MAG
VENTURE
august issue 2013
VANS WARPED tour action item / an honest year / rookie of the year / radiodriveby + more
ex plore VANS WARPED TOUR 2013 was an event that we had
marked on our calanders since last years tour. There is something about Warped Tour that really brings musicians and fans closer together, and we wanted to capture as much of the day as we could. We have dedicated a large portion of our August issue (which is also our #10 issue!) to a photo gallery capturing some of our favourite bands from this year.
VANS WARPED TOUR 2013
FEATURES
REGULARS
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10
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
4
SPOTLIGHT ARTIST: EMPIRE THEORY
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LONGFELLOW
18
VENTURE BACKSTAGE WITH: AN HONEST YEAR
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O’ EMPEROR
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SPOTLIGHT COMPANY: BE SHARP PR
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RADIO DRIVE BY
49
ON THE RADAR
25
ADELPHIA
HELLO! VENTURE MAG
ISSUE NO. TEN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MY MUSIC FIGHTS AGAINST THE SYSTEM THAT TEACHES TO LIVE AND DIE. BOB MARLEY
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ALBUM REVIEWS
THE COLOR AND SOUND, THE YOUNGER, WE WERE FRONTIERS + MORE
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ellie goulding burn
lady gaga applause
ANBERLIN DESIRES
TONIGHT ALIVE THE OCEAN
FOSTER THE PEOPLE waste
DOG IS DEAD get low
empire of the sun concert pitch
MAUSI sol
don broco priorities
MONTHLY PLAYLIST Here’s our collection of songs that we just haven’t been able to stop playing throughout August. Ellie Goulding has secured her first UK number 1 with “Burn”, and in the battle between Perry and Gaga, we live for the applause. What, or rather who is on your monthly playlist? Be on the look out for our ONES TO WATCH badges. The badges represent the winning bands who were hand picked by their fans through our Facebook polls to appear in this issue of our magazine.
ONES TO WATCH
spotlight artist
EMPIRE THEORY How
did
you
form
Empire
Theory?
Empire Theory came about when current frontman Sebastian Zaldibar and keyboardist/vocalist Jeremy Haynes felt an overwhelming urge to step out of their comfort zones and into the unknown territory of the rock scene to create meaningful and thought-provoking music designed to inspire the masses. Later employing the help of guitarist David Oakley, bassist Abel Aponte and drummer Matt Sparks, we decided to name ourselves ‘Empire Theory’. Such an epithet is sort of the answer to an age-old question the world at large currently asks themselves: “What really matters?” How
would
you
4 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
describe
your
sound?
Bold, epic, chock full of dramatic bass lines, engaging choruses and mesmerizing hooks, all an overwhelming testament to the European (and specifically British) rock influences represented in the band as a whole. It’s as if U2, Coldplay, Muse, Keane, Oasis and Phoenix (in no particular order) got locked in a basement and were forced to produce an album together at gunpoint. You make music to encourage others to make a difference in their world, what have you done as a band to help make a difference in your worlds? Great question! We are in constant search for ways to change the world around us. One recent example is our partnership with Soles4Souls, a Nashvillebased organization whose mission is to provide
shoes and clothing for those in need internationally and domestically, as well as fomenting the creation of micro-enterprises in under-developed countries. We had a Soles4Souls shoe box in our House of Blues Orlando show back in July, offering fans a free download of Tomahawk Pointe’s remix of ‘Colors’ in exchange for clothing and shoes in usable condition. The response was overwhelming! Our fans filled three full boxes of clothes and shoes! As a matter of fact, some fans even took the shoes off their own feet to donate them to the cause. Here we thought we were helping these kids make a difference in the world when, in fact, they turned the tables around on us and made a difference in ours. Amazing. You released your EP ‘Colors’ last what was the recording process
year, like?
Not nearly as tedious as it could have been, though Dave, largely in charge of engineering the project, might beg to differ. All songs were initially written, composed and recorded in Altamonte Springs, Florida, under our supervision and our creative oversight, in a very indie-like manner which proved to be extremely refreshing. A conglomerate of ideas were brought to the table by Jeremy Haynes and lyrics were written to those ideas by Sebastian Zaldibar, and then worked and reworked by the rest of the band in order to create consistency throughout the project. We originally created 8 tracks, which were then submitted to our producer Roy Mitchell-Cardenas for subsequent deconstruction and reconstruction. Roy then sent the tracks back to us for more deconstructing and reconstructing, development and polishing before the final five were sent out to California for mixing and Arizona for mastering. What can you tell us about your writing process, is it static or does it change every time? The writing process is anything but static, especially with the amount of talent we have in this band. It is ever-changing in nature because sometimes there are potential song ideas that are generated, temporarily shelved and re-used again months later in an entirely unanticipated manner. Sebastian might write some lyrics and Dave might suggest that the word “the” gets changed to the word “this”. Jeremy might create a hook and Matt might recommend it be taken down half a step to provide a stronger lower end. Dave might create a guitar riff that Abel may consider doesn’t fit his bass line so it gets changed. And this cycle happens consistently, over and over again, almost subconsciously. Very seldomly do we write a song instantly, as was the case with Parallel Universe: Dave and
Abel created a bass and guitar line, recorded it and left the studio to get some dinner. Sebastian arrived, sat down with earphones, listened to the progression over and over again and before Dave and Abel were back, he had all verses, choruses and bridge ready to go. Moral of the story: sometimes songs pour out of us in almost involuntary fashion. Other times, however, we may spend two days sitting on a chorus before we finally get it right. You recently played at the House of Blues in Orlando, what was that experience like and what could we expect from one of your live shows? We consider that show a stepping stone to a gradually increasing standard, especially in regards to the flow and transition of our live show. To describe the experience bluntly: it was amazing, overwhelming, humbling and eye-opening. The amount of existing and newly acquired fans which showed up to offer their support made an otherwise stressful performance surprisingly easy and fun. Just before our set, we had a very concise line check, something which we thought would complicate things for us. However, even during the line check, fans were cheering us on, lightening the mood and (whether they knew it or not) destressing us to the point that when we began our set, we were completely at ease. As soon as our intro tracks began leading up to our first song “Wonder”, we knew this was gonna be fun. And when you have fun, when you forget the technicalities for a bit, when you unwind and let the music take you where it needs to go, it doesn’t matter if it’s Orlando’s House of Blues or Wembley Stadium; you just do your thing and you do it well. Tell us about your remix of “Colors” by Tomahawke Pointe. Will you be releasing this remix and are there any other remixes? We can start off by saying that Justin Janetzko is insane. We would have never come up with such a clever and catchy mix and we are grateful that Tomahawk Pointe took on that challenge and mastered it to the utmost. From the dubstep chorus lines to the synthetic Euro feel of the track, it’s excitement stacked upon layers of more excitement. We will be releasing it “officially” shortly - with all proceeds going towards Souls4Souls. We haven’t talked about other remixes as of yet, but judging from the success of “Colors”, it looks like we will be having some serious conversations fairly soon. What have been your biggest challenges and achievements as a band so far? Among our biggest challenges is learning when and how to take risks which will benefit the band. The music is there, the creativity flourishes. We
just want to be wise as we are presented with opportunities. Too often these “opportunities” come at the expense of integrity and our product.
