Venture mag
december issue 2013
PEACE FINDLAY / BABy alpaca / blameshift / giants / emily & the woods / + more
EXPLORE With 2013 coming to a close, we wanted to pick a band that has taken the UK by storm for our December cover, hence honoring PEACE. Catching up with them on their UK headline tour, we learned about the success of their debut album, what their festive celebrations are and what they have planned for 2014. From all of us on the Venture Mag team, happy holidays!
PEACE
FEATURES
REGULARS
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SPOTLIGHT ARTIST: SUDDENLY US
8
THE LAFONTAINES
12
BABY ALPACA
32
TOUR STORIES
16
FINDLAY
42
TOP ALBUMS OF 2013
20
THE TONTONS
46
ON THE RADAR
21
THE LONELY BISCUITS
6
HELLO! VENTURE MAG
ISSUE NO. FOURTEEN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “MUSIC IS THE STRONGEST FORM OF MAGIC” -MARILYN MANSON
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ALBUM REVIEWS
EMILY & THE WOODS, PRINTZ BOARD, LOST IN ATLANTIS, GIANTS, ERIC DASH, BLAMESHIFT + MORE!
ARE YOU HARDWORKING, ENTHUSIASTIC AND A LOVER OF MUSIC? JOIN OUR TEAM EMAIL INFO@VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
CALVIN HARRIS & ALESSO UNDER CONTROL
WE ARE THE IN CROWD THE BEST THING
VERSA NEON
TOM ODELL I KNOW
JOHN NEWMAN LOSING SLEEP
FINDLAY gREASY LOVE
ELYAR FOX DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN
SONS AND LOVERS GHOSTS
WOLF ALICE BLUSH
MONTHLY PLAYLIST Here’s our collection of songs that we just haven’t been able to stop playing throughout December. We may seem low on festive cheer, but our website is packed full of 25 Christmas Crackers we love! Eylar Fox, Sons And Lovers and Wolf Alice are who you need to keep an eye on in 2014 while VERSA have reinvented their once rock-rooted sound. Also, nothing beats Calvin Harris and Alesso’s new dance track. What, or rather who is on your monthly play list?
CLICK TO PLAY
MEET THE TEAM
Venture mag FOUNDER + EDITOR IN CHIEF BEKKA COLLINS: Founder / Press / Graphic Design / Writer JAKE WILLIAMS: Graphic Design
PHOTOGRAPHERS DAN GRAHAM / AUD LEW / DYLAN RAZO / KAYLEE SMOKE / MARK SOMMER / MYLES WRIGHT
writers ARMON JAY / ELISABETHA ROSNOWSKI / MELINA SCARFO / EMILY WOOD
special thanks Suddenly Us / PEACE / Stefanee Alcantar / Jamie Otsa / Erika Clark / Katie French / Emily Wood / Lost In Atlantis / Giants / Eric Dash / Blameshift / Allie Gruensfelder / Ashley Matthews / Steph Knight / Amber Crisci / Matthew Hutt / Mark Orr / Findlay / Printz Board / Armon Jay / The Mowgli’s ./ Camryn / NGHBRS / Dan Graham.
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 4 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
T W E E T @VENTUREUK LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS ISSUE #VENTUREMAGFOURTEEN
SLOW MAGIC PEACE | BY DAN GRAHAM PHOTO BY: RAZO FACEBOOKDYLAN / / WEBSITE
Spotlight ARTIST
SUDDENLY US
Suddenly Us are a newly formed band made up of Ryan Smith, Dan Washy, Bradley Higgins and Matt Kanji. The quartet evolved from a covers band that they were all previously involved in, after they realised they always had a yearning to play their own music instead of other peoples. It seems that the band continually cross over genres, blending a typical trio of electronic, pop and rock sounds together. They’ve stated themselves that: “we try to cover many different genres in the hope of appealing to as 6 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
many people as possible,” and it already seems to be going well. Their song writing process varies from song to song and lyrically they get their inspiration from personal experiences and relationships. Suddenly Us are a very DIY band, who are selffunded and often take to recording material in their own studio. They said: “We’ve been very fortunate, largely thanks to Ryan, to have this privilege which allows us to work in relaxed surroundings. Then we get to deal with the production side as and when, rather than
being tied to fixed timescales”. They also commented on the fact that social media has really helped with their discovery: “we have benefited massively from Facebook and Twitter by being able to reach far more people than would have been possible just but gigging in local venues.” With a constantly strengthening fan base, and a sold out December show, the band are hoping to spend 2014 writing, recording and touring.
