Variance Magazine July 2011 by Variance Magazine

VOL 2, ISSUE 3

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magazine

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All Time Low Doing some Dirty Work

Justin Nozuka Around the musical world

Manchester Orchestra Pushing boundaries

Christina Grimmieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rise to the top

Kate Voegele Music like blue jeans

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Kristin Chenoweth Talks candidly about her faith and her future

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FALLING HIGHER

The creature Satan has declared War on Almighty God. We are the prize. The evil one honors no convention; he wants you in Hell. Our Sovereign Father has provided for our free will and will not break integrity. Who is making decisions? Who is our defender? Men and women can endure any amount of suffering so long as they know the why to their existence. —Nietzsche No trouble comes to us without Divine permission. —Charles Haddon Spurgeon ...we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called in accordance with his purpose... —The Apostle Loved ones ... Jesus is the only Light. He is the Truth, the guardian of our souls, and the way home. We are like sparkling flowers, a short time here, as if in a flame, and we’ll all be home in time for dinner. —Simon

ava i l a b l e n o w from

ta t e p u b l i s h i n g . c o m

There has been an assault on conservative based values by the liberal left. Common Sense Conservatism is the antidote for all that troubles our great nation. What is it in a person’s life that sets forth a conservative outlook? Here William Edward Skokos allows us a peak into his experiences for the key to that conservatism.

 Ava i l a b l e n o w f r o m

tat e p u b l i s h i n g . c o m     

4 Reviews 9 Thirty-Nine Thoughts 10 For King & Country 12 Mike Ziemer 13 Justin Nozuka 16 Alexandra Amor 18 The Prophetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Son 20 Jason Reeves 21 Kristin Chenoweth 25 Fun 28 A l l T i m e L o w 30 S u mm e r F e s t i v a l s 34 Dev 36 C h r i s t i n a G r i mm i e 38 Oh Snap! 40 M a nc h e s t e r Orc h e s tr a 42 K at e V o e g e l e 44 Caitlin Crosby 46 Hyperlite 48 Brendan James 50 Changing Pace

Design / Production: Leah LeFlore Shawn Collins Advertising / Marketing: Chris Rutherford Writing / Editing: Jonathan Robles John Mouser | mousertime.blogspot.com Amanda Morad Laura Ladymon Brittany Pickering Shayla Eaton Alexa Spieler Weston Shepherd

h a pp y b i rt h d ay

variance “We wish you a great first birthday, Variance! From everyone in the band!” —Goo Goo Dolls “Happy Birthday, Variance!” —Yellowcard

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Books

A Visit from the Goon Squad

T h e Ev e n i n g W o lv e s

by Jennifer Egan

A Tale of Love, Murder, and WWII Spies

Meet Sasha, a New York kleptomaniac with an affinity for people’s personal items and mementos. Her most cherished stolen item is a child’s lost scarf, which she witnessed falling from the child’s neck but failed to return. Sasha’s former boss, Bennie, is neurotic in his own right. He’s haunted by his crumbling career as a record label executive and his recent divorce. Take a trip back to the eighties and meet Bennie’s band of misfit punkrocker friends who get into infinitely more than their share of trouble.

by Kate Carter Gooch

In A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan has assembled a diverse collection of characters that include everything from a college student on safari with her much older boyfriend to a nine-year-old girl with a penchant for pink to a corrupt foreign statesman to an out-of-work writer fresh out of prison for assaulting a famous melodramatic actress. Egan’s novel instantly captures the reader with a strange, interesting look into the thoughts and feelings of infinitely complex people who have lived highly extraordinary lives that intertwine in the strangest of ways. By incorporating nontraditional writing styles, such as everchanging points of view, time shifts, an integrated magazine article complete with footnotes by one of the characters, and even a PowerPoint slideshow, Egan creates a fresh take on the conventional novel and throws it in the face of an attentiondeficit, technology-addicted world. Egan’s novel is a rock album of words, story songs of highs and lows that invoke deep-seated, forgotten feelings of past and future failures and triumphs. It’s full of the strange sounds of life that are simultaneously amazingly normal and painfully extraordinary. 6

With a shell-shocked father, an over-the-top mother, and a misfit band of sisters, Alcina Whitaker’s life is hectic enough. When her best friend, Lorena Aylward, is found dead in Monk’s Lane, a place she would have never gone willingly, it seems like her world is spiraling even more out of control. A missing pharmacist; a motley crew of various other townspeople; the reappearance of Lorena’s haughty brother, Saxe; and random air raids by the Germans don’t help the situation. Is there another reason for her father’s erratic behavior? Where does he go when he disappears? Exactly how many people were involved in Lorena’s murder, and who are they? What is the real reason Saxe Aylward has returned to town? Alcina must figure out who she can trust while she tries to piece together the events leading up to her friend’s death and what exactly is going on in her once-quiet little town. Kate Carter Gooch is off to an explosive start with her first novel, The Evening Wolves: A Tale of Love, Murder, and WWII Spies. The story captures your attention from the first page and continues to hold it as the intrigue builds and reaches a conclusion that keeps you wanting more and wondering what will happen to the characters next. Gooch’s characters are funny and interesting without being completely unbelievable. She has managed to avoid so many mistakes made by first-time authors and create a story that readers of all ages will enjoy. This is definitely a must-read for lovers of mystery and WWII novels.

music

Ended It All

T h e W h o l e W o r l d i s A s l ee p

Downpor

Hours Before Morning

“Running from my past / I’m so afraid of the shadows I’ve cast / Tired of breathing / Can’t catch my breath”

“We turned our eyes / I heard your words so bold and pretty / We won’t look back / No we won’t ever think of giving in”

Fans of Christian rock, rejoice! If you like the hard hitting sounds you hear at Skillet, Kutless, or Thousand Foot Krutch concerts, you’ve just found your new favorite band in DownPor. This four member band recently released its debut album, Ended It All, and with the gritty sound and thoughtful lyrics it’s definitely worth a listen.

The whole world may be asleep, but it’s about to wake up when it hears Hours Before Morning. With a genuinely unique sound rife with close and haunting harmonies, it’s sure to make its way onto your top plays on iTunes.

Vocally, lead singer Darrin Keith channels some of the wonderful rockiness made popular by the greats of grunge while employing the emotional range you hear from singers like Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch. This combination melds well with guitar that is very reminiscent of Collide-era Skillet. As musicians who live to serve God with the talents they are blessed with, DownPor creates music that is relatable through lyrics based on personal experiences that are sure to touch the listener’s heart. Don’t miss out on a chance to purchase Ended It All.

The quiet strength in this music is genius. The music ebbs and flows like an ocean and displays the same amount of depth. For the perfect example of this, check out “Hold On.” The vocals remind one of your favorite 70s rock and the instruments are subtle in all the right places and hard-hitting at just the right times. Truly, the instruments give this album an ethereal quality. You’ll enjoy every moment when listening to The Whole World is Asleep. It’s a great collaboration of four friends making the music they love, and the passion they have for their songs shines through. Don’t miss the chance to purchase this album!

music

featured

G r av i t y h a p p e n s Kate Voegele I’d rather make sandcastles / than these wide world decisions / I knew I knew it was all catching up to me yeah / and I don’t have a plan at all / but I got this six string religion / and I do I do believe a song can heal me” Rockin’ it since 2002 and in the spotlight since Tom discovered her on MySpace in 2004, Kate Voegele has only made her albums fuller and more complex over the course of her career. Kate’s lyrics possess an intelligence and honesty that other artists are often lacking. Her newest album, Gravity Happens, is no different. A mix of the cheerful pop music that has made her popular and twangy riffs reminiscent of her more folksy-sounding beginnings, it definitely shows how she has grown as an artist and songwriter. “Sunshine in My Sky” is a summertime anthem that showcases Kate’s love of the outdoors and the sky, which is a common theme in her songs (“Manhattan from the Sky” from A Fine Mess, for instance). “Maybe I should pack my bags and fly to Costa Rica / put a flower in my hair a dancing senorita / oh / put a little sunshine in my sky / oh / what a lovely day to be alive / these eyes / are longing to see a sign of summer / leave my cares in the breeze / oh put a little sunshine in my sky.” “Heart in Chains” shows a darker side of Kate. In the song, she talks about a recent breakup in an on-again, off-again addictive romance.

“Your attention is my addiction / a rollercoaster of highs and lows / I need your venom it’s been in my system / since the second we said hello.” The song starts out somewhat haunting and dark and evolves into the driving, in your face, honest reprimand that Kate has become known for. The last lines are especially poignant: “Don’t leave me helpless / don’t leave me lost / don’t leave me waiting / you’re all I’ve got.” The title track is an eerie ballad with an orchestral background that seems to echo Kate’s musical journey and outlook on life: “I have gathered / that the moments that shaped me / were the ones that have tested my faith / and all that matters / is the courage they gave me / I fell down and my fears were erased.” Once again, Kate has produced a hit album with a mix of both heart and fun. There’s not a bad song on the album, and it’s difficult to tell which tracks will be played over and over on the radio—they’re all just that good. “What am I to do? / I’ve broken my parachute / so if gravity happens / then I’ll fasten wings to my shoes.”

Read more about Kate Voegele on page 42 8

music

not alone

Juarez

Aaron Perez

Reid Perry

“Lift up your eyes / Can you see the glory? / Hear the cries / All of creation’s longing / For the rise of this kingdom that’s to come”

“I don’t like this situation / It’s scaring me to death / You make me feel like a book with a bad ending / A plot that really has no point at all”

Aaron Perez has that unique gift of taking even the simplest of notes or melodies and making them speak straight to the listener’s heart. With his debut album, Not Alone, Aaron pairs beautiful vocals and heartfelt lyrics together and layers in musical styling that reminds one of Switchfoot. The piano used in the intro of “Reign Forever” ensures the song as a favorite. It reminds one of songs that never fail to move the listener, like “I Can Only Imagine.” The lyrics are equally moving in a personal, convicting way. The words speak to everyone in every station of life. If you’re looking for a dynamic and passionate blend of alternative and contemporary praise and worship, Aaron Perez’s Not Alone is the album for you. Download it on iTunes today!