What do you have planned for the rest of the year?
The other side of the coin, which is honestly so much more important to us than the traditional sense of the word “success”, is our dire necessity of preserving the integrity of our mission. We know we will be successful. We have no doubt of it because we know what our mission is and where we are going. We are convinced that the second we detach ourselves from what made us musicians in the first place, that moment when we disconnect from what and who truly matters and let pride and selfish ambition seep into the framework of Empire Theory, that is the day when we become victims of our own success. That is the day when we value success over love, compassion and generosity. So our challenge remains to continue to be ourselves and preserve our identity in the midst of it all.
The rest of the year will see us digging our heads deep into the process of writing, composing and recording the ideas which will comprise our sophomore album. However, we haven’t lost sight of the importance of touring, playing shows in new cities, discovering and engaging new fans and creating some ear-defeaning buzz. When it comes to Empire Theory’s traction in the industry, we’re still learning to crawl and make a name for ourselves. It’s largely about establishing relationships which lead to other relationships and so on and so forth. Musically speaking, we feel like we are finally understanding and establishing a signature sound and successfully bringing that sound to our shows. Now it’s time to take that signature sound on the road. Only a small percentage of the music world even knows we exist. We aim to change that.
Taking a look back at our achievements so far is also eye opening. We’ve been able to share the stage with some pretty amazing bands. We’ve also played in venues such as Hard Rock Live, The Social, The Florida Music Festival (where we were runners up at the Florida Grammy Showcase), the House of Blues and other great local venues. We’ve also recently launched a national radio campaign with Pirate Promotions and are preparing ourselves for great things within the touring scene.
Is there anything else you would like to say?
Ideally achieve
what in
would your
you musical
like to career?
We can’t help but answer that question with another: “What changes need to happen in our world to make it better?” Our musical career tends to hinge on those type of questions. So when asked what we would like to achieve in our lifetime, the concept of leaving behind a positive legacy always seems to meander in the background. We wish to use our musical career and success as a loud, boisterous and, if necessary, unruly platform with which we can connect a fragmented world together. We wholeheartedly subscribe to the wise words of Bono: “Music can change the world because it can change people.”
“Write, compose, record. Book, drive, play. Repeat.”
We’re all about relationships with our fans. We’d love to keep in touch with each of you, so please come find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or drop us a line via our website.
GET SOCIAL www.twitter.com/empiretheory
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“THE SECOND WE DETACH OURSELVES FROM WHAT MADE US MUSICIANS IS THE DAY WE BECOME VICTIMS OF OUR OWN SUCCESS” 6 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
Bad Books 8 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
By Aud Lew
BY NICOLE THOMAS
Rookie of the Year Could you introduce yourself and tell us how you got started in music? My name is Ryan Dunson and I sing for a band called Rookie of the Year. I think every time I answer “how I got started in music”, my answer is different. Every morning I wake up, I get started in music. In a more accurate statement, music starts me. Since that answer is cheating your question, I’ll tell you about first time I considered it professionally. I think we all have that moment when fireworks go off in your mind fantasizing about getting paid to do what you love. Mine was when I was 17 at the first rock show I ever attended. I want to be typical and tell you that the band was amazing and that the singer was godly, tearing it up on stage. It really wasn’t the band. It was the capture. It was the 10 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
raw, unified emotion created by artist and perfected by the crowd. I idolized that moment where you captivate and change people. That moment when your fans get you and you get them. I recreate that moment in my music and in my live sets, not only for my fans, but for myself. It’s impossible not to. Is there any the name
meaning Rookie
or of
story the
behind Year?
You know that moment when you pull off something just by acting like you knew what you were doing? Hi, my name is Ryan and that’s every day of my professional life. Sometimes I feel like rookie of the year just for musically navigating the deeper parts of my imagination. My imagination is insane. Even more so when fueled by fragile emotion. Just put a guitar in my hand. I’m a rookie every time.