SUDDENLY US PHOTO BY: MYLES WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
Spotlight RELEASE
The Dallas Buyers Club stars Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner and Jared Leto. The film is based on a true story with McConaughey playing Ron Woodroof, a Texas man who died from an AIDS-related illness in 1992. After being denied antiretroviral treatment for his diagnosis, the film documents his journey to Mexico in order to obtain black market medicine, which he smuggles back and sells to other patients. The film premiered in Los Angeles and New York on November 1st. The soundtrack to the film, ‘Music
from and Inspired by Dallas Buyers Club’ was released with the help of Relativity Music Group. The 16 song soundtrack features original songs from a wealth of artists including Tegan and Sara, Manchester Orchestra, Thirty Seconds To Mars, and Cold War Kids. Tegan and Sara’s “Shudder To Think” has been praised for it’s upbeat and electronic direction, which screams positivity while it’s lyrics are simplistic albeit encouraging. Capital Cities cover the classic “Stayin’ Alive” with a few
quirky tweaks while Thirty Seconds To Mars provide a beautiful, ballad-like acoustic version of “City of Angels”. The soundtrack stands strongly alone, but is even more fitting as part of the film. Relativity Music Group then partnered with (RED) to support the AIDS fight. Every soundtrack sold will see a donation of 10% from the net proceeds help finance the critical work of The Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.
Please Visit: http://www.red.org.
BY: BEKKA COLLINS
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THE lA FONTAINES The LaFontaines are a five-piece act from Scotland. They are an exciting group who blend hip-hop infused punk and indie rock to create a sound like no other. They have received so much praise for their individuality, and have solid hometown support in in Scotland, continuously selling out shows and increasing their fan base across the UK. Recently signed to Manchester’s LAB Records, the bands latest single “All She Knows” was produced by Matt O’Grady. It is layered with honest lyrics, melodic riffs and pounding drums, and manages to transform into one of the freshest sounds we’ve heard in a long time. The band already have a tonne of high profile shows under their belts, having supported the likes of The Blackout, Example, Twin Atlantic and 3OH!3. As we imagined, it’s a diverse list, and that’s because The LaFontaines have somehow managed to squeeze themselves into that niche gap that allows them to perform to multiple audiences. Their talent is slowly becoming noticed, and the band have just won the Big Apple awards, which will see them perform in New York City in 2014. They will also be supporting All Time Low at a date on their UK tour. Keep your eyes pealed, this band are going up and fast.
ONE OF THE FRESHEST SOUNDS WE’VE HEARD IN A LONG TIME.
WORDS BY: BEKKA COLLINS
Pentimento
PENTIMENTO PHOTOS BY: AUD LEW 10 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
THE PRETTY RECKLESS PHOTOS BY: NICOLE THOMAS
Baby Alpaca
PHOTOS BY: MARK SOMMER
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Baby Baby Alpaca’s EP begins with the lyrics “You said I was a loser”. However, this band are anything but losers. The five piece from New York create dreamy, blissed out music which is difficult to confine to just one genre. Soft rock, soul and R&B are just some of the many influences you will find on Baby Alpaca’s self-titled EP. Released through Atlas Chair Records this past June, it is a collection of four songs which singer Chris Kittrell says is about running away but running towards something really beautiful. It’s clear from the onset that this band are anything but your standard indie-rock upcomers. It is no doubt that Kittrell’s soulful voice is the driving force behind vocals float above reverb heavy guitars and soft piano adding warmth to drenched sounds. Though the rest of the band deserved to be praised segements of each track, showing no downfalls or weakness just yet. continue in this direction then 2014 could be their year.