Download Juarez by Reid Perry, and you’re definitely in for a good time. Reid is offbeat, eclectic, and tons of fun. He’s been playing guitar since age seven, released an album two years ago, and now he’s continuing his musical journey with this foottapping new project. It’s hard to describe Reid’s style. It’s primarily lyrical folk, but listen closely and you’ll find hints of rock and country that turn this album into a quirky kind of genius. “Sea Side” is the perfect midsummer day song with its pleasant guitar-pickin’ and soothing vocals. In no time it’ll have you wanting to take a blanket outside so you can lay back and watch the clouds go by. For the love of all that is quirky, please go download Juarez. You’ll listen to it over and over and find something new every time!

FREE YOUR SOUNDS

AND YOUR FRIENDS WILL FOLLOW SOUNDCLOUD.COM

THIRTY-NINE THOUGHTS M I N I S T R Y F I R S T, M U S I C S E C O N D

By Shayla Eaton

IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, it takes more than just ability to sing and play music. It takes perseverance, knowledge of the game, and years of practice.

entertain people. In focusing on ministering to our own generation, it became clear that being ministers didn’t have to wait until we all ‘grew up.’”

Thirty-Nine Thoughts hasn’t missed one single practice.

That’s for sure. Adolescence won’t stop these guys from belting it out.

Contemporary Christian rock band ThirtyNine Thoughts is from Lubbock, Texas, and consists of six band members between ages sixteen and seventeen. Young, right? But not naïve. These guys know what they’re doing. And have known since first grade.

“To You,” an emotional worship song, placed third in the 18th Annual Billboard Worldwide Song Contest. Drawing inspiration straight from the Scripture, the band delivers uplifting songs.

“Several of us had been talking about it since the first grade,” said Scott Dawson (bass guitar) of forming a band. “Once we were all in the seventh grade, we decided it was time to be serious and actually try this.” The band members are all Christians and knew from the very start that their music would be their ministry. “There really never was a question as to what type of music we would play and who we were playing for,” said Philip Moore (acoustic guitar, vocals). “Right away it became a ministry rather than a band, and we realized we could do more than just

“When we write,” said Rett Watts (lead vocals), “we thank God for what He has done for us in sending His Son and try to focus those lyrics on His power, who He is, and that there is an alternative to hopelessness, suicide, and other issues that face our generation.” With all that inspiration, it’s no wonder they’ve got some great gigs lined up this summer. Thirty-Nine Thoughts will be playing at the Ichthus Festival in Wilmore, Kentucky, in June. Right after that, they’ll be rocking it out at the AtlantaFest Talent Competition in Stone Mountain, Georgia. In August, you’ll find them appearing as the featured artist for Rock the Desert 2011.

It’s got to be hard to have this much going on—and so fast too. But the band is continually engulfed in support and love from their family and friends. “When we started this, we signed a contract with each other about practices and responsibilities as a member of the band,” said Tanner White (lead guitar, keyboard). “One of the items in the contract is that we would all commit to a daily time with God…knowing this, our parents held us accountable to this commitment.” Commitment isn’t the only thing helping them to succeed though. “Stay strong in your faith,” said Brock Lilley (rhythm guitar, vocals) of pursuing your dreams. “When you are following God’s will, He will take you to awesome places…so go for it,” said Isaac Zapata (drums). And these guys are definitely going places.

For King

Country

by Jonathan Robles 12

rowing up in Sydney, Australia, and Nashville, TN, music has always been a backdrop in the lives of brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone. They’ve worked with amazing artists such as Aqualung and Rebecca St. James and their music has been featured on television shows like The CW’s Vampire Diaries. As they embark on a new journey with their debut album, they sit down to talk exclusively with Variance. How close are you guys to completing the album? J: We were slated to release at the end of 2010 but our original A&R guy kind of moved on. We had 4 months of wondering “what’s the label going to do with this?” But they basically came and said they love the record as-is. We want to add two or three tunes and release it this year. And that’s what we’re working on right now. So, you guys are from Australia, but how did you end up here? L: Our dad was a concert promoter in Australia and he actually lost a small fortune on a tour that we did down there. Then he got a job offer in Nashville. And it was one of those things where he thought, I’m ready for a life change. So we brought the family out here to work in the music industry. And when we came here we really didn’t have anything. So it was sort of an adventure. We enjoy all of the good things America has to offer. I actually married an American girl. But we have our green cards, so the Australians still have to take us back when we show up at the border. J: It is funny, because a lot of the people in Australia want to meet an American. And everyone here wants to meet an Australian or go there. And it

just goes to show you that the grass is always greener on the other side.

machine or you really didn’t have too much.

Speaking of the grass being greener, you started “indie” but you’re with a label now. Do you still have some creative control?

You talk about partnerships. What’s it like being brothers in a band together?

L: Of course we listen to producers and the label has a lot to say about which songs are cut. But we get to write our own songs and what we are giving them is essentially what they are looking at. I think labels are at a point now where they’re realizing, if we control them [artists] completely and take away from who they are, the music doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense. But if we support them and make their artistry and who they are come alive, that’s a home run. J: Because we were an indie band before, I guess we had a little bit of credibility because we had already defined who we are. We didn’t come to them empty-handed and say, “hey we’re two brothers from Australia…let’s do something!” We came to them and said, “here’s our vision…here’s the kind of music we want to sing…this is where we want to go in our careers. Will you partner with us?” Do you feel that is happening more in the industry today? J: We have really good friends, namely Joy Williams, who went down this road of full label support and then ventured out of it and has done an incredible job with her band, The Civil Wars, apart from any label. And now they’re at a point where because of what they’ve done through independent marketing and promotion they’ve now got all these labels knocking on their door saying, hey, let us partner with you. We never wanted to be an indie-rock band. We want to have that partnership and influence that a label has but there are tons of people doing it differently. And for the first time in history, with modern technology, it’s feasible. Twenty years ago you either had the big

L: The interesting thing is you can be so straight ahead with each other. If Joel doesn’t like something I come up with in a writing session, he can say so. And there’s no emotional weirdness. He’s my brother. If you can’t trust your family, it’s going to be a long journey to where you can trust someone else. J: It’s like any partnership; you have your moments. The beauty of what Luke and I do is that opposites attract. He is sort of chill, taking life as it comes, incredibly talented. But I am like the Energizer Bunny. Where do you guys ultimately want to take this? L: Music does something to your life. It’s universal. And I am not exactly sure of where this road is going to take us but I do know, I’m passionate about music and Joel is passionate about music. And something happens when we get together. And as far as who’s going to hear it, that’s part of the excitement and journey of it. I don’t know! J: Luke and I have seen many miraculous events throughout our lives. And you’ll see, even in our Twitter posts, this underlying theme of hope and serving something greater than ourselves. Coupled with our love for music, it’s such a powerful thing. If you were to speak those lyrics, it’s one thing. But to put those words with a melody, all of a sudden it becomes something kind of peculiar. It’s spiritual. We want our music to encourage and impact lives and introduce people to hope. That’s our vision. For King and Country’s new album releases fall 2011. www.forkingandcountry.com www.twitter.com/4kingandcountry 13

FROM THE MUSIC WORLD TO THE CORPORATE WORLD A

C O N V E R S A T I O N

He’s

been promoting bands since puberty and his production company, Third String, has changed Dallas’ music scene for teens altogether. But Mike Ziemer is swimming in new waters this summer with his fledgling social media marketing company, Z Interactive. Variance talked with Ziemer about his new foray into the corporate world and how it’s changed his tune. What propelled the transition from music promotion to social media marketing? It kind of came to me because of the Business Week article (The MySpace Generation, December 2005). When that came out, they labeled me as a “brand influencer.” At that point, I didn’t really understand what that meant. [Jesse at Business Week] kept trying to explain it to me. She said, “you have this following and this demographic— every company is trying to reach the 15-24yr old demographic and you’re reaching that. You have this power to take your knowledge and contribute to trends.” At that point I was just happy doing music. But as the years went on and I became more business savvy and started looking at what’s going to last long term, it made sense to reevaluate that idea. I started with music venues, so I didn’t really stray far from what I was doing, but then it translated into restaurants and full brands and businesses. It’s been a natural progression going from promoting music, finding a way to avoid traditional advertising on radio and television, [via] the internet, to teaching businesses how to avoid paying for yellow pages, billboards, and print ads, and how to utilize this online space. How has your experience with marketing shows and bands influenced how you approach social media? I’d been messing around with blogs and MySpace and Facebook and everything since

W I T H

M I K E

2003-2004, so we’ve figured out ways, both automatically through a program, and manually by hand to target people (15-24yr old music fans) and pull them into what we’re doing and make them want to be a part of it. So we took that concept and applied it to brands. It was actually an easier transition than I originally expected, but you have to figure out, how do I translate this formula to that formula and is it compatible? And we’ve found it is. The ways we target people in the music industry are the same ways you can target people in any industry. In your experience, what are the top 3 things that make a successful online marketing campaign? It requires full knowledge of the business that you’re working with. You can’t sell a product or properly engage people for a product or service if you yourself don’t know anything about it. You have to know the brand. Second, you have to know the demographic. You can’t market a car company to a ten-year-old kid. It’s not gonna work. I guess the third thing would be paying attention to what people are saying about the brand. You have to be able to play off positives, handle negatives, and know how to engage a demographic that may not have anything to do with your particular interests. We have a wide range of clients from venue to restaurant chains to a home décor store to a real estate agent. We’ve figured out a formula that is universal and works for all of these and those are three of its main components. How does your day-to-day lifestyle differ now as opposed to when you were strictly promoting bands and shows? How are you juggling two full-time businesses? The music industry is a lot different. You keep the schedule of the bands, so you wake up whenever, you go to bed whenever. Sometimes you don’t sleep for a day. It’s

