Venture Mag #6 by Venture Mag

MAG

VENTURE

APRIL ISSUE 2013

featuring jukebox the ghost

HYDRA MELODy . Glass City Vice. THE AMERICAN SCENE . joshua radin . + more

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VENTURE HELLO! VENTURE MAG

ISSUE NO. SIX - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MUSIC IN THE SOUL CAN BE HEARD BY THE UNIVERSE - LAO TZU

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STAFF BEKKA COLLINS

FOUNDER | EDITOR | PRESS | WRITER | LAYOUT & DESIGN

BREANNE GILL EDITOR | PRESS

AMY REBAIR

EDITOR | WRITER

WRITERS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

JADE ALGARME MELISA BAYKENT JULIA PURCELL MELINA SCARFO

COURTNEY DONDELINGER KYLE KOTAJARVI ANNIE LINDELL KAYLEE SMOKE NICOLE THOMAS

ISSUE 06 GLASS CITY VICE

HYDRA MELODY

ALBUM REVIEWS

SOUTH of ENGLAND & WEST COAST

JOSHUA RADIN

THE AMERICAN SCENE

MICCOLI

JACKO HOOPER

JUKEBOX THE GHOST

SPECIAL THANKS BEN ALLEN MEDIA AMBER CRISCI JAMES WALLACE HAYLEY CONNELLY JENNIFER TODD JACKO HOOPER SETH KALLEN BRIANNE BOARDMAN

BECKY SAHM DAVID KATZ BILL MEIS

FREDRIKA STAF [JACKO HOOPER] TOM BARNES [THE FIRST]

the lighthouse and the whaler // by: courtney dondelinger

SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT Brighton-based quartet Glass City Vice formed in 2010. After the release of their first EP ‘No Direction’ in 2011, Glass City Vice experienced a massive growth in their fanbase. They have since played over 200 shows, supporting bands such as The Xcerts, Lawson, and The Audition. Glass City Vice have also worked with notable producers such as Matt O’Grady, Gez Walton, and Jag Jago. The positive feedback from their second EP ‘Limelight,’ garnered the band attention from distinguished magazines like NME. Despite their rapid success, Glass City Vice try to remain extremely level headed and stick to their DIY ethics. They have self-booked four UK tours, and have also managed to earn university degrees. When listening to Glass City Vice’s music, it is easy to tell why they’ve been so successful. Their clean, indie-pop-rock sound is supremely pleasing to the ear and can appeal to a wide audience without being generic. Lead singer Josh Oliver’s voice is delightfully interesting, sometimes rough

and sometimes slipping easily into his falsetto. Their sound has just enough edge to catch the attention of a seasoned music fan, but isn’t too abstract to be played on the radio. Combined with their hard-working tendencies, Glass City Vice are poised for further success in the music industry. Determined to continue sharing their music with the world, Glass City Vice will be playing more live shows in the UK and across Europe as the rest of the year unfolds. It’s clear to see these boys have huge ambitions and the right mindset to get them to the top. We are sure that 2013 will be a fairly big year for Glass City Vice, so make sure you keep up to date with the band by following the links below.

TWITTER : twitter.com/glasscityvice FACEBOOK: facebook.com/glasscityvice WEBSITE: www.glasscityvice.com

BY: JULIA PURCELL

take me to the pilot // by: kaylee smoke

conditions // by: annie lindell

AN INTERVIEW WITH

HYDRA MELODY

are a sextet from South Texas. Happy to let their music do the talking for them, their infectious blend of pop-punk, experimental jazz and alternative rock has captured fans all over the world. With three EP’s under their belts the band are gearing up to share their debut full length with the world. They hope to continue to explore and experiment as a band, creating unusual but well crafted sounds.

minute so we played a total of 6 showcases in 4 days. There were so many new faces and people to meet, and we feel we really took advantage of that.

“There are going to be lots of new sounds and colours for our listeners with our full length. With the ability to have multiple instruments like guitars, keyboards, and percussion, we are looking to create sounds and music that no one has heard before, and leave lasting impressions that people just keep wanting to listen to. “Belmar Princess” and “Oceans” already have great reviews and that is just the tip of the iceberg for the album”, explained percussionist Manny Prince.