Your latest album is ‘The Goodnight Moon Part II’. Have you tried to convey a message or meaning throughout the album? Something I can say with confidence about this album is that it’s raw, real emotion. I’m fortunate my emotion is relatable. All of my songs are about something I’ve gone through and that many of my fans/friends have gone through. When I wrote this record, I had recently lost my best friend. Everyday I wrote (which was over a very short period), I wrote about what was happening to me that day and that day only. There were good days and there were rough days. I think the rapid flip of frantic emotions surrounding a breakup are beautiful. Hopefully my fans will hear it too. What was the albums recording process like, would you do anything differently next time? Absolutely not. I had the pleasure of recording in New York with Steve Sopchak (whose recent credits include re-mastering a series of seminal pop-punk runk records by bands like The Ataris and The Juliana Theory for 10th anniversary re-releases) and Matt Malpass (an Atlanta, Georgia based producer for Cute Is What We Aim For, Lydia, Copeland, Reliant K, among others). Great guys, great experience. Producers are more than just who puts the song together. In my case, they are a priceless support system as you spill your guts for the world to see and judge. They frame art. I thank them every day for their influence and unlimited patience. What is one song you’re most looking forward to sharing with your fans from the new album? Honestly, every song is a story that I can’t wait for my friends/fans to hear. But have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone, like really trying to come up with the right words to make your point perfectly received, and the words come out exactly how you meant them? That’s how I feel about “444” and “Raleigh.” Listen. You’ll get it. I do, however, think the best story I can tell is one that more people will be able to hear. When it comes to writing, where do you tend to draw your inspiration from? People. Beautifully real and honestly imperfect. Do you have any plans to expand Rookie of the Year from a solo act to a group, or will you only play as a group for live performances? I occasionally take a full band on tour. It’s a
different experience for the audience from a solo act for obvious reasons. I enjoy both experiences. The solo act is more intimate. I leave performances on the stage, feeling like I just went through a therapy session with a room full of people at the same time. Somewhat on the contrary, full band Rookie tours are a party. I’ll be doing a full band U.S. tour this fall. I’d love to make it to the U.K! Last time Rookie was in Europe I was on tour with one of my favorite bands Mae, this past January. But yes, I love full band Rookie. It’s emotional but it’s rock music. I enjoy the dichotomy. Do you think the dependence on social media has helped or hindered artists like yourself who aren’t currently on a label? Personally, social media is as dangerous as picking seats at high school cafeteria at lunch. But professionally, social media is still high school, but it’s a pep rally. Yeah, embarrassing things can happen and the whole school can see. But, it’s also a resource for promotion. And for free? I’m a fan. What do you have planned for the rest of 2013? I rarely plan. I’d love to lie to you and tell you I’m automatic like that but the best of my life was not nor will it be planned. I am however excited to get back on the road for tour this fall. I took a big break after writing ‘The Goodnight Moon, Part II’. It’s mentally taxing to musically bleed something so personally revealing. Any artist I’m sure can relate. I think something my friends and fans have come to expect from me is consistency and I am consistently writing about how I feel. I can’t plan to feel something in 2014, but I can plan to write about it. You can check out our review of ‘The Goodnight Moon Part II’ and grab yourself a free download of one of the new tracks “Colors of Summer” by clicking here.
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An Interview with...
Longfellow
Could you tell us how the band formed? song I started writing the first Longfellow songs whilst studying bioscience at Nottingham University. They offered the perfect escape from the monotony of student life. I fell into some open mics and smaller shows through out the city and the band started growing from there really. James and myself were friends from the age of eleven and Ali and Tom have had a very lengthy friendship too. Now with Isaac onboard and most of us living together, it can be quite intense at times!
or
does
it
change
each
time?
It's a very ambiguous and strangely quite an instantaneous process at times. It's almost like you sit at a piano waiting to be hit by one second of inspiration which you have to extrapolate and sculpt into something coherent. Writing is my only passion, there's something about songwriting that ticks all my boxes. You’ve shared the stage with the likes of To Kill A King and Feeder. What could we expect from a Longfellow live show?
You have already been given a wealth of opportunities since forming. How did Hopefully a fair representation of our songs Universal Music’s ‘Emerging Icons’ program with some added excitement thrown in. We love help you get your foot in the door? to play live and spend a lot of our time tucked away in the rehearsal studio, so getting on stage 'Emerging Icons' helped us get our act is a great release and we give it a lot of energy. together and start taking the project to another level. They reviewed some of our Do you have any plans to tour this summer? earlier material quite harshly so it pushed us to write and produce a lot more critically. We're focusing primarily on building our Londonbase but if the opportunity arises I know we'd You also played the Olympics last year all be delighted to go further afield. We've got in London, what was that experience like? some lovely fans throughout Europe, it would be great to pay them a visit sometime soon. It was incredible, London 2012 was awash with cultural diversity and it allowed What do you have planned for the rest of 2013? us to play to wider audiences and hone our performance to bigger stages. Lots of writing, recording and of course plenty of live shows! We're just planning our second You have just released your debut single release which we can't wait to get out and about. “Gabrielle”, what can you tell us about it and how has the reaction been so far? Is there anything else you would like to say? I'm proud to have it as a first release. It's certainly got some quirky elements but I think it gives a solid introduction to what we're all about. It's brought a lot of fantastic people on board with the project and I can't wait to get working on future endeavours. Lyrically, to draw
where your
do you inspiration
tend from?
I'm a bit of a self-confessed relationship junky. A lot of the songs are a reflection of my social uncertainty and this strange fear I think we all have of being alone. They're not all romantic. I suppose I'm fascinated by people and I'm always looking for interesting ways to document new encounters. What can you tell us about your writing process, is it the same for every
A huge thank you to everyone for their ongoing support.
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www.twitter.com/longfellowmusic
INTERVIEW BY: BEKKA COLLINS
O Em O
www.facebook.com/oemperor www.facebook.com/oemperor
14 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
mperor mperor www.twitter.com/oemperormusic
Could
you
tell
us
how
the
band
formed?
We all went to the same secondary school in Waterford, so we played together in different bands when we were younger. O Emperor properly formed when we went to college in Cork and we began recording our first album when we all finished back in 2008/09. Is there a story behind the name O Emperor? It's a random character from the Mr Ben cartoon. You recently released your new album ‘Vitreous’, is there a meaning or message you tried to convey throughout the album? I don't think there is a message or meaning as such in the album, but if you want to draw something from it as a whole, it's probably; if you throw enough shit against the wall, something will stick. There was a definite ethos to how we approached it, that of being OK to have no plan and just leaving everything open to experiment and surprise. How does ‘Vitreous’ differ to your debut release ‘Hither Thither’ in terms of lyrical content? On ‘Hither Thither’ there are songs about definite places, events or characters. I think ‘Vitreous’ is more drawn from abstract images that flow along with the music, maybe just dropping certain images that hang around and complement the sounds. The vocals are even more embedded in the mix and we used more vocal effects to often just make them sound like other instruments. ‘Vitreous’ was self-recorded and produced, why did you decide to self produce and release your own record, and what can you tell us about the experience? We had tried a few different studio sessions throughout 2011 and while we were happy with some stuff, it generally felt like we were rushing through ideas or forcing things to happen. We thought if we got our own space and could take our time in experimenting with ideas, we would come up with something that maybe surprised us through the spontaneous nature of recording yourself. The experience was really good, I think there is a certain care-free feel to this record that came through by us just hanging out and messing around at our own leisure. Not having a label I guess meant we could create our own timeline and decide when the record was done etc too so that was very refreshing. What is your favourite song from the new album?