the quintet. His the already sun for their skillful If Baby Alpaca
Baby Alpaca have already done well to travel to some of the most well respected states in the US. They have spent time in Los Angeles, opening for Best Coast, played in Seattle, Portland and Cincinatti, as well as gracing their hometown for the CMJ Festival. You can find the band currently working on their full length album, and they seem to have some great things in store for next year. WORDS BY: MELINA SCARFO
Alpaca PHOTOS BY: MARK SOMMER
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findlay
ON DEVELOPING HER SOUND, WRITING SONGS AND ‘GREASY LOVE’
Solo
acoustic shows and open mic nights turned into supporting Jake Bugg and playing UK festivals, Manchester’s FINDLAY is one act you need to look out for. “I started doing covers when I was 15/16, and performing the silly kind of songs that I was writing back then,” she says. “I wanted to be Regina Spektor, but then I thought, the industry is really saturated with acoustic singer songwriter females. So I went away, wrote some decent, more band orientated songs, and started fronting and playing with a band.” Now at 22, FINDLAY’s progression as an artist is clear, both in her performance and sound. “My sound is a weird mix of everything that influences me. I’m not one of them that only listens to my favourite bands and nothing else. I’m into a lot of different kinds of music, bands, hip-hop, jazz, blues, world music, and I’m always looking for something that’s different. I like music that you can’t describe. I’m really into this dudes music called Ariel Pink - I have no idea what genre that is, and I like that. I suppose if you held a gun to my head though, I’d describe by stuff as bluesy…rock ’n’ roll? I’ve been experimenting using synths and strings on my newer stuff though. I can’t really say too much about my album either, other than that I hope it’s gonna be out next year. That’s because I’m still writing it and still trying to figure out what kind of sound I’m going to commit to making the record sound like. I’m gonna release another EP beforehand, hopefully, which gives me some more time to experiment.” But FINDLAY is not one to keep her fans in the dark, having recently released an EP titled ‘Greasy Love’, with a single of
the same name taking centre focus. “I wrote that track after being inspired by the conspiracy theory that George W Bush’s gran had an affair with Alistair Crowley, and Barbera Bush was their illegitimate love child. It’s probably bollocks but interesting to think about having an affair with someone who proclaimed themselves to be the devil. It was a bit of a labour of love recording that track too. I had the demo, went and recorded it full band, didn’t like it, rerecorded it differently and went through all the pain of different mixes and stuff, trying to get a good remix etc. It was a pain in the arse at the time but I’m really glad with how it ended up, and looking back it was worth the stress. I really enjoyed working with Flood as well, he’s mint.” She also released a music video for the impressive title track. “It’s more of a performance video
“IT’S PROBABLY BOLLOCKS, BUT INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT HAVING AN AFFAIR...” so the track was the inspiration for the video. I wanted it to be moody and urban, and we shot it close to where I live in London. The director Ruffmercy is a really cool guy, he’d done a load of hip-hop videos for artists I love like Danny Brown and Blue Daisy. I asked him if he’d be interested in working with me and we brainstormed imagery and locations, those old b-movie posters were inspiration for the colouring and I was really into the teeth/bones imagery that goes with the dark subject matter of the track. I guess the finished product was a mash up of our ideas. It’s my favourite video of mine.”
Before the EP was released in November, we asked FINDLAY what was one song she was most looking forward to other people hearing, and she gave the answer “Black Cloud, Silver Lining”, stating: “it’s a ballad, kind of, in the same vein as “Infinite” on the previous EP. I like writing more balls out music you can dance to, but I really enjoy writing slower ballad-y ones, especially when I have stuff to get off my chest. Emotionally it’s a good release. I’m really proud of that song, it was difficult for me to write it because it’s autobiographical. When it comes to writing, FINDLAY admitted that her writing process is constantly changing. “I think is important for it to change. I tend to write lyrics before I think about the music and get a topic or mood in my head. I’ve been doing cowrites as well, which is always fun because you can bounce ideas off other people. At the moment I’m writing every day, a lot of it’s shit but at least I’m doing it and I can look back as assess what’s good and what really is shit, and carry on with the tracks I think have legs. While it seems that FINDLAY is focusing on becoming a master of her craft, it seems like she can still sometimes go unnoticed in the industry. Yet, she was personally selected to play at this years L’Wren Scott’s infamous Serpentine Ball. “That experience was bizarre. I got an email asking me if I wanted to do it because L’wren
INTERVIEW BY: BEKKA COLLINS
was a fan, that was 3 days before the party then she dressed me for it and we just had a massive laugh doing it. I got to perform in front of loads of celebrities, meet Mick Jagger and drink champagne all night. So yeah, it was pretty surreal but those kinds of things are so few and far between you’ve got to take them. Pretty sure a week later I was drinking warm red stripe in a manky dressing room in hull or something.” Speaking of live shows, FINDLAY notes that her live show is “pretty raucous.” She says: “full band is really loud and high energy. It’s good when the crowd buzz off the energy you’re creating and you both feed off each other, and the music like that. When a gig is like that, it reinforces the fact I’m really doing what I love. It’s a great feeling.” Having just finished up her UK tour, she is going into the studio to record some new tracks, and then will be heading to see her parents for Christmas. In which she said, “I can’t wait to chill out under a duvet and watching shit films.” So we think that this girl is pretty down to earth, and we love that. It seems like she is slowly getting to grips with her sound, continually experimenting but never disappointing. We can’t wait to see where 2014 takes her.