When you come to one of our shows, the best way I could describe it is madness. With 6 of us all on stage, each with different roles and ways of portraying our instruments, it is such a fun thing to watch, and I am ON stage! I can only imagine standing out in the audience and seeing that! It is always something new, and you never really know what is going to happen at one of our shows. I really like that aspect about our band,” Manny told us.

One of the bands more recent members, bassist and vocalist Jason Harari told us that the band have definitely experimented with their sound a lot over the last year. He added, “the addition of myself and Taylor Ferguson has been a big factor in this experimentation and change musically. One of the best parts about writing as a band in Hydra Melody is that we are all very different in our tastes in music. Everyone has different influences and it makes for an interesting meld. During an interview at SXSW a journalist said she heard tons of influences in our music from Coldplay to The Mars Volta to Santana. We couldn’t be happier because we love all of those artists. Somehow we take our influences and make it our own, and this record is definitely a step further for us. We feel we have defined the Hydra Melody sound, but are excited to keep expanding upon it.

Jason also gave us some parting wise words of advice, especially useful for those of you who may find yourself heading out on tour. “When you think you’re working hard, work harder. But also allow yourself some time to let loose out there and release the stress from being on the road for months at a time. That’s really important,” he said.

The message for our new album is very hopeful and uplifting, although we aren’t going to be shy about the hardships we’ve all endured over the past years, as a band and as individuals in our personal life. We hold ourselves to a standard of always trying to be genuine with ourselves, each other and our fans. People can see right through music that isn’t approached in that way and we don’t want any part of that. We write songs for ourselves and hope people like them”, Jason continued.

Our goal was to gain as many new friends and fans as possible and really engage them on and off the stage. Lots of great opportunities also came from it thanks to our amazing manager and PR team.

With a new album ready to release, the band are keen to keep a constant connection with their fans. You can expect a bunch of new videos to keep you in the loop, as well as a lot of shows around the country. Hydra Melody would like to give a special shout to all of their fans, both old and new, alongside Mark Rowlands and Russell Beecher. They hope to be coming across the pond soon, but in the meantime you can keep up to date with them via the links below.

TWITTER : twitter.com/hydramelody FACEBOOK: facebook.com/hydramelody WEBSITE: www.hydramelody.com

“We had an incredible time at SXSW this year too. We actually secured 1 more showcase at the last

BY: BEKKA COLLINS

Zach rudulph // BY: NICOLE THOMAS

BY: BREANNE GILL

album reviews ONE TWO THREE four five OUT OF / five

TRANSIT

‘YOUNG NEW ENGLAND’

After the release of ‘Listen and Forgive,’ Massachusetts-based band Transit were thrust into the limelight, praised for their sincere lyrics and fresh take on the hardcore/post-hardcore genre. Naturally, the expectations for the follow up record, ‘Young New England,’ were extremely high. However, ‘Young New England’ does not even come close to the caliber of Transit’s previous release. The record can only be described as bizarre. A complete turnaround in style, ‘Young New England’ has almost a new wave Americana sound. This extreme change in genre could have been overlooked had it had been done well. However, the vocals sound off in several songs, and the elements of each song just seem to be fighting against each other, heard specifically in the opening track, “Nothing Lasts Forever”. There is little variation in song structure too. ‘Young New England’ is a massive step backwards for Transit.

BY: JULIA PURCELL CONDITIONS ‘FULL OF WAR’

Almost three years after their debut, it’s fair to say that ‘Full Of War’ was a highly anticipated release from the Richmond, VA quartet. Eleven songs in length, ‘Full Of War’ is filled with driving atmospherics, driving guitars and thudding drums. Thematically, the album deals with duality and paradox, and lyrically their efforts, for the most part, have greatly improved. Soulful and honest, this album represents growth intertwined with subtle reminders of the battles we face in society. Opener, “Walking Separate Ways” has elements of the bands signature sound, but “Best Mistake” shows adventure with its infectious bass line and hints of well used electronics. “Everyday Is A New Life” and “Long Division” are prime examples of the bands assets and exemplifies their knack for diversity within their sound. If anything, ‘Full Of War’ is an ode to musical maturity and comfort with change.