16 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
Possibly “Grandmother Mountain”, because I think it starts off like a song from ‘Hither Thither’ and leaves you off in a new space by the end, opening the way for the rest of the album to follow. Lyrically, where do you tend to draw your inspiration from? Often we will come up with the music first through jamming etc. Some small ideas of lyrics might be formed before this but usually you start to visualise something from listening back to the music. I kind of think of the music sometimes like a soundtrack to a scene, that could just mean some lines that set a mood or abstract picture in your mind, I think it's nice to leave lyrics open to interpretation too. Do you have a static songwriting process or does is differ every time? Usually it's started by a rough idea someone has and then is pulled apart and reworked by the band by jamming it over time. For this album a lot of the songwriting was done by starting a rough idea that had a structure and melody and just putting down drums with bass or whatever and then building it up from there. What can we expect from one of your live shows? I think now that we have two albums under our belt, the show is a lot stronger. The new album lends itself more to a live interruption and spontaneous playing which we're really enjoying. What is one of the most important things you have learned from touring? You
can
never
bring
enough
socks.
Do you think social media has helped or hindered the discovery of up and coming artists? I think it has definitely helped get artists out there more. It's cool that you can connect with other acts and fans directly and even the barriers of engaging with bigger artists isn't there anymore, as they too see the importance of engaging in it. What do you have planned for the rest of the year? We have a tour of Europe in August and September and more shows on the way here in Ireland and the UK which should take us up to Christmas time. Is there anything else you would like to say? I recently discovered the wonders of fabric softener, it really does make your socks much softer from the wash. I might ask for some on our rider. INTERVIEW BY: BEKKA COLLINS
VENTURE BACKSTAGE WITH...
An Honest Year
www.facebook.com/anhonestyear
You got the opportunity to play Orlando, Florida’s Warped Tour this year. How did that opportunity come about and how was the experience? Jon: We participated in an annual contest called “Ernie Ball’s Battle of the Bands.” Basically a voting system where judges will eventually select a few bands out of 100 finalists to see who gets to play the specific Warped Tour date they signed up for. Our fans did an amazing job of making us stand out and eventually we were selected to play. Stephen: The experience was surreal. A dream come true for all of us, and we really owe that to our fans, friends, and family for supporting us. 18 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
www.twitter.com/anhonestyear
What have you learned about yourselves as a band from playing shows? Jon: We’ve learned we’re all about being high energy, that wasn’t something that was decided, it just kind of happened, we were all mentally on the same page. We’ve also learned that we could all benefit from a trip to the gym. Lastly we hop…a lot. Stephen: Matt likes to kiss us a lot on stage, so maybe he’s learned something about himself from that. How do you think the Battle of the Bands competition affects smaller bands such as yourself? Do you think Warped Tour is a good stepping stone? INTERVIEW BY: CODI TROSPER
Jon: I think it really gives smaller bands the confidence in the music they’ve spent so much time on. To be selected by industry professionals is incredibly flattering and shouldn’t be overlooked. I would say playing Warped Tour was more of a motivator, we got to play Orlando and now we want more. How do you think Warped Tour effects the people who attend? Is it a festival you grew up going to? Jon: Besides sunburn, foot cramps, heat strokes, and the worst hair day in ages? Every year is something you won’t forget, everyone remembers Warped Tour and getting to meet and see their favorite bands perform. I didn’t financially get the opportunity to attend Warped Tour every year growing up but I’ve attended 3 times now and I always went and got the compilations if I wasn’t able to attend. What was your favorite part about playing Warped Tour? Jon: Flat out playing Warped Tour. We had an amazing crowd and I think the rest of the guys can agree that that’s the most fun show we’ve played as a band to date.
Can you describe what it’s like as a band traveling to different cities and playing shows? Jon: It’s always a lot of fun, especially doing it with your best friends, everyone is getting the experience in seeing a new city and playing a different venue. It’s just nice knowing your only worry that day is performing the music you wrote in front of people. How
would
you
describe
your
fanbase?
Jon: Our fanbase is pretty dynamic, we certainly have our share of casual fans but we also have a lot of genuine “fangirls” and they’re extremely supportive, it’s phenomenal really, sometimes I forget we’re still a new band. Stephen: Most importantly they’re sexy. What
are
your
upcoming
touring
plans?
Jon: Our touring plans are definitely in the works, some other things haven’t been set in motion yet. We have some pretty big news coming up that I can’t really talk about further. But don’t be surprised to be seeing An Honest Year in your hometown come 2014.
spotlight company This month’s spotlight company is Be Sharp PR, which was created by Kate Stuart and Katie French. We chatted to the pair about the inital creation of the company, their backgrounds in the music world, challenges and highlights of their career so far, and the biggest highs and lows of the job. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be in the PR business, make sure you give this a read!