TAKEN FROM ‘GREASY LOVE’
the tontons
The Tontons are a soulful quartet from Houston, Texas who are incredibly hard to describe. This is not bad however, we just can’t seem to find the right words to describe their infectious and thematically clever offerings, and the slapped up label - “indie-rock” on their Facebook page, just doesn’t quite do them justice. Front woman Asli Omar has vocals beyond her years, with an old-soulful twang she has
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a strong grip on her voice, while Tom Nguyne and Adam Martinez give us a charming mix of slurring and chugging riffs as Justin Martinez forms the foundations of each track with his pounding drums. Having been a band since 2007 they have established their sound to a remarkably high level, yet their presence isn’t as high as we think it should be. None the less, The Tontons have performed in dive bars to concert halls to festival
stages, and their progression as a group is evident. They have announced that their forthcoming album ‘Make Out King and Other Stories of Love’ will be released on February 18th. We think that 2014 could be the year that puts The Tontons on the map, and we really hope we’re right.
WORDS: BY BEKKA COLLINS
the lonely biscuits
The Lonely Biscuits combine a quirky concoction of soul, funk, pop and rap to create their signature sound that has been doing the rounds since 2011. The founding members of the band Grady Wenrich and Sam Gidley were roommates at Belmont University in Nashville, and after a short time together they began making music under the name of Gravy and the Biscuits. John Paterini soon took up the position as lead vocalist
after hearing some of their sounds from his dorm room across the hall. Two months later saw Nick Byrd join the band as the bass player, solidifying their lineup. Their unusual but exciting blend of sounds has allowed the band to reach a diverse fan base, which has helped them tour the country playing at Universities, festivals and clubs. They were recently named mtvU’s first ever “College Artist of the Year”.
The band have proved that they’re in it for the music, having already independently released three EPs, with their latest addition ‘A Girl Named Destiny’ charting on Billboard’s Regional Heatseekers. The Lonely Biscuits have promised that the year ahead will be full of writing, recording, and performing new music. We can’t wait to see what they get up too.
WORDS: BY BEKKA COLLINS
EMILY & THE WOODS ON DROPPING THE SINGER-SONGWRITER LABEL AND CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
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Emily & The Woods are a London act who originally existed as the brother and sister duo of Benedict and Emily Wood. Wanting to making it more collaborative, they joined forces with Dave and Sam a mere year ago, and everything started to make sense. We chatted to Emily about their music, but also the festive season. They have just released their latest EP ‘Then We Collide’, and said: “three of the songs on the latest EP are very new, and are an example of the sound that the band is moving towards. It’s been an exciting process doing something a bit different leaving the ‘singer-songwriter’ label behind. The last song on the EP, however, is one of my oldest songs and the message of that, which rings true throughout each song, is of reaching out to someone and trying to express or communicate something meaningful. When it came to the recording process, we played live for each song and added some additions afterwards, which is our preferred way of working. You can really enjoy performing the song! Our producer Greg Freeman was fantastic at encouraging us to ‘have just one more go’, until we got the take spot on. And, the only thing I think we could ask for would be more time in the studio, we had so much fun.” The band have since released their latest single “Helios”, which they said “represents something new and exciting.” Emily went on to say that “we are all proud of the sound of it, and hope people will get something fresh and unusual from it!”
But with Christmas coming up, we decided to quiz Emily on her holiday celebrations, and since we’re in December, the songs and carols have come out in full force. But is there a defining song that Emily just has to listen to? “Does ‘River’ by Joni Mitchell count? Or ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ because it gets so raucous at the end of the carol service - then you know it’s really Christmas! But Christmas only properly start on Christmas Eve, that’s when you really just batten down the hatched and curl up inside with a glass of something delicious. This Christmas we’re all spending the holiday at our family homes in West London. Although Dave is off to America this year - lucky for some.” As for Christmas traditions, Emily shared that “we all still get stockings, and in the Wood family we are allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve before bed. Besides the mandatory nuts and clementines, I wouldn’t say no to a kitten in my stocking this year, though I know they are for life and not just for Christmas!” Present giving and swapping is a tradition that pretty much everyone celebrates. “It’s so tricky to say what the best give I’ve received is, but last year my boyfriend gave me such a lovely card. As soppy as it is, I think that might be one of my favourite gifts ever, and me and my best friend always give each other a stocking to be opened on Christmas morning, so I always pack that full of nice treats.”