BY: BEKKA COLLINS

MISSION SOUTH ‘MIGRATION VOL.2’

‘Migration Vol. 2’, sticks true to Mission South’s roots and contains that soul rock sound that we’ve grown accustomed to. There is a simplistic introduction before the album moves onto the song “Free”. The vocals kick off and the instruments follow after the first couple of seconds. With a Southern vibe, “Free” is something different but soothing. “Peaches” is one of my personal favourites. It opens up with upbeat rock guitar riffs, and the vocals on the track are promising. It would have been better if there was some gruff added on to the vocals, but even without it, it manages to be a fun song to listen to. “Photographs & Fables”, is a slow tune that picks up during the chorus and gets you ready for the last track on the record. “Thriller”, marks the end of the record and is groovy, yet soulful in every way and leaves you wanting more.

BY: MELISA BAYKENT HEY VANITY

‘BREATHE BLEED GROW’

Essex rock quartet, Hey Vanity formed less than a year ago and have already started making a name for themselves. Recently returning from a sold out tour with Don Broco and Mallory Knox, the band have just released their debut EP ‘Breathe Blood Grow’. Their compelling British sound is evident from the get go. The EP opens with the title track and displays intricate beats and a punchy melody. “Same Old Game” is packed full of energy and power but “Wading Through Dreams” is my favourite on the EP with its driving riffs and addictive chorus. Though the band still have some kinks to work out in terms of developing their sound, and not relying on cliche lyrics which can be heard in the album’s closer “One More Step”, this is a more than impressive debut. If anything, it’s a clear indication that we’ll be hearing a lot more from these Essex rockers.

BY: BEKKA COLLINS PARAMORE ‘PARAMORE’

If you think you know Paramore, think again. This fun-loving trio are back with an unpredictable and fresh self-titled record. After the departure of founding members Josh and Zac Farro in 2010, the band have soldiered on to create a seventeen track masterpiece. Destined to be one of the greatest albums of 2013, ‘Paramore’ is a declaration of self-love, growing up and moving on. Upbeat, electro-rock number “Fast In My Car” and energetic, punk anthem “Anklebiters” pack a punch, while latest single “Still Into You” is an infectious, pop gem. Treading on new ground, the funky “Ain’t It Fun” features a gospel choir and the beautiful string section completes ballad “Hate to See Your Hate Break”. Paramore have pushed their creative boundaries to the end resulting in some of their most experimental and memorable work yet.

BY: MELINA SCARFO

IMAGINE DRAGONS // BY: KYLE KOTAJARVI

THE READY ANDYSET GRAMMER // MINNESOTA BY: NICOLE THOMAS

by: NICOLE THOMAS

south OF ENGLAND Are you a fan of guitar music? Well, you best be introduced to The Last Carnival, a British quintet taking the rock and roll scene by storm. Describing their music as ‘a river of bouncing tunes, heart wrenching ballads and crowd singing chants’, this band are ready to play their music to hundreds of their ‘CarnieArmy’. With tours planning out for the rest of the year, their debut album is set to be released in the next few months. Recorded alongside Jay Reynolds and Pete Maher, it is said to be infused with pop soaked melodies and thumping rock beats. It’s no surprise that 2013 promises to be the biggest year for this band yet, so make sure you don’t miss out. BY amy rebair

THE LAST CARNIVAL facebook.com/thelastcarnival

FALLING FASTER

Falling Faster are a quintet from Birmingham. Formed back in 2009 this pop-punk group have been hard at work crafting their unique sound and writing songs based on experiences. The band have made a name for themselves especially within the local scene after embarking on countless tours across the country. Having had the pleasure of playing alongside acts such as Wheatus, Twenty Twenty and Octane OK the band have developed a dominant performance to go hand in hand with their melodic vocals and punchy pop riffs. With a few things in the pipeline, 2013 is shaping up to be a great year for Falling Faster. BY BEKKA COLLINS

facebook.com/FALLINGFASTERBAND

Melodic rockers The First are a quintet from Cambridgeshire. Formed in 2009 and signed to the record label Destroy Everything their ability to dominate a stage is both intimidating and impressive. Their debut release ‘Swimming With Sharks’ saw the band tour across the UK and Europe and they have since released their single “Take It Back”. Fresh off the Ourzone Found Tour, the band are gearing up to release their second album which is due out this summer. We’re expecting hard-hitting beats, rhythmic blends and a promising release from this five-piece. BY BEKKA COLLINS