Can you introduce yourself and tell us your role within the company? Kate: I’m Kate Stuart and I am a co director of Be Sharp PR. Katie: I’m Katie French and I am also a co director of Be Sharp PR. You can’t work for Be Sharp unless your name is a variation of Kate! We both handle national and online press campaigns for our Be Sharp PR clients in the entertainment industry. Our main focus and passion is music but we also cover film, events, comedy and brands. How did you get started in the music world, and why did you decide to start a PR firm? Kate: I started out as an intern for an independent music PR company back in the early 90’s and then landed my first job as an Assistant Press Officer at Polydor Records around 6 months later. Throughout my PR career I’ve worked with some musical greats and top brands such as Portishead, Stevie Wonder, Paul Oakenfold, David Holmes, Levis, Channel 4 and G-Shock. I’ve also dabbled in music management when I worked for Boyzone and Ronan Keating’s management. I took some time out to have my little girl and came back to the PR world and met Katie. She was really enthusiastic and passionate about what she was doing. We got on really well and in her early twenties she was teaching me how the world of online pr worked and I was helping her with my 20 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
experience of print press and the music industry. Katie: I have a similar story in that I worked hard doing an internship before getting offered a full time position and slowly moving up the ladder. Working alongside Kate we found that at the time there was a real gap in the market for a passionate PR company that focused on building up small bands through dedicated online campaigns. We had a lot of people that loved working with the two of us and really believed in what we were doing so we set up on our own with the intention of promoting cool new acts and helping them get signed to majors or large independent record labels. It’s much nicer working for yourself and I think Kate and I have a really good balance of her experience and my youthful enthusiasm and handle on technology! And we both have super cool music taste of course. How did you come up with the name “Be Sharp” and does it have a meaning? Kate: Its a play on words and has more than one meaning. It can mean to be sharp (i.e. super switched on) about something but it also relates to a music note - though there is actually not a B Sharp note in music tones, which makes it even more interesting. Katie: The entirely fictional B sharp note, but nobody wants to be called B flat PR. By the way the name has nothing to do with The Simpsons. It wasn’t till after we named ourselves that I remembered Homer Simpson’s barbershop quartet was called The Be Sharps!
Could you talk us through a generic day for you? Kate: Each day is different, but generally it starts off by checking emails, seeing what press has run on our clients and what’s going on in the news and on Twitter that day. Then we both get together and plan out what work needs to be done that day and follow that up with emails and phone calls. We’re often out and about in town at our members club, The Hospital Club for meetings with existing and potential clients or journalists. At least once a week we’ll be out at gigs with journalists. What have been your biggest challenges and your biggest highlights since starting the company? Kate: I actually ran a PR company back in the nineties so starting up a new company didn’t faze me. It’s very different to being paid a wage or a freelance day rate though, as you have to manage every aspect of running a small business and make sure you have enough cash flow to meet all the extra expenses incurred with running a business. There have been many highlights but I think when one of our acts get
I also think that people feel it’s incredibly glamorous to work in the music and entertainment industry. Most of the time it really isn’t, but it’s true that there are those times when you find yourself on a photo shoot or covering a press interview with a celebrity, but generally it’s a lot of hard work and persuasion trying to build a press campaign around an artist. Katie: Yeah people often forget that you have to be really professional, so if you’re hanging out with Brad Pitt you can’t plaster it all over the Internet. I also think people have stereotypes of PRs as being really bitchy, fake or a bit vacuous. I know lots of lovely PR people who are really switched on and passionate about what they do. It’s tough to land pieces of press sometimes and you have to work really hard and face a lot of rejection. It’s not an easy job. There are also people out there who think PR is easy and they can do it themselves. You should always get a good PR on board, as it’s hard to be objective about yourself. We are the professionals
signed to a major label or good independent - which has happened three times now since we set up the company – it gives us a real sense of achievement. Katie: Highlights for me would be our artist Juan Zelada signing to Decca Records, San Cisco signing to Columbia Records and seeing our act Seasfire play at Reading & Leeds festival after they were named in the top 20 most blogged about bands of 2012. Organising an NME feature with The Vaccines, The Horrors and Tribes for Chazzstock Festival was really memorable, as it was such a touching tribute to an incredible musician. Every time I land a piece of press coverage I still get a real buzz as I want all of our acts to be recognized for how amazing they are. We’re still growing and we have some very exciting projects coming up later this year too! What do you think are some of preconceptions about the industry?
biggest
Kate: That you are out partying every night! It’s really not true. It’s a very tough and highly competitive industry to work in but it’s also amazing to be able to help nurture new talent and watch them grow.
and journalists respect our tastes and opinions. What would you say are the highs and lows of the job? Kate: Highs are definitely seeing a band grow and succeed as a result of the work you put in and getting good coverage for your client. We both always get really excited when something we have worked hard on securing for a client gets published. It still gives me a lift even after all these years! Lows are late nights and working all hours when needed. Katie: I love that we get to go to gigs, festivals and events for free, and seeing our artists get the recognition they deserve is the best. I truly hate paperwork and the fact that my attention span is now so short due to being constantly stimulated at work that I can’t just chill out and watch a film all the way through without fidgeting. PR can be stressful at times, but we have to remember it’s PR not ER hehe.
Any bands you think we should look out for?
interest, love for and extensive knowledge about it.
Kate: Just check out our roster! If you’re after some fun pop check out Billy Cullum, or for lush harmonies and folk check out Caracol or Paper Aeroplanes. One of our bands Longfellow (see page 10) has just signed up with Fierce Panda management so exciting things ahead for them. Wild Combination, Molly Beanland, Seasfire and BON-BON are all very exciting new acts too. Katie: It depends what you’re in to really. We cover all genres. If you want new music recommendations you should check out our Facebook page, or there are some great blogs out there like The 405, Music Broke My Bones and Breaking More Waves who always cover cool new artists. Amazing Radio have superb music taste. My friend’s band Themepark are awesome and doing really well too.
Do you have any who want to delve
What would you say are some key skills a publicist needs?
Is there anything else you would like to say?
Kate: A thick skin, gentle persuasive skills, tenacity and great interpersonal social skills. Excellent writing skills, a creative mind and an eye for a press story or angle are all equally as important if you want to succeed in PR. Whichever field of PR you want to work in you will need to have a genuine
advice for into the PR
Kate: Do your research about who you want to work for - the Music Week Directory, CMU or Record of The Day are really useful resources for finding music industry companies. A polite and well written (short) email to a company will always get read and it's really just a case of right place and right time with finding a job. Also get some intern experience, as you will have to work for free for at least 3-6 months first to gain enough experience to be considered for a press assistant job. Also network like crazy. Get out to gigs and make friends with as many people as you can. You never know who you might end up meeting and talking to.