Z I E M E R

kind of a free-for-all. No one expects you to be awake and in a suit at 9 in the morning because you were at a show until 2 last night. That’s just the way the music industry works. But coming to a [corporate atmosphere], we have to be here in the morning and we have to dress better. I can’t just sit at home in my tank top and shorts, you know, I’m coming to an office now. I’m wearing slacks, dress shoes, and a button up. Sometimes I wear the suit and ties, depending on the meeting. It’s challenging for me because I’m living in both worlds. I will go to a concert and be at that show until 2 in the morning and I will get home at 3 and stay up till 4, but I still have to be at the office at 9 in the morning. It does present challenges because it’s a completely different world of structure, organization, and presentation. I have a seven-year track record of doing well in the music industry, so that kind of speaks for itself. I don’t have a seven-year track record of specifically doing marketing for big brands or corporations, or even small businesses. So I have to present myself in a way that when I walk into a building, people are going to want to have that conversation with me. As far as juggling my time, my time is 90-100% on Z Interactive. I have somebody running Third String full time for me now, handling all the day to day promotions, booking the smaller shows, and checking in with the bands. I’ve pretty much been able to transition most contacts over to him, and he handles everything so that I can come to my office from 9 to 6 or 7 or however late I end up working, and just be focused on one thing—marketing. Want more Mike? Check out his hub at www.apromoterslife.com.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Written by John Mouser Photos by Alex Tanas

Where are some of your favorite places to travel?

ith the debut of his 2008 release, Holly, featuring the popular tune “After Tonight,” Justin Nozuka quickly became a household name. His follow-up album, You I Wind Land and Sea, further cemented the Canadian singer/ songwriter’s international success. Shortly before he boarded a plane for Paris, Variance had a chance to briefly speak with Justin about his world travels and latest release, The Blue Velvet Sea EP.

I really like Western Europe, where we’re going. I really like America as well. I love traveling through Canada. All of these places are special and they are all different in the way that human beings have established, but they all have some similarities also. It is really cool to see all of these different cultures; to be there for two days, get a sneak peek, make some friends, then leave to go to a different place.

Your music has taken you around the world. Have you always had aspirations of world travel?

What do you think makes your music appealing to so many different cultures?

It was an abstract idea for me in the beginning. I didn’t know where it was going to take me, but I knew that I wanted to go and play for lots of people. I always had that image in my mind. I had no idea what the touring experience was like and how it was going to unfold, but I knew that I wanted to tour.

I think that ultimately, when you create music that is proper music, it becomes fundamental and anyone can relate to it or connect to it. When done properly, the language doesn’t really have anything to do with it. It’s the music as a whole. When it is speaking truth, everyone can relate to that on a fundamental level.

What advice would you offer a musician who is just starting off? It’s important to have in your mind what your attention is and what you want to do. Just go for it and fall and go for it again. Learn and continue to go for it. It starts as an abstract idea and you have this dream and desire. It will take you to one place, and in that time you do what you have to do in that one place to get you to the next place. It is constantly building into this idea that you have. [Know] what your ultimate dream is and just continue to envision it every day.

towards creating a more peaceful structure. It’s something we can all enjoy. Africa is a very special place. There is a lot of love, warmth, and light there.

How did the Blue Velvet Sea EP come together? We [recorded] a cottage session and did some live performances in the countryside. We had these recordings when the second album (YIWLAS) was released, and I just really wanted to put something else out. So, we put this together quickly. There’s songs from 2006 and from along the way that I really wanted to put out.

Where did your love for Africa begin? That experience came through a friend I met in Paris, actually. She came to me with the opportunity to go to Africa because she was already involved at the Children in the Wilderness foundation. So I went and really learned about what they were doing (Sustainable Conservation through Leadership Development). It’s a beautiful thing that we are able to get involved in places all over the world.…By focusing on other places in the world we really do take steps

Youtube sensation Alexandra Amorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rise in the music industry by Amanda Morad

t’s been said that Justin Beiber was the last YouTube pop sensation. But after sitting down with up-and-coming pop artist and Orlando native, Alexandra Amor, we’re not so sure. Our Q & A with Alex has us convinced that this sensation in the making is ready for the big leagues.

These days there are several paths to musical success. How did you decide that covering pop tunes on YouTube was yours? Well, I just knew different success stories you know, with artists like Justin Bieber. I also have a friend that records at a studio that I used to, [country artist and YouTube sensation] Avery. She’s signed to Universal now. It just seemed like a good way to reach different fans. I generally try to cover Top 40 because that’s the music that I’m doing, but I’ve also used things like Twitter to talk directly to fans and get to know them, but YouTube has definitely helped circulate everything. Tell us a little about the making of your music videos. I did a lot of the beginning music videos with NVD Studios, but he does a lot more on the rap and hip hop side, less on pop projects, so it’s been a real learning experience for us both. It’s a whole new world to him. It’s all about the teamwork. He believes in the project and we work together really well. Josh and I would come up with the concepts. We didn’t just want to do in-studio performances, because that’s what a lot of people do. We wanted to put a creative twist on it and do mini music videos. It wasn’t so much to copy other artists, but to show that I’m versatile. We’ve gotten a pretty good response. I think people aren’t used to mini music videos though. They think I’m trying to copy the artist or that I don’t have my own style, but we [just released] my original music video, “Radio,” June 4. So that’s me as an artist, versus me trying to be Katy Perry or Rihanna. Your Reverbnation bio says you got noticed by manager Josh Mendez in your college communication class. How were you pursuing your music career before the class assignment? I was still in school so it was more a hobby rather than a career as it is now. Three days after meeting him was my first time recording in a studio, so from then on til now, it’s been a completely different world for me, as far as recording and going in with producers and having writing sessions, everything. It’s definitely a career now. I feel very blessed it came about the way it did. It doesn’t happen every day.

What’s your favorite cover so far? I have two, but I’m biased because I just did my first collab video with Jake Coco so I really like that one [Edge of Glory, Lady Gaga]. But my personal favorite that I did with NVD was F****** Perfect, by Pink. That day was so amazing. We ended up recording it in Miami at Circle House Studios, and I got to meet Pitbull. How do you process the feedback for your videos? Most of it’s positive, but some people are just hurtful. There’s always gonna be negative feedback but I just take it as motivation to filter out and see what I can do for the next video to make them fans as well. You can’t let it get you down. The Superstar video is a ton of fun, but what can we expect from the rest of your album? Nothing having to do with Superstar actually. It was the first song I’d recorded in the booth, ever. The writer I wrote it with, we didn’t really know each other, and it wasn’t even written in my range. And with me being new to the booth, I didn’t know the lingo to use in the studio, so my whole album is going to be in different keys and a different style. It’s not gonna be bubblegum pop, it’s gonna be a little bit more pop, dance, and a splash of rhythmic. Something that I would definitely listen to. Less Disney, more Top 40. So what’s up next for you? Hopefully the single. We’re really trying to find that one hit that describes Alexandra Amor. You listen to it and you know me as an artist. We’ve been having meetings with some major labels (Jive, Universal, Warner Bros, and Sony), which I can’t talk too much about, but it’s good. So hopefully a joint venture in the future, but [for now] we’re just gonna keep working on social media, releasing covers, releasing original music, and performances. What’s your biggest goal for the next year? I definitely hope that we have a joint venture and my album is produced. [I hope] I can express to all my fans who Alexandra Amor is through my album. And also touring. That’s my number one thing right now. I want to meet my fans. I want to inspire them. And hopefully be able to give back through some charities. I’ve been looking for charities dealing with neglected children. What advice do you offer other young artists trying to find their way in the entertainment industry? I always tell them to have integrity in everything they do. If they want it, they’re gonna work for it. It’s not easy. Practice, work hard, and have integrity and you’ll achieve whatever it is you’re out to achieve. Connect with Alex on: Youtube: youtube.com/user/alexistoothick Twitter: twitter.com/alexandraamor Facebook: facebook.com/alexandraamor

For recording artist Josiah Warren and author Sun Hui East, talent definitely runs in the family.

eep your eyes and ears open for a flurry of releases from Sun Hui East and Josiah Warren, a mother and son whose artistic abilities seem to know no limits. A CD, two books, a concert and an independent feature film will be the accomplishments added this year to Sun’s five nationally-released books. She has penned her life story, When I Hold His Hand, as well as three novels based on the book of Hosea. It’s her fourth novel, The Prophet’s Son, that brings Sun’s writing and directing skills together with Josiah’s musical and acting skills. The Prophet’s Son is a love story between budding novelist Juliet Oscar and Abel Benjamin, the son of her prophesying pastor. “This film is rich in music, politics, and drama,” according to the film’s website (www.tps-themovie.com). “It dares to reopen the wounds of Columbine, expose the heartache of homeless, runaway youth, and demonstrate the bold faith and love of Christian believers. In the ever-present longing of the main characters for each other, The Prophet’s Son models purity in the kind of love that lays down its life for others. It is at once romantic and prophetic, demonstrating the power of love to conquer in every imaginable situation while preparing God’s people for impending judgment.” While the cover art features Josiah at the piano, that’s just the beginning of their collaboration for this project. The two are currently busy filming a movie based on the book. Sun is the director and producer, and Josiah is making his acting debut as the title character. Josiah Warren’s debut CD, December Rain, scheduled for release in September, has already attracted attention from some big names in contemporary Christian music. The trio of pastors known as Phillips, Craig, and Dean is helping to promote the film with a concert

at Southeast Christian Church in Parker, Colorado on July 15th. The evening of the concert, Josiah will open for Phillips, Craig & Dean in front of an expected crowd of 2000, just after the movie trailer of The Prophet’s Son makes its debut. It almost didn’t happen at all. Ten days before shooting began in early June, Josiah lost control of his car in the rain, crashed, and was thrown from the vehicle. Rescuers confirmed that he was unresponsive at the scene, and he was airlifted to the hospital. After KLOVE radio spread word around the country, friends and strangers began to pray for Josiah. “Just 24 hours after being admitted, Josiah was released from the ICU with only minor scratches and bruising,” said Desera Price, publicity coordinator for the film. “The medical staff could not understand how someone in such a serious accident did not have internal bleeding or any other major injuries. It was truly a miracle.” The Prophet’s Son is scheduled to wrap production around Thanksgiving. For more information visit www.tps-themovie.com. For details and tickets to the Josiah Warren and Phillips, Craig, and Dean concert, visit www.iTickets.com or call 303-841-9292. December Rain is currently available through www.tatemusicgroup.com, and Sun Hui East’s books are available at www.tatepublishing.com and everywhere books are sold.