The First facebook.com/theFIRSTUK

west COAST USA Emerging from the city of Portland, Oregon is indie rock act Altadore. Forming in 2011, frontman David Katz made the decision to go solo after going through a series of failed projects. Altadore’s debut album, ‘Golden Hills,’ was released last December and is full of infectious mixes of ambient sounds, influenced by the likes of The National and Death Cab For Cutie. Their first single, “Moments,” caught the attention of 94.7fm, an alternative radio station in Portland, granting them airplay. Because of this, Altadore gained recognition in the local music scene and formed a dedicated following. Altadore’s upcoming EP is expected to be out this summer. BY JADE ALGARME

altadore facebook.com/altadoremusic

BAD SUNS

Bad Suns formed back in 2012 and have a minimal history due to being new to the scene. They spent the majority of 2012 writing and recording in order to develop their sound. In the first month of their existence one of their demo tracks aired locally on the radio, reigning in the Top 5 for three months. In June they entered the studio with producer Eric Palmquist, and they nailed down “Cardiac Arrest” as their first single. The band soon built a loyal local fanbase in Los Angeles, which allowed them to play packed venues within the area. Starting as they mean to go on, we’re sure 2013 will be a breakthrough year for the members of Bad Suns. BY bekka collins

facebook.com/badsuns

Hailing from Southern California, Hello Highway is the soloproject of Daniel Sumstine. His heart-felt lyrics and piano pop rock sound can be heard on his newest EP, ‘Timeless’, which was recorded alongside Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount (Mayday Parade, The Ready Set). Since releasing it in August of 2012, it rather impressively reached #120 on the iTunes Alternative chart and has helped him gain a loyal fanbase. After recently finishing his first full US/Canadian tour alongside popular acts Action Item, Paradise Fears and Before You Exit, 2013 has already started strong. We’re sure that the rest of the year will be just as promising for this talented musician. Be sure to keep up to date with what he gets up too. BY amy rebair

hello highway facebook.com/hellohighway

JUKEBOX THE GHOSt INTERVIEW BY BEKKA COLLINS PHOTOGRAPHS BY COURTNEY DONDELINGER

Jukebox The Ghost have had a grand start to 2013. Having already had the pleasure of being out on their own headline tour, we managed to catch up with drummer Jesse Kristin, who happily told us the bands story right from the very beginning. We also learned how dealing with personal hardships has influenced the bands latest album, and what they’re going to be up to for the rest of the year. Ben and I met our freshman year at George Washington University in Washington, DC in 2003. We lived next door to each other and started playing together almost immediately. In 2004 we met Tommy at our university through a flyer he had posted looking to start a band. After a few years of playing together and doing gigs on campus we began playing out in the city a bit, eventually hitting other cities and touring regularly in 2007 after the three of us graduated. Your third album, ‘Safe Travels’ was released last year. It seems to have been a turning point in the bands career. Is there a universal meaning or message you wanted to portray throughout this album? During the writing and recording of ‘Safe Travels’ the three of us had each faced certain hardships including break-ups, relocation, and deaths in the family. Endless touring had dissolved our relationships, we all had moved, Ben lost his grandfather and I lost my father. A lot of the material Ben and Tommy had been writing prior to these events dealt with things like change,

death, moving-on, and mortality. So when it came time to decide which songs we wanted to include on the record, we felt a personal connection to the darker content as it had gained relevance in many unexpected ways. While the album retains our style of upbeat pop, lyrically and emotionally there is perhaps a bit more depth than our previous records because of this theme of mortality we decided to embrace. The title ‘Safe Travels’ represents passing on, change, and a hope for peace with mortality. With ‘Safe Travels’ you had unlimited studio time, as such, and also the opportunity to work with a string section. Do you think because you had more flexibility you were able to produce a more honest discography? The unlimited studio time during ‘Safe Travels’ certainly allowed each of us to focus on what we were bringing to the music without the distraction of time. I think this in a way does make the music, or at least the recording, more honest. Pressure can be a good thing for productivity, but in this case working without it was a refreshing album-making experience for all of us. I suppose it can be considered more honest work in the sense that our collective vision for how the songs could best be arranged, for example with layered harmonies, strings, and percussion, fully came to fruition. Can you tell us a bit about your writing process. Do you follow a specific structure every single time or does it depend on

NOW NOW

JAMIE TWORKOWSKI

the

song

and

the

elements

involved?