Katie: Keep truckin’ Kate: Keep it sharp… www.twitter.com/besharppr www.facebook.com/BeSharpPR
www.besharppr.com
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people world?
radiodriveby The Arizona quintet, RadioDriveBy, are a pop-rock group that blend contagious melodies with crisp pop beats. Having been named as “Arizona’s Pop Princes” by Alternative Press Magazine and with over 11,500 likes on Facebook, it is safe to say that this band is headed in the right direction. They have earned several devoted fans over the years, which have led them to share the stage with artists such as Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Anarbor, Forever The Sickest Kids, Hoobastank, and many more. They even had the opportunity to play at this year’s Phoenix date at Warped Tour, which brought several RadioDriveBy fans together, singing word for word each song. With a belt of shows under them it comes as no surprise that RadioDriveBy will be heading out to the Philippines this month and touring
the U.S. more. This isn’t they have in store for us releasing their new album “Go All Night” is a taste
the only thing that though, they will be later this year and of what to expect.
This is a band who have the potential to be the next big thing, be sure to keep them on your radar.
GET SOCIAL www.twitter.com/radiodriveby www.facebook.com/radiodriveby BY: MELISA BAYKENT
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adelphia Adelphia are an alt-rock quartet originating from Nottingham in the UK. The band formed at the start of the year and have already made heads turn with their punchy drums, melodic riffs and enticing lyrics. Made up of Nicholas Crampton (vocals, rhythm guitar), Rik Gilbert (drums, backing), Jordan Wood (lead guitar) and Jay Sanderson (bass) this band want to show the world what they can do. Their debut single “Do Your Worst” has grasped the attention of both fans and critic alike, while their next single “Lost At Sea” is eagerly waiting to premiere. Their debut EP ‘Fingers Burnt and Lessons Learnt’, produced by Matt O’Grady, is expected to burst onto the scene creating a big stepping stone for the band.
Having already garnered a respectable reputation based on their music alone, the boys have had the chance to show off their live performances to the likes of Rock City and Hit The Deck Festival alongside many other well known venues. It seems as though Adelphia have it all under control, and for such a young band we’re excited to see where they go.
GET SOCIAL www.twitter.com/adelphiaband
www.facebook.com/adelphiaband
BY: BEKKA COLLINS
The Neighbourhood & jmsn
by nicole thomas
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the color and sound December 2012 was the month that saw a collaborative idea between friends become a reality in the form of The Color and Sound, a six piece who blend together an array of genres to create a sound that is truly their own. All from past musical backgrounds, The Color and Sound aren’t technically new to the music scene, but as a collective they pass the new band test. Honing a sound that is stronger sounding than their years, ‘The Spring Tour EP’ is pop simplicity at it’s finest with melodic riffs, playful lyrics and boosting harmonies.
as possible, you can expect to hear a lot from The Color and Sound across the next year or so. Keep your ears open, they plan to always keep you guessing.
GET SOCIAL www.twitter.com/TeamTCAS
www.facebook.com/thecolorandsound
Newbies at Working Group Management and determined to share their music with as many people 28 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
BY: BEKKA COLLINS
The Wild By Aud Lew
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WARPED TOUR all photos by Nicole Thomas
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forever the sickest kids 34 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
the summer set
Action Item Action Item is a four piece band based in New Action Item are always striving to be the best Jersey who create melodic and guitar fuelled pop band they can be. You can catch Action Item music. Since 2008 they have been building their on the Vans Warped Tour this summer. dedicated fan base and have supported bands such as Hot Chelle Rae and Boys Like Girls.
GET SOCIAL
Their latest EP ‘Resolution’ reached #9 on the Billboard Independent Chart and is packed with uplifting and catchy tunes. Latest single “Brave” is a piano driven number about believing in yourself and following your dreams. Passionate and hardworking, 38 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
www.twitter.com/actionitemband
www.facebook.com/actionitem
WORDS BY: MELINA SCARFO
STORY OF THE YEAR 40 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
tonight alive
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CHIODOS
BLACK VEIL BRIDES
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On the Radar
BY: BEKKA COLLINS
BY: BEKKA COLLINS
BY: BEKKA COLLINS
THE PARADES
MTNS
Rescue Kid
Check out “Empty Rooms”
Check out “Lost Track of Time”
Check out “Make You Mine”
The Parades are an up and coming boy band from Reading in the UK. Focused on producing captivating guitar based pop, this young trio seem to have already mastered the knack of creating catchy hooks and memorable choruses. Due to their partnership with Red Triangle Productions, they have a new and shiny 3 track EP under their belts, which demonstrates their dedication as a band, having only being together for five months. They have the potential to be big.
Australia have a definite talent for being home to some of the most impressive new musical acts in the world. MTNS, an ambient electronic trio are no exception to this neverending talent. Forming a mere month ago, their debut single “Lost Track of Time” is equally as refreshing as it is explosive. With what already seems to be a signature sound, this band have so much more to give and we can’t wait to see how they survive in this world.
Formed in 2012, Rescue Kid are a quintet from South Florida who are looking to find a place for themselves. Experimenting with their sound, and crossing between the typical genres of rock, punk and pop, Rescue Kid bring an extra spark to the table. With wealths of promise and already an array of fans backing their new favourite band (talk about grabbing a spot at this years Warped Tour), we’re excited to see what Rescue Kid have planned next.
www.twitter.com/theparadesband www.facebook.com/pages/the-parades
www.twitter.com/mtnsmusic
www.twitter.com/rescuekidmusic
www.facebook.com/mtnsmusic
www.facebook.com/rescuekid
REVIEWS
ALBUM REVIEWS//
album reviews ONE TWO THREE four five OUT OF / five
WILD COMBINATION ‘PULSES’
Bubbly indie-pop band Wild Combination’s newest release, ‘Pulses’ is a dreamy whirlwind of strong drums, tinkling synths, and youthful vibes. ‘Pulses’ is eclectic and shows a great range in the band. From the bouncy indie-rock number “Whole Lotta Truth” to the lyric-less, electronic “CS Hatey,” Wild Combination shows that they are a multi-faceted group and not just another Phoenix-soundalike. “Great Expectations” is dizzying and fast-paced, “Kaleidoscope” is an aptly-named track, as the song seems to swirl and articulate as it progresses. The vocals follow suit, leaping through an intricate vocal melody. “Waves” begins by spotlighting Wild Combination’s distinct drums that continue to shine throughout the track. “Waves” truly exemplifies the intricacies of Wild Combination’s sound, displaying their aptitude for mixing the right amount of electronic elements into their tracks. ‘Pulses’ is a perfect debut EP for Wild Combination, setting them apart in the alternative/indie scene.