You got started by releasing your music on Myspace, right? I started putting my albums up on CDBaby. I didn’t know about Myspace until I moved to California and Colbie [Caillat] introduced me to it. From the moment we started recording our first songs we put them up on that site and everything changed. It was a crazy moment. I don’t even understand it, but I’d say that Myspace changed everything for us. Do you feel that it led to where you are now? For sure. No one would know about Colbie if we hadn’t put her songs on Myspace. And everything has branched out since then for both of us. What does The Lovesick, the title of your new album, mean? I call it The Lovesick because it’s like an army. Not in a sense that it goes to war, but just a group of people that are sick with love—either in a good or a bad way. I believe everybody is affected by love in either form. If you could do anything differently from the span of your career so far, would you? I don’t really think about stuff like that, I’d rather think about what I’m going to do in the future than what I would have done differently in the past.

OK, so looking ahead, you’ve worked with some great people. Anybody on your wish list? I want to work with Nicki Minaj and Eminem. You covered Nicki’s song “Moment for Life”… I did. And the cover is supposed to be out sometime this summer on Billboard. But I love them both for different reasons, and it would be great to do a song with them. Speaking of “moments,” is there a highlight that stands out for you in your career at this point? I think the highlight for me was the moment that Colbie and I realized that people from all over the world could know a song that you wrote in your bedroom, that moment of realizing music is so powerful—it blew my mind and it made me want to keep doing it. What advice would you give to other musicians starting out? Know your vision and to believe in what you’re doing; putting your heart into it and being honest with yourself. A lot of people will tell you what they think you should do, but the truth comes from within. Always.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Jason Reeves You’ve gotten to work with Colbie Caillat and Kara DioGuardi. What is that like? Well they’re both very different. But they’re incredible musicians and incredible women. I’m just lucky to work with people who are so talented. It’s very freeing when you don’t have to force something and with those two there’s no forcing it. Kara has said that, as a songwriter, she is a big advocate of songwriting. Do you feel that’s why you guys work so well together, because you’re both songwriters? I definitely believe that. We connect because of that; because we come from the same mindset. We both feel the same way about the art of writing songs. 22

by Jonathan Robles photo by Shannon Sewell

by Jonathan Robles photos by Jeremy Cowart

Glee & God Kristin Chenoweth talks candidly about her faith and her future 23

“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.” The words of Douglas H. Everett are true today. Kristin Chenoweth, the bubbly blonde with an extraordinary—and unique—set of pipes, has the life many others dream about. Since her rise to fame as Glinda the Good Witch in the Broadway musical Wicked, she has had a remarkable career. And it seems she’s just now hitting her stride. The Emmy-winning actress—whose character April Rhoades has become a fan-favorite on the hit show Glee—just released the debut single “I Want Somebody” off her upcoming new album, which precedes her starring role in the new ABC dramedy Good Christian Belles (which already has people talking, simply based on its premise). “It takes place in the Bible belt,” explained Chenoweth. “In a world we haven’t seen on TV a lot, which is church.” “It’s about real women and the struggles they face, just like anybody else. My character is a former nerd turned socialite. She is the head of the ‘belles’ and when the former ‘mean girl’ (played by Leslie Bibb) comes back to town, she feels threatened and insecure. She will stir it up and then pray for everyone!” Chenoweth—born and raised in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma—is no stranger to the “Bible belt.” She started singing at an early age in her church and she regularly talks on Twitter about her love for her home state. “Oklahoma is my home,” she said. “It’s where I grew up and it’s all I’ve ever known. The people, the food, Sonic and Chickfil-A included, and the heritage are all the best. We’ve had some of the best musicians from Oklahoma and our education system is the best. I’m proud of my state.” Perhaps it’s that sense of pride that has her—as she points out—“getting back to my roots.” Not just in her new TV role, but in her music as well. For the singer who has become known for her big Broadway voice and her even bigger personality, the new album Some Lessons Learned is a slight change of pace. “I was very scared,” she recalled. “This is the music I grew up singing but I didn’t know if it would be accepted. But the Nashville community has been amazing and I can’t wait for people to hear it.”

Given her overwhelming reception at last month’s CMT Awards and the premiere of her new music video, fans will certainly be hearing more from Kristin Chenoweth. But will they be seeing more of her on Glee, especially considering her upcoming commitments? “I have no idea if April gets to come back,” she said. “If she does, we’ll make it work.” “Glee resonates with people,” stated Chenoweth, explaining her love for the series. “Because music is the universal language. It speaks to all. Ryan Murphy (the creator) has placed all kinds of music on that show and there are also characters that are real people with real struggles. I don’t know a person alive that can’t understand that. Also, it’s just freaking entertaining!” Regardless of what happens, she will have a full plate. But she’s used to that. “Juggling a lot of aspects of my career is hard,” she said of her busy schedule. “I don’t really have a lot of down time, so when I do—even if it’s only one day, I relax! I also have people in my life who help me with my schedule.” The people in her life, as she has credited constantly throughout her career, have definitely made an impact. And so has her faith. “My parents encouraged me in the talents God gave me,” she remembered. “I can promise you right now I wouldn’t be alive today without the faith I have in the Lord. There are days where I think, ‘I can’t do it today; I’m too tired, too depressed’—yes, I get depressed! But there’s something about the name of Jesus. I know that He lives. If I’m wrong, I’d much rather live in the place of love, hope, and forgiveness than disparity.”

Her advice to someone else who has a dream in their heart? “Go do it!” “If you can see yourself doing anything else, then by all means, go do it! This business is hard, but if you can’t see anything but music, then go for it! Don’t let anyone tell you, ‘no.’ But also, study hard so that you can hone your craft.” Although an accomplished artist and star—with an Emmy award and a Tony, multiple hit TV shows, tremendous success on Broadway, and an enviable list of achievements, Kristin Chenoweth is a lot like many of her fans. She likes Krispy Kreme donuts and Oklahoma Sooner football. She says the easiest and best decision she ever made was to become a Christian. And she admits that life still has its ups and downs. She recalls her greatest moment in life, after a long struggle. “Finding out my mother was cancer-free—that was the best moment ever!” And while she’s come a long way from singing in the choir on Sundays as a child, she—just like many of her fans—still has hopes and dreams. There’s still one person she really wants to work with—her biggest idol. “Two words: DOLLY PARTON.” If her career up to this point is any indication, she will probably get her wish. As Douglas H. Everett said, some people live in a dream world, some face reality, and then there are those who turn one into the other. Kristin Chenoweth is definitely the latter.

Having ascended as she has in her career and in Hollywood ranks, Chenoweth has had to defend her faith at times—from various perspectives. In 2005, the events following an appearance on The 700 Club seemed to put her odds with two of her most loyal fan bases—the gay community and the Christian community. If anything, it revealed her growing influence as a role model. “I think we are all people just doing the best we can,” she said. “I always ask myself, ‘what would Jesus do?’ For me, that’s the question. I am trying to live by the right answer.” For the girl from Oklahoma, who was one of a select few to perform at the Oprah Winfrey Show’s grand finale in Chicago and who has quickly become one of the biggest voices in today’s pop culture, both literally and figuratively, the multi-talented Chenoweth knows what it is like to be that kid with a dream.

Kristin’s new album Some Lessons Learned is available worldwide on September 13, 2011.

www.kristinchenoweth.com

Their

fter Japanese bombs rain from the skies at Pearl Harbor, the world of Alexandra Lillis is drastically changed. Two close

male relatives go off to war, and America becomes a society of families left behind to worry, pray, and

Shadows 44

Remain Kathleen Searles Ermini

wonder about the future. The Lillis family must be strong, and Alexandra has much to learn about the effects of warâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;especially since it will not be the last wartime she lives through. Will war and its aftermath affect Alexandra and her family permanently?

Available now from

tatepublishing.com

fun.

text by John Mouser photos by Elizabeth Weinberg

ith summer in full swing, one of my favorite groups to play on a perfect sunny day (or a day when you need a pick-me-up), is fun. The super group is comprised of front man Nate Ruess, former lead vocalist of The Format, Andrew Dost, previously in Anthallo, and Jack Antonoff, current vocalist/guitarist of American indie rock band, Steel Train. It has been nearly two years since their debut LP,Â Aim and Ignite,Â introduced their energetic sound filled with infectious melodies, fun-loving lyrics, and epic Queen-like harmonies. They are currently touring the nation with Panic! At the Disco, and are planning to drop their sophomore LP later this summer on Fueled By Ramen. I had chance to briefly speak with Nate Ruess about their upcoming album, live performance, and his unique style of writing. What can people expect when they come to a fun. show? I have always said that it is a whirling dervish of sound. On stage we really like to have a good time, which is cool because our band name is fun. (laughs). I love playing live, and everyone in the band is having a great time, so hopefully that comes across. I think the songs sound good (live). I think for people that have seen us (in the past), our live show will change a little bit too, which is exciting for me.

With all of you guys being from different backgrounds and different successful bands (the Format, Steel Train and Anathallo), how did you guys get together and decide to do this project a couple of years back? When my last band was no more, I just knew that I wanted to work with those two (Andrew and Jack) specifically. They were the first and only two people that I called. I had toured with them in the past and had such a great friendship with them, and I admired them as musicians and as songwriters. So I figured if I was going to go down, I was going to go down in a blaze of glory (laughs), and they would go with me. With such intricately orchestrated songs, do you ever run into any challenges with bringing some of your songs to the stage? I think it can be hard. We do not have any string players, and there are a lot of strings on the album and sometimes there are more vocals (on the album), than there are people singing. But I think that we make up for it in other ways. We make up for it with a certain energy, and there is a little bit more rawness to the songs. They are different from the studio work, but they lend themselves to the live show very well. We try and duplicate that as much as possible with who we are and what we

have. We don’t throw on any CDs of ourselves and play over something. I think it works out really well.