Our songwriting process does not involve a specific routine or structure, but we have always worked best with Ben and Tommy each writing lyrics and melodies for a song independently before bringing it to the group. Once we are together we then take the song Ben or Tommy has written and build it up in terms of rhythm, structure, harmony, style, and arrangement. Songs can range from being practically a finished work to just perhaps a 30 second lyrical and melodic idea. Usually when it is time for us to work on an album we take each “song” from whatever shape it’s in, to where it needs to go, occasionally writing new sections together as a group. During our writing sessions we all mentally have our hands on every instrument, meaning there is no leader directing who plays what, but rather we each weigh in and function democratically, making suggestions to each other as we see fit until everyone goes “yup”. What is one of your songs that you would say you are most proud of? The song “Adulthood” is one of our proudest moments, in my opinion. It is personally my favorite song on the record for a number of reasons. When I first heard Ben play it, it was already my favorite thing I’d heard him write, but I instantaneously felt a simple repetitive dance beat over it as well, a rarity when drumming next to a classically-trained pianist. The song was arranged rather effortlessly around Ben’s consistent, choppy rhythmic pattern, to which I added a rather mechanical dance-beat pattern proudly reminiscent of New Order’s Stephen Morris, and Tommy added a layer of mild chugging guitar. If that wasn’t enough for me (and it was), the song’s upbeat nature despite its candidly morbid hook, “from adulthood no one survives”, touched me right away, and the addition of strings took the song to an even higher level of musical richness for us. I think the simplicity in our playing combined with the string arrangement and the relative understatement in Ben’s vocal performance

given the lyrical drama of the song, is a refreshing example of successfully being emotional without necessarily being theatrical. In terms of our arrangement, the core songwriting, and its relevance to the past year (Ben and I both having family members pass away), this song continues to make us very proud. You’ve recently finished a headline tour across parts of the US. For those who haven’t seen you live, how would describe your show and what could we expect? We are energetic and we like to get weird. Basically. I’d say expect tasteless covers, questionable humor, and lots of sweat. Do you have a strategy when it comes to picking the setlist for your live shows or do you just play what feels right? It is always important for us to play a fair spread of songs from each record we have, including the fan favorites and usually a new tasteless or sometimes “actually-good” cover. If you could collaborate artist who would it be

with any and why?

Harry Nilsson. Because he is Harry Nilsson. What do you have planned for the rest of 2013? We will keep touring and playing shows, as always, and will likely start working on material for the next Jukebox album. You can keep up to date with Jukebox The Ghost by visiting the links below.

TWITTER : twitter.com/jukeboxtheghost FACEBOOK: facebook.com/jukeboxtheghost WEBSITE: www.jukeboxtheghost.com

NOAH GUNDERSEN

AN INTERVIEW WITH

JOSHUA RADIN My name is Joshua Radin and 8 years ago I began playing guitar, six months later I wrote my first song. Five albums later, and many tours around the world, here I am. Your new album ‘Wax Wings’ is due to be released on May 6. Did you try to convey a specific meaning or message throughout the album? This album is the story of a romance, but it should be seen linearly, rather circularly. You can start at any track number and you are in the midst of the greatest romance of my life to date. You are going to be self-releasing this album, what made you decide to do that?

You released “When We’re Together” as the first single from ‘Wax Wings’. Why did you decide to make this song the first single? I just think that song is more of a radio song, that’s all. It’s very universal thematically, with a good driving beat. What is one song that you’re excited for everyone to hear from the new album and why? My personal favorite is “Back To Where I’m From”. I’m not sure why. Maybe because it’s a letter to my former love. Will you be touring in support of your album?

