and drums. Eli started out on the piano, but then moved to guitar once he decided he wanted to be a rockstar.
You released a single, “Tell Me, Tell Me,” on September 21, 2017. What was the process of writing, recording, and producing it? I have this crazy app that lets you listen to music from around the world, in any era. I heard this guitar riff in some old song originating from Kenya, and it immediately sparked the creation of “Tell Me Tell Me.” It started with that first riff, and we just built it around that.
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• Eli Hirsch •
• Micah Gordon •
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• David Montoya •
• Otis English •
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Which song (released or unreleased) are you most proud of? It’s tough to answer that; we’re really proud of everything we do. If we weren’t, then we wouldn’t release it! We have some awesome unreleased songs and ideas that will be out in the next few months.
What happens before you go onstage? Is there a courtship. pre-show ritual? Sometimes, we’ll run into our bass player’s arms, and he’ll do the move from Dirty Dancing. He’s like the size of me and Eli combined. He makes us feel beautiful and majestic when he lifts us into the air.
Out of all your songs, my favorite is “Sail Away.” Can you touch on the inspiration and creation of that particular one? Thanks so much. That song was inspired by a brief moment in my life when I was seeing this girl. It was a pretty surreal experience (because she was way out of my league), and it felt like a dream. Eli and I were talking about it one day, and he said, “We have to write about this.”
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What’s your favorite restaurant and/or food in NYC? Any places back home in LA? We’re good Jews, so we love Katz’s Deli in NY. That pastrami is insane. In LA, we love to go to Leo’s Tacos Truck in Mid City. Best al pastor tacos you’ll ever have, no questions asked, and you’re wrong if you think otherwise.
If there a pizza with the name “courtship.,” what toppings would it have? Honey-Coated, rosemary, bacon, maple-glazed, crispy. I’m just naming the courtship. buzzwords. If I see any of those words on a menu, I’m going to get that item.
What can listeners expect in terms of upcoming projects and/or releases? Look out for something in March... : )
What’s a question you have wanted to get asked in an interview, and what’s the response to it? How are you guys so cool, so strong, and so good-looking? Our response is Leo’s al pastor tacos, located on Venice and La Brea. Leo, if you’re out there and listening, we expect some free tacos for this advertising.
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• Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2, New York City • January 12, 2018 •
Neyla Pekarek • Denver, Colorado •
@neylapekarek @neylapekarek /NeylaPekarekOfficial 9
• Neyla Pekarek •
• Madelyne Godley •
• Brian Cronan • Nick Golder • Josh Skelton •
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• Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City • January 13, 2018 •
Company of Thieves • Chicago, Illinois •
• Chris Faller • Genevieve Schatz • Marc Walloch •
@companyofthieves /companyofthieves
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• Marc Walloch •
• Chris Faller •
• Genevieve Schatz •
• Jay McMillan •
• Bradford Snow •
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• Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City • January 13, 2018 •
WALK THE MOON • Cincinatti, Ohio • • Eli Maiman • Nick Petricca • Sean Waugaman • Kevin Ray •
@WALKTHEMOONband
@walkthemoonband /walkthemoon 13
• Nick Petricca •
• Eli Maiman•
• Kevin Ray •
• Lachlan West •
• Sean Waugaman •
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• The Iridium • January 14, 2018 •
The Accidentals • Traverse City, Michigan •
• Katie Larson • Michael Dause • Savannah Buist •
@moreaccidentals @theaccidentalsmusic
/theaccidentals 15
• Savannah Buist •
• Katie Larson •
• Michael Dause •
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• Rough Trade, Brooklyn • January 19, 2018 •
Del Water Gap • Brooklyn, New York •
• Charlie Schlinkert • S. Holden Jaffe • Will Evans •
@delwatergap @delwatergap
/delwatergap 17
• Nick Cianci •
• Will Evans •
• S. Holden Jaffe •
• Charlie Schlinkert •
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LISTEN. EAT. EXPLORE.
urbanvinylmag.com