I had a lot of that in mind. Others ones that I had, previously, kind of just adapted and ended up sitting in this whole thing.

How did Aim and Ignite come together, from the writing standpoint? Were they songs that you had written, or was it a collaborative effort?

Are you talking specifically about the sound, or the theme of the lyrics?

I had about forty or fifty percent of the songs raring to go, and then we worked out the other ones after the fact. But even when I had songs raring to go, that still means that there is a huge process. It took us about three and a half months to record the album. I hear that you have an interesting writing process? Yeah! I don’t know how to play an instrument because I’m lazy, so I just write everything in my head and try my best to explain it to either one of those guys (Jack and Andrew). Usually it varies on whether or not it starts on a guitar or piano, and then they will help me work through it and get my idea across. Hopefully at that point the song kind of belongs to all of us. So many times they just come up with ideas that I never would have thought of, that are so much better than the ones that I had. What are some of the differences that you are seeing with this album, in comparison to Aim and Ignite? I think that it is so different. It is different from the songwriting process, to the recording process, to the instruments (used), to the style of songs. It still feels like a fun. album to me, because it’s still my voice and lyrics, it’s still Jack’s guitar style and Andrew’s piano and composition style. It’s amazing that I think we have taken them (the songs) to a different world, and I don’t think that we could be more ecstatic about it. I know that I’m supposed to say that, but I am secretly freaking out about how excited I am about the music. What about similarities? Are there still a bunch of string arrangements and harmonies that were prevalent on the first fun. record? I think that it would be hard for us to not add strings or harmonies, but they are not a point of emphasis like they were on the last album. They are there for sure. Did you guys sit down before the writing/recording of this record and decide on a type of sound that you wanted to achieve? Or did you just let it unfold in the studio? I had kind of a crazy idea, and I started to write within that idea. From there I brought it up to the guys, and we all kind of thought “Oh shoot! It would be crazy if we were able to do this!” It worked out, and so when I started writing the songs,

Oh, just the sound. To me it’s not conceptual at all. I mean, it might be because I always tend to write what is on my mind and I don’t think I progress very far mentally (laughs). It’s more of just a general sound and something new that we are trying to do, that I just don’t know if that many people have done it. You guys have been in some pretty successful bands over the years. With that in mind, what kind of advice would you have for a band just starting off? Yeah, to me it has to do with playing live and just being yourself as much as possible. I think as a songwriter, I do not want to restrict myself and fall under certain genres or this or that. I try to go with my instincts and not to give myself boundaries. You shouldn’t have a lot of boundaries as a songwriter and as a performer, you should just try playing live a lot and try being good at playing live. I think that somehow in this world of Pro Tools and the ability to do this and that, live music has been one of those things that has failed the most. I think that it is important to put emphasis on being a good live performer. Speaking of the live performance, who are some people that you have looked up to in the past as far as stage presence/ live performance goes? Well, as a kid I was obsessed with At The Drive In. I used to think they put on the craziest shows in the world, and I thought that they were just a really cool band. There is a lot of self-awareness that you have to lose in order to become a great live performer, and they were just so good at feeling the music out and putting on a show without wondering if it was cheesy to be actually moving around. That is something that we all think of too, when we are putting on a show. One time we had a show, at a pretty hip place with a bunch of hip people and I think that we were all worried about the perception. Somehow, moving around and having a good time onstage is not synonymous with being “hip,” and we just told ourselves “Let’s not play to the crowd, let’s just be ourselves.” It ended up being one of our favorite shows ever. I just always look at someone like Freddy Mercury in those situations, or Mick Jagger. I love a good front man, who doesn’t necessarily play an instrument and does a good job of being a master of ceremonies too. For more info, check out www.ournameisfun.com

Al Time w o L

by John Mouser

In a time where the pop-rock world is cluttered with perfect hair and excessive production, one band has risen to the top with years of hard work, well-crafted tunes and countless shows under their belt. That band is All Time Low (ATL). The Baltimore pop-rock group made up of Alexander Gaskarth (vocals/guitar), Jack Barakat (lead guitarist), Zachary Merrick (bassist), and Rian Dawson( drummer) is back with a brand new album, Dirty Work, that has already topped the iTunes charts and plans to hit a city near you on their massive headlining tour that begins in late July. All Time Low’s major label debut, Dirty Work, is a project that was two solid years in the making. The group put in countless hours of work, in between a hectic touring schedule. The album was originally set to drop this past winter, but due to complications with the record label the release was ultimately pushed to early June. This push gave the band a short break from touring and recording, which Barakat sees as a positive move. “I think that it made it almost like a comeback. Like we came back with a bang,” explained Barakat. “ I think that it was a really good idea to kind of step away for a little bit.” While fans were anxiously awaiting the new release, the band decided to give a taste of what was to come by releasing “Time Bomb.” Barakat revealed that the idea behind this was “to show kids that we are still here.” On Dirty Work the band commissioned some of the best producers in the business including Butch Walker, who also played a key role on the group’s previous release, Nothing Personal. 30

The band also brought in a new producer, who ended up doing a majority of the album with them, Mike Green. Green, who is most known for his work with bands like Paramore and Boys Like Girls, became very close with the ATL guys while recording with them in Los Angeles. “It was the first time that we’ve worked with him, and it really clicked. He has kind of become the fifth member of the band in a way,” stated Barakat. When making this record, ATL made a strong effort to not let their expectations mold the songs they created. On their last release, Nothing Personal, the group attempted to tone down tracks that could be labeled as being “too pop” or “too rock.” Barakat explained, “The major difference in the recording process of this record was we definitely weren’t scared to write a very poppy song or a very rock-oriented record.” By eliminating the constraints normally placed on their songwriting, ATL was free to create an album that stretches across genres and appeals to a wider range of listener. “Every song seems to have its own identity, and we did some really different things on the record that I think everyone will enjoy,” said Barakat. On top of working with a number of successful producers, ATL also got a chance to do some co-writing with a pop-rock hero, Rivers Cuomo. The Weezer frontman had Barakat and

Gaskarth over to his home in Santa Monica, for a little writing session in his living room. “They (Rivers and Alex) wrote the song (‘I Feel Like Dancing’) and I had a couple words of input,” shared Barakat. “It was actually a really cool experience, to just sit there and write a song with one of our biggest inspirations of all time!” While releasing a number of solid albums that have caught the attention of the masses, ATL’s energetic live performances may be their most notable asset. “I like to think of ourselves as a live band,” states Barakat. “It’s kind of hard to show off our energy via our records, but I think if you come and see us live then it will really start to make sense and it clicks.” With the release of Dirty Work, ATL now finds themselves playing in larger venues with room to fit their increasing fan base. “It has definitely been a super slow build over the past six years of touring, where we have been slowly, slowly stepping into bigger venues on every tour,” Barakat explained. “Now we are starting to make the big jump. We are definitely starting to add some bigger shows into the bigger cities. So it’s pretty cool!” ATL’s hardworking attitude and perseverance teamed with a great deal of social networking has taken the band to where they are today.

Barakat explained that he considers ATL to be “one of the first Internet-based bands, especially because we basically started our entire band via the Internet.” Before MySpace Music took off, the band had a band page to help build a fan base. They were also one of the first fifty bands on PureVolume.com, which also helped establish a strong Internet following. “That’s how we started talking to record labels, that’s how we booked our first tours,” Barakat revealed. Even today, the band can be found making tour update videos and providing fans with up-to-date information via Twitter. “It still is a huge part of the band,” said Barakat. Since the time that the band began in 2003, All Time Low has been through a great deal of ups and downs. When asked what kind of advice he would give to a band just starting out, Barakat shared that “you have be super patient and work really hard. Definitely be willing to give your entire life to it, because that’s what it takes.” Barakat went on to explain, “One of the biggest things is to always think positive and be willing to fight through everything you have to.”

www.alltimelowband.com

by Amanda Morad

FESTIVALMANIA

WITH THE MUSIC INDUSTRY EVOLVING BY THE DAY, BANDS ARE DEPENDING LESS AND LESS ON MUSIC SALES AND MORE AND MORE ON LIVE PERFORMANCES. Where do an increasing amount of those live performances take place? Festivals. East Coast, West Coast, downtown, or out-of-town, these half-music-mecca-half-hippie-vacations are popping up everywhere between March and October. If you’re into music, you better get into festivals. Here’s a highlight of the best, tips for festival-going, and dates to get you started (time to start planning for spring 2012!). Happy head-banging! 33

////// MARCH - SXSW: Part festival, part mega-conference, South By Southwest hosted 2,000 bands in 80 venues throughout Austin, Texas this year. The music festival is just one of three festival-conferences that take over the city for most of March. It follows a film festival-conference and an interactive media conference. SXSW is known for both its stellar lineups and its reputation as the ultimate networking event in each featured industry. More than 13,000 industry reps showed out for 2011. Website: www.sxsw.com 2012 Dates: March 14-18 Cost: $595-$750

////// APRIL

////// June - BONNAROO: Calling all hippies! This one’s for you. Three days of camping out commune-style with music junkies from around the country. There are plenty of activities, food, drink, and merriment to be had. The music is a mix of folk, indie, rock, jam, and even a little hip-hop. Whatever your “ish,” you’ll be satisfied at Bonnaroo. As long as you’re okay with dirt, that is.

- COACHELLA:

Website: www.bonnaroo.com

Seen as one of the more exclusive mainstream festivals (how’s that for oxymoron?), Coachella brings the biggest names in music and celebrity together on a huge plot of land two hours east of L.A. This year, founder Paul Tollett shocked fans and the music business alike when he announced there would be TWO Coachellas this year, on back-to-back weekends, with the same lineup. The idea is to give more people the opportunity to experience the magic of the music and production without overcrowding.