I love having full creative control. There have always been too many cooks in the kitchen on my previous albums.

Yes, I begin a small American and European tour on May 7 in Los Angeles at Largo. I want this tour to be in small, intimate rooms.

Are there differences in your sound between ‘Wax Wings’ and your previous releases?

Is there anything else you would like to say?

Yes, but I wouldn’t call them drastic differences. I’m still me. Every song I write is an honest account of my experience. Can you tell us a bit about your writing process. Do you follow a specific structure every time or does it depend on the song and the elements involved? I usually begin with the music, then I walk around and wait till I have something I really need to get off my chest. Then I fit lyrics into the already conceived melody.

I hope comes like to me in know I

everyone listens to this album and to see me perform it. I would also thank everyone who has supported the past. It means the world to am connecting with so many souls.

Keep up with Joshua by visting the links below. Also, don’t forget to check out his new album ‘Wax Wings’ , which is due for release on May 6. TWITTER : twitter.com/joshuaradin FACEBOOK: facebook.com/joshuaradin WEBSITE: www.joshuaradin.com

BY: BEKKA COLLINS

THE AMERICAN SCENE The

American Scene are a quintet from Berkeley, California who formed back in 2009. Made up of brothers Charles and Matt Vincent, Chris Purtill and Jeff Wright, the band have set their sights high this year, already announcing they will be supporting The Story So Far on their UK tour. Guitarist Jeff Wright said: “We’re really excited to be heading

overseas. We’re unfathomably stoked to share our music with new parts of the world.“ “IT’S KIND OF THE SECRET GOAL FOR ANY BAND TO PLAY AN INTERNATIONAL MARKET.” The bands debut full length album ‘Safe For Now’ is due to be released on April 22, via Pure Noise Records. Building upon

the bands previous two EPs, ‘Safe For Now’ is a mixture of indie-rock guitar chimes blended with the bands punk rock roots. It’s safe to say The American Scene have worked hard to create their unqiue sound, and it’s beginning to pay off. Keep up to date with the band by visiting the links below. TWITTER : twitter.com/american_scene FACEBOOK: facebook.com/theamericanscene

THE COHEED & CAMBRIA TOUR // BY: NICOLE THOMAS

miccoli Miccoli are a family trio who

are of Italian / English heritage. Made up of twin brothers Adriano and Alesso and their sister Francesca, Miccoli are known for their high profiled tours and unqiue melodic sound. With an array of musicial influences from the likes of Sting, Crosby Stills and Fleetwood Mac, Miccoli’s distinctive sound can certainly be heard in

their latest EP, ‘Idle Stranger’. ‘Idle Stanger’ is we a well crafted release which shows strength and maturity both musically and lyrically. Working with John McLaughlin on the title track has raised expectations, and is bound to see the song do well. With the vision of focusing solely on releasing music, their excessive touring

days, which have seen them play at the Viper Rooms and even at Wireless Festival have taken a back seat for now. A promising year lies ahead, and we ‘re sure that we will be hearing a lot from this talented trio. You will want to keep up with Miccoli by visiting the links below. TWITTER : twitter.com/miccoliofficial FACEBOOK: facebook.com/miccolimusic

jacko HOOPER Brighton

boy Jacko Hooper has quickly settled in to his local music scene. This twenty one year old singer-songwriter has already achieved so much, in such a short amount of time. After the release of his debut EP in March 2012, Jacko began to build a strong following of fans, and earned himself comparisons to noble artists such as Ben Howard and Jeff Buckley.

Though his honest and DIY approach to music has resulted in a beautifully sculpted sound, which is undoubtedly his own. His YouTube channel is a fine example of his progression as a musician. As the views continue to shoot up, his fan base is expanding across the globe. Jacko is keen to get his music heard this year, and has already

played shows in the UK, France and Switzerland. He has since been shortlisted for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Solo Artist of the Yearâ&#x20AC;? by the Brighton Music Awards. He will be playing the Awards Ceremony this Summer alongside many other tour dates. Keep up to date with what he gets up to by following the links below. TWITTER : twitter.com/jacko_hooper FACEBOOK: facebook.com/jackohoopermusic

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APRIL ISSUE 2013