And with presents, tends to come favourite memories or memorable moments that just make your Christmas, we were keen to see if Emily had a favourite Christmas moment. “The Christmas we got our dog has got to be the best!”, she said. “Although we got him a few weeks before Christmas, my Dad brought him in with a red ribbon around his neck on Christmas morning. He knew I had always wanted that! The ribbon was definitely chewed off in a few minutes though…” As 2013 is quickly drawing to a close, there’s no escape from the festive season and those year in review feelings. So what were Emily’s highlights of this year? “Recording our EP in the Summer was definitely a highlight. In fact the Summer in general was brilliant. It was so hot outside that our rehearsal space, which is always freezing cold, reached the perfect temperature for once!” In 2014, we can expect lots more gigging and songs from Emily and The Woods, who have stated that they’re going to be filling the year with music.
WORDS BY: BEKKA COLLINS
HAVE YOU HEARD?
JODI GOOD, is
a NY based singer-songwriter who you probably haven’t heard of, YET. Set on spreading an empowering message of self-acceptance, this youngster says she thinks with her heart, not with her head. Her latest single “Definitely Different” is already doing the rounds across major retail American stores including Macy’s. Jodi had this to say about the new track: “This song was originally written to be a sort of autobiographical disclaimer. I felt the need to put my differences out there and in doing so I started to accept myself. This song is about recognizing your differences and owning them. You can only be you and JODI GOOD nobody does you better”.
PHOTO BY: CHESHER CAT
Rebecca Black ft. Dave Days
NECK DEEP
“Saturday”
“Crushing Grief (No Remedy)”
Yes you’re reading the title correctly, Rebecca Black has released a new song titled “Saturday”, in which she mocks herself and the song that got her noticed, “Friday.” Sarcasm is one of our favourite things, and we have to hand it to Rebecca for creating a terribly-brilliant track. If nothing else, this is a laugh, but here’s a tough question - do you prefer Friday or Saturday?
Neck Deep have really done well in 2013, solidifying their presence in the music world with high-energy songs and brutally honest lyrics. “Crushing Grief (No Remedy)” is a perfect example of their blatant talent and it’s so catchy it’s almost painful.
THE VAMPS “Wild Heart”
Say what you will, but the UK have a talent for producing boybands. The Vamps are no exception, with their latest single “Wild Heart” dropping in January. Acoustic driven pop at its finest, but will it grab them their first number one? 24 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
CALVIN HARRIS “Under Control”
Believe it or not, we do our best to keep up to date with all sides of the music world, and we’ve had this song on our radar for months. It was recently released and is tearing up the charts, but when was a song featuring Calvin Harris, Alesso and Hurts not going to be incredible. This song makes you feel like it’s Summer, even in December.
With that positive outlook Jodi appeals to fans both young and old, and we can’t wait to see what she gets up too.
WE ARE THE IN CROWD
“The Best Thing (That Never Happened)” We Are The In Crowd have applied their game faces and are ready for war with their newest single, taken from their forthcoming album ‘Weird Kids’. There’s no holding back in this pop-rock, energy stricken addition. This is one of their best songs to date.
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB "Carry Me"
Bombay Bicycle Club have released a cracker for their latest single “Carry Me.” Thudding beats and almost structure-less, this is a perfect teaser track.
LILY ALLEN,
took a break from the music industry in order to start a family and try her hands at a few other things. Now first and foremost a mother, she’s returned with her new single “Hard Out Here.” We know that it’s not exactly “new”, having been out for the past month but we’re still listening to it - so don’t even pretend you’re not. The song itself is slicked with smooth beats, seemingly overly auto-tuned vocals and a typical pop structure. Yet while we’re drawn into the ironic nature of the track, it’s Lily Allen’s no bullshit lyrics that have us listening time and time again. But not only do they make us listen, they make us think. Highlighting the problems in the music industry while making fun of it via her sarcastic slurs, “Hard Out Here” is packed full of expletives, is one of the most controversial releases of the year and quite frankly we love it. It gives a big f*ck you to the gender inequality women seem to face into today’s world, and is a perfect comeback track.