Cost: $250

2012 Dates: April 13-15, April 20-22 Website: www.coachella.com Cost: $269

////// MAY - JOSHUA TREE: Held in the town of its namesake, Joshua Tree, California, the three-day Joshua Tree Music Festival is as much global symposium as it is jam session. It boasts artists from all over the world and the U.S. while giving attendees the hippie-commune feeling of solidarity, and tons of great entertainment. Website: www.joshuatreemusicfestival.com Cost: $75 + $15/night camping

- SUMMERFEST: Big. We’re talking massive. For 11 days straddling the end of June and beginning of July, Milwaukee, Wisconsin succumbs to festival-goers for a music event that boasts the largest attendance in the world. That’s primarily because it’s the best deal for your wallet, but the lineup isn’t shabby either. It usually includes some rock vets (Meatloaf, anyone?) as well as more contemporary rock, pop, and indie artists. Between the venue, the city, and the Lake, Summerfest offers a one-of-a-kind all-ages festival experience. Website: www.summerfest.com Cost: $15/day

////// July - ALL GOOD: There’s not much reason to spend time in West Virginia, unless of course you live there, but we make one exception for the All Good Music Festival on Marvin’s Mountaintop. Four days of camping, eating and music making totally justify the rugged trip up the mountain. The lineup features more than 40 acts that never overlap, so attendees get to hear it all. Website: www.allgoodfestival.com 2011 Dates: July 14-17 Cost: $200

////// AUGUST - LOLLAPALOOZA: Held in Chicago’s Grant Park, “Lolla” is three days of sensory overload and this year, they’re pulling out all the stops to celebrate their 20th birthday. Unlike many of the other major festivals, Lolla doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genre. 130+ bands from hip-hop to folk and everything in between take over 115 acres in the heart of the city. There’s never a shortage of music, activities, or beverages. Website: www.lollapalooza.com 2011 Dates: August 5-7 Cost: $215

////// September - AUSTIN CITY LIMITS: They say everything is bigger in Texas, and the City of Austin makes no exception. Home to both SXSW and Austin City Limits, this town knows how to party. Headliners this year include Stevie Wonder, Arcade Fire, Coldplay and Kanye West. Add in all the extra activities, like the Farmer’s Market, a sports lounge, autograph sessions, and the SoCo Art Market, and you’ve got a total three-day vacation. Website: www.aclfestival.com 2011 Dates: September 16-18 Cost: $185 or $90 single day

////// October - TREASURE ISLAND: A fairly new festival on the scene, this year marks Treasure Island’s fifth festival on the man-made San Francisco Bay island. Booking plenty of national and local up-and-coming acts, this two-day festival is a West Coast favorite. The first day usually features electronic and hip-hop music, while the second day sees rock and indie rock bands perform.

FESTIVALTIPS • Plan ahead. Many big festivals sell out months before. • Pack to camp. Unless it’s a big city festival with plenty of hotels, think Woodstock without the politics. • Schedule your days. Most festivals have overlapping sets. Check the lineup ahead of time to make sure you see the bands you really want to see. • Network. Nothing brings people together like good music. Use the camaraderie between attendees during festivals to make new connections. • Expand your horizons. Festivals are the best way to branch out from the bands you know and discover new music.

• Bring plenty of greenbacks. You may

be camping on the cheap, but there will be tons of food, alcohol, art, and merch to purchase and nobody wants to leave a festival empty-handed.

Website: www.treasureislandfestival.com 2011 Dates: October 15-16 Cost: $120 or $67.50 single day

www.devishot.com www.twitter.com/devishot

dE by John Mouser

pop music continues to diversify, indie sub-genres seem to rise to fill the gaps. Indie electro-pop artist Dev is a perfect example of this. With her hit single “Bass Down Low” and very popular features on the songs “Like a G6” by Far East Movement and “Backseat” by the New Boyz, Dev is a fresh face pop music. Three years ago, Devin Star Tailes was just an average student in college with distant dreams of making music. “I had recorded a song or two on Garageband and put it up on the Internet with my friend who had a MySpace page with beats on it,” explained Dev. Within a couple of months she had gained the attention of rising producer/artist duo The Cataracs (consisting of David “Campa” Benjamin Singer-Vine and Niles “Cyrano” Hollowell-Dhar). The Cataracs reached out to her, stating, “Your sound is kind of cool and weird. You should come to Berkley and we should make music.” She began commuting to Berkley several times a week in between school and work, aiming to “record as much as possible and soak up as much as I could.” The pairing of Dev and the Cataracs proved to be a perfect match from the beginning. “I hadn’t really even sung in front of anyone until I met them,” revealed Dev. She also credits the Cataracs with helping her learn how to properly structure a song. “I didn’t know what a bridge was, or anything like that,” stated Dev. “They also taught me how to paint pictures with my words and say what I really feel.”

The smash “Like A G6” by Far East Movement, with a properly placed Dev sample, proved to be the perfect formula for a number one hit. Her next big collaboration came when the Cataracs hooked up with pop/ hip-hop all-stars the New Boyz. Dev’s heavily anticipated debut LP is set to drop in September of this year, providing listeners with a wide range of songs. For the recording of this album, Dev and the Cataracs packed up shop and headed south to Costa Rica for a change of pace from the usual hustle and bustle of city life in California. “It was amazing,” Dev shared. “We were literally in the studio every day, but whenever we took a break, we were right on the ocean. It was absolutely beautiful.” The lead-off single on Dev’s album is an upbeat track that showcases her vocal capabilities and Latin background. “Going into the album, it was important for me to make music that was really close to me,” revealed Dev. The song also features a very catchy, borderline haunting saxophone line that floats throughout the song. Dev’s most recent collaborations are with hit producer/artist Timbaland, with one being on her new album and one on his new album. The two met through a mutual friend, and were able to hook up for a couple of tracks in a Miami studio back in January. She was immediately blown away by his production style. “It was really cool. He is nuts. The way that he makes music is really dope…It was definitely an amazing experience.”

CHRISTINA GRIMMIE by Alexa Spieler

Youtube has drastically changed the music industry—and that’s an understatement. Take, for instance, unsigned artist,

teenager Christina Grimmie. With nearly eighty videos uploaded, Youtube has helped transform Grimmie from your average teenage girl to an artist touring the country with the likes of Selena Gomez. Grimmie just finished up her run on Youtube’s first ever tour, the DigiTour, and we had the opportunity to speak with her prior to a show. Grimmie first caught my attention five months ago. Other Youtube celebrities Sam Tsui and Kurt Schneider had put up a brand new cover of Nelly’s “Just A Dream.” Rather than just having Sam sing and Kurt do the instrumentals, a female joined them—Christina Grimmie. Upon hearing her solo, I was hooked. On occasion you see or hear someone and automatically know they have that special “something.” That is exactly what Christina Grimmie has. It’s safe to say that in the next year, Grimmie won’t be just a Youtube star, she’ll be a superstar. Grimmie’s voice is powerful and passionate and you could not guess, just by listening to her, that she’s a teenager. Her piano-playing is fantastic, seeing as she learns everything by ear and is a quick learner. She learns the piano parts in one to two days tops. Her personality is bubbly and energetic, yet completely down-to-earth and you can tell that the fame she’s obtained hasn’t done anything to alter her attitude or outlook on life. If anything, it has made her even more confident, despite the haters who spend their days trolling the internet.

going to Disney, we had the opportunity to watch Grimmie’s sound check. Let me tell you, it may have just been a sound check, but if you think her voice is incredible on Youtube, you’d have your mind blown away hearing her live right in front of you. Her voice is enough to put the haters to rest and would most certainly shut their mouths if they heard her live. After sound check, Christina came back out to take a photo with us and say goodbye. When she was coming up the stairs I heard her jokingly say that she “doesn’t do pictures.” Knowing very well that she was kidding, as she came up the stairs, I said, “Too good for pictures, hmm?” Of course she laughed along and said that’s definitely not her and when she meets fans she asks them if they want a picture. I told her that in a year when she’s huge and famous, I’m going to hold that statement against her and make sure she’s still living by that. A few days later, Grimmie posted a picture we took together on her official facebook. As a caption underneath the picture, Grimmie posted, “the awesome girl that interviewed me at the NY show.” Just based on that, it’s safe to say that Grimmie is appreciative of every single thing that has come her way.

B e s u r e t o p i c k u p a c o p y o f G r i m m i e ’s d e b u t a l b u m , a v a i l a b l e n o w.

In response to what the haters have to say, Grimmie said “You got to stay true to yourself and that’s the most important thing.” This confidence hasn’t come just on her own though, as she thanks her brother, and close-friend Selena Gomez for this as well. “My brother and Selena have been like ‘Be yourself! Who cares about whoever doesn’t want you to be you?’” With wise words like that, it’s incredible to believe that Grimmie is just a teenager.

On occasion you see or hear someone and automatically know they have that special “something.” That is exactly what Christina Grimmie has. On June 13th she will be releasing her own album. Management had advised her not to put out her originals on Youtube just yet, because she wanted fans to wait for the finished product on the album. When speaking of the album Grimmie said that she is “so excited” because this is what she’s “been wanting to do since she was a little girl.” If there is anyone who is as excited or as anxious to hear Grimmie’s originals as herself, it’s her dedicated fan base. The internet and Youtube have transformed Grimmie into this star, with over 800,000 subscribers and 122 million views. Following an interview replete with jokes about people asking for the “Christina Grimmie” hairstyle, the Justin Bieber hair flip, and her never

O t h er L i ves NA LEE PHOTOS BY: AN

Ma t es of State

T h e Da n g e rous S ummer

J ac o b A b el l o

B urn i n g H ote ls

Manchester Orchestra

With your latest release Simple Math, did you guys have a goal in mind before you started making the record?

by John Mouser photos by Ryan Russell

Increasingly gaining popularity, the alt-rock outfit Manchester Orchestra released their third full-length record, Simple Math to rave reviews. The follow-up to the band’s groundbreaking 2009 release, Mean Everything to Nothing, aims to push the boundaries of their sound. A collection of diverse tracks that bring in new elements and instrumentation, Simple Math is sure to capture the ears of new listeners, while keeping the devout fans content. We had a chance to speak with Chris Freeman and get his thoughts on the new record before their sold-out hometown show in Atlanta.