IN DYNAMICS ‘CIRCLE’
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Pop Rockers In Dynamics hailing from Brighton U.K. will release their anticipated EP ‘Circle’ in mid August. In Dynamics start their EP with a bit of a smooth yet ripped sound with “Equal Ground” which sets the tone spot on. The second track “Liposuction” has an energetic feel, with the fast paced guitar, and group vocals adding to the energy. In “Symmetry” you can hear the ranges of vocalist Beau Boulden’s voice; melodic sounding but still with the rock vibe. Track four, “Running Hands” is the bands first single off the EP, with an upbeat sound and catchy chorus it’s sure to be a fan favourite. Ending with “I Never Make Sense” it’s catchy chorus “When you’re always an excuse away” and stuck in your head lyrics make it a swell ending. Beau Boulden (vocals), Will (bass) and Jack Wrench (drums) make a solid team, I’d say they did great on this one and keep a lookout for what In Dynamics will do.
ALBUM REVIEWS //
O EMPEROR ‘VITREOUS’
Irish five-piece O Emperor present their second album, ‘Vitreous’: a progressive rock, synth infused masterpiece. Driven by daring and distorted drum sounds and a fusion of dream-like instrumentals, it’s complemented further by delicate vocals. The album sounds like the interlude between summer and autumn, with some songs reminiscent of a slightly less psychedelic Tame Impala track and others playing out like a twist on a traditional indie rock song –“Brainchild” and “Contact”, respectively. “Minuet” and “Soft in the Head” are haunting, but easy listening nonetheless. The rest of the album is a little more chaotic, but powerfully so. “Land of the Living” will have you waving your arms in a confused, swaying dance. Out of nine tracks, they all manage to stand out, which is an incredibly difficult thing to do. All in all, ‘Vitreous’ is an excellent sophomore effort that will linger in your subconscious for days after.
NOW, VOYAGER
‘TELL-TALE HEARTS’
Now, Voyager’s second EP makes no attempt at easing listeners slowly in. Opening track “From The Brain” is huge, thundering and guitar heavy. Background vocals in the chorus compliment the use of screaming and heavier vocals in the verse. “Where We’ll Start” showcases incredible drumming and production - a highlight of the EP. As if to show their ability to adapt, “The Long Lane” features a slow piano start with out-of-place Eastern vocals. The rest of the track focuses on pop-punkesque vocals and guitar rock riffs. Final track “To The Heart” features Blink 182-sounding vocals with harmony, melodic riffs and even a xylophone. Before the track eventually builds, it would be easily mistaken for an entirely different band. The track culminates in an anthemic finish, making for a suitable closure. “To The Heart” is a welcomed rest from the fully-loaded hardcore release and shows various components of the band’s musical abilities.
SWIM DEEP
‘WHERE THE HEAVEN ARE WE’
Swim Deep are an indie rock band from Birmingham, who have been climbing up the musical ladder faster than most acts. Their debut album ‘Where The Heaven Are We’ is a mixture of tracks that are right on point, and those that seem to have missed the mark completely. Starting off with a fairly blase introduction things don’t pick up until the chimes of “King City” blare through my speakers, and the simplistic nature of “Honey” has me mesmerized. Fairly consistent in terms of structure, I can’t help feel like a lot of these tracks act as fillers. Though the likes of “Make My Sun Shine” and “She Changes The Weather” remind me why I’m a fan in the first place. This album is by no means a bad debut, on the contrary it’s a fairly solid effort, I had just expected more. If laid-back verses sprinkled with subtle keys, heart-heavy melodic riffs and prominent, albeit occasionally dull, percussion is your thing - then you’re sure to love this album.
INTERVIEW: THE younger Could you tell us how you formed the band? Extremely organically actually, Simon and I are very close friends and have been for years, after the end of our last bands, we had both been wanting to work on a project together for a long time. We sat down knowing our influences very clearly and how we wanted to sound, unabashed big stadium rock with modern pop sensibilities, and after a few weeks we both knew we had something great on our hands. We desperately needed the right bassist and drummer, the right mentality, sound, and look. Simon suggested Jay and Reece, brothers who we had played with in bands around the scene as kids, they said yes straight away. Our first few practices were absolutely electric and completely 52 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
ONES TO WATCH
captivating, we started composing our new songs live in session and although a lot has happened to us in a short amount of time, and we are so grateful for the buzz its generating, the real strength of our band comes from how close we are as friends and how natural it has all come together. Is there a story behind the name The Younger? Unlike a lot of other bands recently, we've only ever had the one name, no throwing different ideas around, no last minute changes no re branding. I saw the word younger written down in a magazine somewhere and straight away went to the guys and suggested The Younger and instantly we had our name, and I think it’s a very good name if we do say so ourselves. BY: BEKKA COLLINS
How
would
you
describe
your
sound?