Yeah, we always want to make something far better than what we’ve done before. I think that we knew with these songs, we had something that we were really going to be proud of. I think it definitely came out exactly the way that we wanted it to come out. We definitely had somewhat of a goal when we walked in.

Where did you guys come up with some of the ideas for the record, in terms of the musical content? I noticed that you guys had a lot of orchestral arrangements on this record, as well as a kids’ choir on one of the tracks. Well, it went along as it did. All of the songs were written without anything like that. All of that was added afterwards, where someone was like “Oh, maybe we should do a kids’ choir there!” A good friend of ours, Ben, did all the string arrangements and that was pretty much it. We trusted him with the songs; he made a whole orchestration and it sounded beautiful so we kept it.

Did you plan on it being a conceptual album, or is that just how it came together?

the world. That’s kind of how that whole thing came together, because we all like hanging out with each other.

There is definitely a storyline in there. That’s kind of why we see it as sort of an experience album, from the perspective of Andy dealing with marriage and God. Those first couple years of marriage are a very difficult time. Once we realized that we had a conceptual storyline in the songs, it started coming together. We had a lot of songs on this record and we ended up not using a lot of them because these songs seemed to fit together really well. Then we noticed that there was cohesiveness through all of them. It wasn’t musically, but it was lyrically and thematically.

Do you ever turn on the radio or hear a band that you feel has a “Manchester” sound?

Do you think the songs that didn’t make the record will eventually see the light of day? Yeah, we’ve talked about it a couple of times. Our band really does like going in the studio, so once we get some time off perhaps we can go in and “re-hash” some of those old songs. Maybe make a b-sides album or something.

I’ve read that you are kind of the multi-instrumentalist in the group. Were there any instruments that you were excited to use on this album that you hadn’t used in previous works?

The only time I ever think that is with friends of ours that we have toured with for a long time and you can kind of hear them turn up their guitars a little bit, or do a certain riff that sounds like something we have done before. But, it is always flattering. It’s rare, but it is always cool. We have had a few times with friends where we are making a record at the same time and they’ll hear our new song and be like, “Oh, crap! We have a song that sounds just like that. We just wanted to let you know now, before anybody says anything.” (Laughing) It’s always really funny when that happens.

You mentioned that you guys have been together for so long. What would you attribute that to? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of drama within the band. We have just been friends for a really long time. There definitely is drama, but we have a policy of not going to bed with any “bad blood.” We usually fix whatever the problem is, that night. We all like hanging out together too; we know what gets on other people’s nerves. Once you know someone for eight or ten years, you start to realize that. We just treat it like a family.

A vibraphone, actually. At Blackbird Studios they have an insane list of instruments that you are able to use. I knew that they had a vibraphone there, and we weren’t able to use it on Mean Everything to Nothing (previous LP). I think that it is a very pretty instrument and also a very creepy one. So we were stoked that we could use it on the record. (Laughs) And we used it a couple of time, so that was very sick!

Who in the band is involved with Favorite Gentlemen Records? Any new releases from Favorite Gentlemen coming out soon? Well, we are all part of it. Andy and our old drummer Jeremiah are the spearheads of that whole project and the company. O’Brother has a new record coming out soon. Andy and Rob have just finished recording with those guys, and they are getting mixes every day. We are kind of hearing them as we get them, and it sounds awesome. It will be a great release for sure.

Will Bad Books (side project consisting of Manchester Orchestra plus Kevin Devine) come out with another release? Oh yeah, we definitely have talked about doing another Bad Books album. It was such a fun process, and playing those shows together was so fun. It is really fun to put on a different hat for the day, you know? I will do anything he wants to do because hanging out with him is one of my favorite things in

You can hear and buy the new album Simple Math at themanchesterorchestra.com powered by Soundcloud. Follow the band at twitter.com/manchesterorch 43

Written by Weston Shepherd Photos by Erin Shimazu

the crazy yet comfortable world of

KATE VOEGELE 44

rowing up, I had a favorite pair of jeans that drove my mother insane. With scattered holes, assorted stains and frays galore, I wore my favorite jeans at any given opportunity and for all occasions. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funny the way we attach ourselves to the things that make us most comfortable, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it? I felt like I was mourning the loss of a family member when I finally outgrew those jeans.

Those jeans were mine.

It was perhaps two minutes into my interview with singer/ songwriter/actress, Kate Voegele, when she exclaimed, “I want my music to be like your favorite pair of blue jeans,” and I was immediately hooked. Her third solo album, Gravity Happens (released May 18), digs into a deeper, more meaningful side that displays so well the maturation that she and her music have undergone. However, you learn quickly that the constant balancing act between her music, her acting, and her personal life is what keeps Voegele so welcoming and so comfortable. I spoke with Kate the day after her latest album was released and, as you can imagine, her previous 24 hours had been just a few inches short of a circus. In the short time the album was available, Gravity Happens had made its way into the top 10 most purchased albums on iTunes and had also been welcomed to a wonderful response from her fans. Those fans, according to Voegele, deserve all the credit. “I’m lucky that my fans are truly some of the coolest people ever. They’re inspiring to me and they have really amazing stories; I write my music for them. At the end of the day, it’s all about giving something to them rather than getting something for myself.” Speaking specifically about the iTunes list and selling records, Voegele went on to say, “It’s nice to reach a certain point on the iTunes list or to sell however many records but that’s not what it’s about for me.” In addition to the standard whirlwind that is a CD release, Voegele had recently returned to the hit television show “One Tree Hill”, reprising her role as the guitar-wielding Mia Catalano. On this season’s finale, she performed the first single from the new album, “Heart in Chains.” While the show admittedly adds more to her daily grind, Voegele expressed how important of a role the show has played in her career by saying, “The show has been incredibly accommodating for me and they’ve done an amazing job of helping me be able to do both. It’s amazing working with cool, flexible people who are rooting for you. Luckily, everyone I’ve surrounded myself with has been like that.”

bringing awareness and research toward breast cancer in young women. While talking about YSC, she said, “We raise money and spread the word for these young women because a lot of the issues and challenges are different if you’re a young woman rather than someone who is older. They’re just an amazing group of people.” She went on to mention that her work with TACA has stemmed from her personal experiences with those affected by autism and that she hopes to inspire others to talk about the issue. Voegele said, “I’m really passionate about finding answers and a cure. People need to be comfortable talking about it. Awareness is the first step.” As my time with Kate ran thin but before she was off to her next interview, I did get a brief idea as to what we can expect from her in the near future. Her “Less is More” tour with Natasha Bedingfield kicked off on June 5, and for the time being, she’s just excited to be on the road with her fans. “Being able to bring this music to the fans live for the first time is really exciting to me. These songs are really going to translate because we went for a live feel in the studio with a very straightforward and raw arrangement. I’m really excited to take that to the road and meet my fans.” When you stop to think about this singing, writing, acting, budding superstar who also enjoys volunteering, you realize her life is far more than simple and that it is possible she may lose sight of her denim goals. But once the music begins, you discover an artist who writes from her heart and allows you a glimpse into her life that would have never been possible otherwise. By the time the CD is over, you find yourself a bit more trusting and, believe it or not, you feel a bit more comfortable, too. Then, of course, you put it right back on.

When hearing Voegele describe her music, her acting and all of the other projects she’s involved with (she has a signature series of Oakley sunglasses being released this summer), you don’t get the idea that she would have time to handle anything more. However, amidst everything going on in her professional career, she spends every chance she gets volunteering for different charities and giving back at every given opportunity. Voegele has taken interest in two different non-profit organizations in specific, Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) and the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), a non-profit dedicated to

GI VE

Focusing outward How actress/musician Caitlin Crosby is changing the world around her. Written by Amanda Morad Photos by Ruel

LOV E

E P O H

Actress, Musician, L.A. native, and philanthropic wonder woman. Urban legend? We thought so until we talked with Caitlin Crosby, who beautifully embodies the talent and drive of an up-and-coming Hollywood star and the compassion and generosity of a seasoned third-world missionary. Crosby just wrapped up the second season of MTV’s dramedy series, “The Hard Times of RJ Berger,” and co-starred in a pilot filmed for NBC, “Mann’s World.” Her debut indie-rock album, Flawz, was released in 2009, and her second album is now in the works. What’s most impressive about Crosby is that, though she’s grown up in the Beverly Hills culture and had early industry success, she’s more interested in giving back than looking out for herself. Crosby maintains the non-profit initiative LoveYourFlawz.com, a site dedicated to teaching people to love themselves and embrace their flaws, with fellow actress Brie Larson. The girls’ message challenges the Hollywood image of physical perfection and promotes the beauty of being human. Celebrities and common-folk the world over have submitted their “flawed” photos to their database, giving new meaning to the phrase, “Nobody’s perfect.” Crosby is also the founder of The Giving Keys, a charity that gives back in more ways than one. Keys are made into jewelry with words engraved on them like “Love,” “Hope,” and “Strength.” The necklaces are sold for $30, but the catch is that you can’t keep it. You have to give it away to someone you feel needs the message on the key the most. There’s a community on the website where customers share their stories of hope through a little homemade jewelry. It’s all about “paying it forward.” The proceeds from the $30 you spent on the necklace go to support Cera and Rob, a young couple recovering their lives from homelessness on Hollywood Blvd. The story of how they became involved is both strange and beautiful. So we’ll let Caitlin tell it. Since she was there and all. For fun I used to wear this key around my neck and always got compliments on it. Then for a friend’s birthday I engraved the word LOVE on it from a locksmith and she loved it. Then I just started making them for friends’ birthdays and gifts and it was just a weird response how much people loved them. Then I started selling them on tour. I would make them myself and then pay a locksmith to engrave them and I tied it in with my Love Your Flawz campaign. Every single key is one-of-a-kind just like you. So when you buy one, when you wear one, I want it to make you feel like you’re one of a kind and special and there’s no one else like you. From there, they were selling like crazy, but I knew there was a missing link. I still wanted it to be something else and I was just kind of waiting on what that was gonna be. One day I went to a

church called Ecclesia, and I was watching a screening for Invisible Children. I left so inspired and as I was walking back to my car, I saw this homeless couple, Cera and Rob, sitting under an umbrella. It was raining, and they were holding up a sign that said “Ugly, Hungry, and Homeless.” It caught my eye because it looked like a “Love Your Flawz” picture. The word “Ugly” was just so [bold], it stood out to me and made me really sad. I went up to them and asked their story. I thought they were so cool and just fell in love with them. So I took them to this nice restaurant, and cancelled my plans I had for that night. [Over dinner] I said to Cera, “I really like your necklace,” and she said, “Oh thanks, I made it. I really like making jewelry.” I freaked out and was like, “Oh my gosh, this is it. You guys are the missing link to The Giving Keys.” I [said], “I would pay you to engrave the keys and help me make them, and ship them out. You guys wanna be my business partners?”