Expansive stadium rock, laced with modern pop hooks and melody. You recently released your debut EP ‘If Not Now, Never’, is there a meaning or message you have tried to convey throughout the EP? Of course. The EP musically and lyrically is a very steadfast statement of intent, we have come to be the biggest band we possibly can be with what we truly believe to be our best work personally as musicians. With songs, imagery and a positive message that the current musical landscape is in dire need of. All of the songs on the record are laced with a hope and a drive that speaks not autobiographically, not introverted and narcissistic, but open ended and applicable to anyone. We are not another beige, down trodden recession sound band, we want to be uplifting, we want to be positive and the EP is named exactly what we believe, if not now, never. Why did you decide to offer your EP for free? We said from day one we believe in being organic and letting things just flow. For an unknown band to charge for their first work in this day and age is just not the right path, especially for us. We want everybody to be a part of this with us, we do believe in a family vision for our fans, and anything that helps us achieve that and doesn't trample the seed before it can grow, is something we want to extend to everyone. You’re still an incredibly new band, what has been the biggest challenge you have faced so far? I think just getting our music out there to everyone really, it’s hard knowing you are making something that hopefully so many people will enjoy, and giving it away, removing any barriers, but still having to fight against the ever-strong current of new music and media to get your head above the waves and your voice heard. That being said, we have a wonderful team and a small but incredibly loyal fan base, and I think given time and all the right moves made, it won’t be long before we are a much larger presence. You won our Ones To Watch poll which is fan voted. Do you think the dependency on social media has helped or hindered a musicians discovery? Firstly thank you for having us and thankyou for everyone who voted. Independent media is totally vital and something we are very passionate about. On social media, if I’m honest there is no clear cut answer, if it’s a help or a hinder it’s one we've made for ourselves, and the clever will exploit it as a medium and others will fall at the wayside. The bottom line is anything that brings you closer to your fans and helps you make new ones, regardless
of your opinions on its machinations, is something you have to take very seriously, and I believe The Younger does do that, and continues to learn from others and most importantly what our fans want. You have just released a bunch of UK tour dates, what can we expect from one of your live shows? A damn good performance haha, we love playing live, we write live in rehearsal, we love sessions, but on stage is where this band calls home. Energy, interaction, a great sound and a really good time is exactly what were about, we always aim to impress. I would love to see as many people at these headline dates as possible, just dragging their friends along to see what the fuss is about. Do you have any plans to release new music, if so what can you tell us about them? Most certainly we do, our follow up to ‘If Not Now, Never’ will be out this winter, and is the 7 track EP named ‘Have Hope’. Our lead single off of that release is called “Say My Name” which we will release in September. We move very fast as a band and cannot wait to unwrap this new record for everyone to hear, it’s a very special record for us, and one I think people are really going to like. What do you have planned for the rest of the year? Alongside our new EP release which is huge for us, we will be touring, headline and otherwise, and appearing at this year’s very prestigious Warped Tour UK at Alexandra Palace in London in November, also we will be releasing new content very frequently that should keep everyone on their toes. The best way to keep up with us is to sign up to our mailing list and also get our last EP ‘If Not Now, Never’ for completely FREE in the process, by going to and signing up here www.theyounger. bandcamp.com, we send out regular newsletters, and right now we have the opportunity to win free tickets to our headline Barfly London EP release show, that's currently exclusive to members only. Is there anything else you would like to say? Thank you to Venture for having us as their Ones To Watch, please go grab your free EP at www.theyounger.bandcamp.com and we can’t wait to all see you at a show soon!
GET SOCIAL www.twitter.com/theyoungeruk www.facebook.com/theyoungerofficial
We Were Frontiers Could
you
tell
us
how
the
band
formed?
Just a bunch of friends who’s past bands had departed and wanted to carry making music. Your sound is an interesting blend of genres, how would you personally describe it? Frantic Folk, Punk-folk? We started out just as a four piece jamming out these little folk-esque songs with a kind of Ennio Morricone twist, then we got Aimee in on drums, plugged in, got heavier and faster and started making things a little more exciting and danceable. You recently released your EP ‘Giveth Taketh Away’ which we’re big fans of. What was the recording process like? It was great. We did it all ourselves so it was a challenge, but the only limits were our own
imaginations so we could just experiment and try whatever we liked. This also meant we could throw in instruments that we wouldn’t normally be able to use live like piano, organ, layered trumpets, percussion; I think there was even some kind of Chinese flute in there at some point. We never would have been able to afford to have this level of experimentation in a professional studio so it was great to have the time and be able to have fun with it. Is there any meaning or message you tried to convey throughout ‘Giveth Taketh Away’? There were some difficult times being had when the bulk of the lyrics were written so they deal with some of the darker sides of being human. There’s a bit of death, anxiety, personal loss and religion in there, but hopefully the content isn’t too obvious so that people can still take their own meaning from the tracks. The overall resounding message I guess is life is ace
but sometimes it isn’t, hence the giveth/ taketh. You just released a video for “Night Terrors”, can you explain the idea behind the video? We just wanted something gritty and real that reflected the kind of despair of the track. We left it to Tom Midgely and Paul Fox to put the whole thing together. Those guys are so talented and put together the whole thing on a tiny budget. So much respect for them. Our only specification was that we didn’t really want to be in it.
We’re doing a bunch of dates, in the usual places – Leeds, Manchester London ect, but we’re not going show crazy for it. We’re saving that for later in the year. What do you have planned for the rest of the year? Loads
more
shows
and
back
in
the
studio.
Is there anything else you would like to say? Thank you for taking the time to listen, peace!
Last year you played the BBC Introducing stage at Reading and Leeds. What can we expect from one of your live shows? A lot of energy, a bit of chaos, some big riffs, big choruses and a lot of fun I hope! Do you have a new song from the EP that you’re most looking forward to playing live? We’ve had most of them in the live set for a while now, I guess “Glorious Days” is the newest edition, and that’s great fun to play! Playing the big outro on “Devils Type” is also good for just zoning out! Will you be touring in support of the EP?
GET SOCIAL www.twitter.com/WeWereFrontiers
www.facebook.com/WeWereFrontiersOfficial
bring Me The Horizon
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by Nicole Thomas
MAG
VENTURE FOUNDER + EDITOR IN CHIEF BEKKA COLLINS: Founder / Press / Graphic Design / Editorial / Writer BREANNE GILL: Editor In Chief
PHOTOGRAPHERS ADAM ARNALI / AUD LEW / NICOLE THOMAS / CODI TROSPER /
writers ELIZABETH ATKIN / MELISA BAYKENT / DECEMBER LEANNE / JULIA PURCELL / MELINA SCARFO / CODI TROSPER / HELEN WHITTLE
special thanks Libby Coffey / Vans Warped Tour / Empire Theory / Long Fellow / Ryan Dunson / An Honest Year / Katie French / Kate Stuart / We Were Frontiers / The Younger / Adelphia / RadioDriveBy / Action Item / The Color and Sound /
contact WEBSITE www.venturemag.co.uk TWITTER www.twitter.com/ventureuk FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/ventureuk tumblr www.venturemag.tumblr.com YOUTUBE www.youtube.com/venturemag
FACEBOOK.COM/VENTUREUK @VENTUREUK WWW.VENTUREMAG.CO.UK AUGUST ISSUE 2013
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