I have trouble sleeping because my mind is always running with ideas and different creative ways to try to help people and bring change and hope and love and positive things to the world. I bought them a kit from a locksmith and it looked like we were doing drug deals because I would meet them at random Hollywood streets and alleys. I’d give them money and they’d give me a bag. They started making enough money to start staying in a motel and have a roof over their heads. Rob just got his GED and now he’s starting school at the local community college in August. Cera just moved to San Diego to this amazing women’s transitional home, and she just got a job at the Zoo. It was one of the best days of my life when Cera called me and asked if she could use me on her resume as her boss. I tried not to cry. They’re some of my favorite people on the planet now. Between The Giving Keys, LoveYourFlawz, and other charity work, you’re extremely involved in philanthropy. What motivates you to keep reaching out? It’s just in my bones and soul. I can’t not reach out. This is all I think about. I have trouble sleeping because my mind is always running with ideas and different creative ways to try to help people and bring change and hope and love and positive things to the world. And also I have a lot of amazing friends that think that way too. My best friend is a social worker, so I think I’m just around a lot of people that think that way too. It’s just normal. What does paying it forward mean to you personally? I think it represents more than just a cliché, trendy thing that people say. It’s a trap and an unhealthy way to live when we’re focused on ourselves all the time. I think the more we put our focus out on trying to help others, it makes us feel more complete and fulfilled.

akeboarding is on the rise, and Hyperlite happens to be a main force behind that rise. If you’re a wakeboarder, chances are you’ve used Hyperlite equipment or equipment that utilizes innovations pioneered by Hyperlite. Truly, this brand is ubiquitous in their industry! We caught up with Greg Nelson from Hyperlite and found out just what all the buzz is about. If you ask Greg about Hyperlite, he’s always proud to point out how influential the brand is in a sport that’s become insanely popular across the nation. “Hyperlite Wakeboards has been around since the sport of wakeboarding began and is sometimes credited with the birth of the wakeboard revolution,” he said. “Hyperlite has always worked with the best athletes in the game and is responsible for the majority of industry innovations used commonly today...Innovation and performance describe our commitment to producing the most advanced and technically superior products.” Innovation has definitely come to a head with what Hyperlite calls “The System.” In a sport where bindings mean everything, they’re completely revamped everything wakeboarders have ever known when it comes to their binding systems. Greg explained, “Speaking of Innovation, the System is our latest ground breaking wakeboard binding. We adopted a proven technology from snowboarding, a two part binding system; Comfortable Performance Footwear matched with a Durable Supportive Chassis delivers the best ride a Wakeboarder can ask for.” 48

For those of us who may not have any idea what that really means for a wakeboarder, Shaun Murray, a member of Hyperlite’s A-Team, put it simply. “Bindings are what you rely on translating what you are telling the board to do. The better all around fit, the better the translation. By moving the support of the binding to the outside of the boot, we accomplish two things pretty quickly. Comfort, since the hard parts are outside the boot, and support/fit. Since we are able to adjust the ratchets quickly on the fly, you can allow for a stiffer or softer feeling boot. If you feel like you can’t pan out your tail grab as much, just slightly loosen the top ratchet and there ya go. Vice versa for a stiffer feel.” Speaking of their A-Team, it’s hard not to be intimidated by their roster! Check out their website and you’ll find names of the best wakeboarders around. As Greg is quick to say, that it’s not just ability to perform well, it’s also the great personalities on the team that make them great. Team member Rusty Malinoski, who won the majority of the DoubleUp events in 2010 and won WakeWorld’s “Board of the Year,” proves that with his love of being able to not only be part of

the Hyperlite team, but also have the ability to influence the product that wakeboarders everywhere ride. “It’s really cool getting to design and test new product,” he said. “You definitely get nervous when you sign off on that last prototype and the waiting game is hard when you want to ride the final product!” Like Greg will tell you, wakeboarding is just plain addictive, especially with the new innovations Hyperlite is coming up with. “Wakeboarding is constantly progressing,” he mused. “But I think its popularity has grown quite a bit in the past few years. Even through tough times, those who have the bug find a way to ride!” One can talk all day about what makes wakeboarding and Hyperlite so great, but really it boils down to the camaraderie and atmosphere. “There’s no place I’d rather be than on a boat with my family and friends,” Greg insisted. “That atmosphere lends to the excitement of boosting off the wake and pushing yourself to learn new tricks. It’s a rush!”

Photos by David Bergman

Entertainment Weekly and Newsweek have sung his praises. His songs have taken top spots on iTunes and Billboard. His music has been featured on American Idol, Bones, and One Tree Hill. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shared the stage with John Mayer, The Fray, and John Legend. He was signed to Capitol Records and then let go during a takeover by Virgin Records just before his debut. Yet he fights on. 50

B r e nd a n Ja me s

Written by Jonathan Robles

he very talented Brendan James recently took time to speak with Variance while finishing up his new album.

What’s it like having your music featured in a movie or on TV shows (like American Idol)? It’s exciting. It gives you a feeling of validation and it makes you feel relevant. I know a lot of us as songwriters want to write great songs and have great production but we also want to stay current. How did you get started? When I was 19, I started playing piano and writing—mainly because my music teacher intervened and encouraged me. He said, you might just have the gift.

You talked about when you’re 80 years old. But where do you ultimately want to be? I think ultimately I’d like to have several albums out, touring with large venues. And I’d like to win a Grammy—yeah. And also having a family. And I like family being close. That’s my goal. What can we expect from you next? I’m working on a new album, so I’m very excited. And I can’t wait to get back on the road by the fall. It should be fun. The audiences are really growing. I’m not giving up. I feel like this is my time. www.brendanjames.com www.twitter.com/bjamesmusic

Was that when you knew what you wanted to do? It took awhile for me to realize it might be my calling. And then it became a way of life. I don’t know, I think I’ll be 80 years old and still wonder what I’m going to do when I grow up. You lived in NYC for seven years. Were you playing while you were there? I was mainly playing open mics while working at Urban Outfitters— paying rent with my paychecks and going to open mics. I went to open mic nights because I didn’t even know how to perform yet. If you don’t have a following yet, you’ve got to wait before you move on to bigger gigs. Speaking of Idol…In recent seasons, they’ve let people use instruments. Do you think that’s what sets you apart as an artist? For the most part, Idol cultivates one kind of performer—an artist mainly known for their voice. I am trying to emulate people who write their own songs and perform them. I’ve had to pass up a lot of opportunities where I could perform in front of a large crowd without my piano or sing just a cover song in front of a crowd. And I said no because it’s important to me. You’ve said regarding your songwriting that your heart is on your sleeve. Is it different for you to sing a song that you wrote? I don’t think one is better. Some of us just don’t know how to do it any other way. I wouldn’t know how to get up and sell someone else’s song night after night. If you could spend an hour with anyone, who would it be? Probably Paul Simon. It’s interesting because all these guys are getting older. And soon it will be left up to us—this new generation.

[ NE V ER M I SS I N G A B EAT ] By: Shayla Eaton

s the runner’s footsteps pound on the ground, harsh puffs of air release from his body. Another few steps, and he pushes himself harder, faster, stronger — never stopping until he reaches his destination. He’s in it for the long haul — nothing will hold him back. Changing Pace is running, and they aren’t stopping. A contemporary praise and worship band from Tennessee, Changing Pace consists of members Tyler Bradley, Lee Kercher, and Christian Walton, along with temps Chris Vermillion and Jesse Parish.

“I played all the time and taught myself,” Walton said. The band’s got a God-given talent, even if some people didn’t always see it that way. “It has been a very bumpy road for me,” Bradley said. “I never played music before. No one believed I could accomplish what I have. It was looked at as a goofy idea. But through God, I am here now and have a lot of people behind me.” With all the bumps and deterrents, Changing Pace still broke through. They are scheduled to play at Atlanta Fest in Georgia and at Alive Fest in Mineral City, Ohio.

With so many different genres out there, it’s difficult to find your match as a band. But Changing Pace has a heart for the young and for youth ministry.

One surreal moment for the band was after they completed their recording of their album Set My Soul on Fire.

“When I would listen to contemporary Christian rock, I would see how their music would reach my heart in a different way and how appealing it was to this generation,” Kercher (drums) said.

In their album, the powerful “Make a Choice” proclaims that there are so many complacent individuals afraid to step out for what they believe in and how it is a challenge for individuals to step out of the line and be a voice for Jesus.

There are so many different obstacles to hurdle through while pursuing one’s dreams, and Changing Pace jumped over them all with grace.

Changing Pace continues to push through and shout out what they believe in, and they advise others to do the same.

“Until about four years ago,” Bradley (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) said, “I was music illiterate. I could not sing or play an instrument. I was at a conference, and a guy was talking about chasing your dreams. I decided to chase [my] dreams and go for it.”

“In that moment, it all came to life to me,” said Bradley.

“Keep pushing and always do everything with a full heart and not half-hearted,” Walton said. “Don’t wrap yourself in the world, wrap and fill yourself with God and truly keep him the center of your life.” Changing Pace continues to run at full speed toward their goal — will you run toward yours?

The band’s songs are written by Bradley and creatively influenced by the group. Walton (lead guitar, background vocals) received his first guitar at twelve—with no lessons.

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