VERSA,
previously known as the Fueled By Ramen act VersaEmerge, have released their first slice of new music in the form of their single “Neon”. No longer a part of FBR, the Florida duo made up of Sierra Kusterbeck and Blake Harnage, have left almost no trace of their rock-ridden roots. Instead they have took to strengthening their atmospheric soundscapes with the help of Harnage, who also produced the track. Though some people believe this is the band showing off a new dimension to their sound, we have a feeling that this unpredictable, exciting electro sound is the new VERSA that we’ll all soon know and love. We dig the new direction they’re going in, and can’t wait to hear their 3-track EP ‘Neon’ on January 14th.
PRINTZ BOARD E L P O E P T N A W T S G N U J I E B “I T U B G N I H NOT
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K N I H TO T
M U H
Priese Prince Lamont Board, also known as Printz Board has been a key part of the music industry for many years, and is usually know for his work with the Black Eyed Peas. This year however, the man behind the scenes stepped forward in order to show off his solo material. When asked how he got started in music, he said: “it was my Mom’s fault, she made me play the trumpet,” and he defines his solo sound as “fun, inspiring and connected to everyone.”
T U O AB
” N A M
His latest single “#1” has been well received by Black Eyed Peas fans, and Printz states: “I just wanted to do something like ‘Around The Way Girl by LL Cool J’”. Although he has not yet released a large amount of solo material in comparison, Printz is the co-writer of some of your favourite tracks like “Where Is The Love”, “Don’t Phunk With My Heart” and “Meet Me Half Way.” He has also been known to share his songwriting and producing talents with the likes of Chris Brown, Dr. Dre, and Katy Perry. When we asked about any meanings or messages he conveys through his music, Printz said: “I really just want people to let go and enjoy themselves. Think about nothing but being human.” With that said, we decided to step away from the music side of things, and chat to Printz about something more human - the festive season. He said: “Christmas starts the day after Thanksgiving,
so Black Friday, in my household. This year I’ll be spending Christmas with my Grandma. I just lost my Grandad, so this is the first Christmas without him.” You tend to find that people either love, or hate the festive season but Printz said: “I love the snow. I love that everyone focuses on family during this time of year and not work,” and he is “prepared, oh so prepared” when it comes to all things Christmas. “The only real tradition we have is opening gifts on Christmas Eve, after midnight, and eating a shit load of food. One of my favourite Christmas memories is when the Christmas tree fell down because I tried to get a candy cane off it, haha.” Printz said he would like to receive “keys to a yacht filled with music equipement” for Christmas this year, and went on to say that the best Christmas gift he has ever received was “the birth of my daughter on December 24th, and the best gift I have given was a first class flight for my Mom for Christmas.” We think those are pretty impressive gifts to top. As 2013 is gradually coming to a close, Printz Board said the highlight of his year was making his album, which he will spend a large portion of 2014 performing. It seems as though he is relaxed about this up and coming festive season, is looking forward to family time, and will take all that 2014 brings to him in his stride.
PEACE
Amidst their UK headline tour, we managed to sit down with Harry from PEACE to chat about the bands debut album ‘In Love’, which was released earlier this year, Christmas plans and covers, touring and what they have planned for 2014. First, Harry told us how they got started as a band. “In a nugget, I think the most significant part of it was when I met Dominic, because Sam and I are brothers and Dom and Doug were friends. At first, Dom didn’t like me and I didn’t like him. I thought he was a total prick and he thought I was, but then we became good friends. Then we were at the point where we had finished education and had been out in the real world for a year or so. We had all been in bands before, so we were like, yeah let’s make PEACE. The name PEACE was just really fitting for what we were. We’d had years of being in college with each other and it’s [peace] everywhere, you can always see it. I always see it in old photos and on t-shirts and stuff.” Their debut album ‘In Love’ was released in March of this year and if we say so, it’s a cracking first release. It also did pretty well commercially. “We pretty much recorded it as we were doing it live. We went in [to the studio] and just played the songs live in a room, and then it was pretty much recorded really. We added little bits if it needed it, but it wasn’t rushed. It was fast though, and it was kind of like we had the songs and we just went in did it. We got given like 5 weeks to do it 28 --and VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
and we were in the middle of touring, so during one of the five weeks we were actually on tour. Rather than spending loads of time making our debut album we just did it. It was good though, because there was no pressure on it, and we weren’t trying to create a masterpiece or make this perfect album. I wouldn’t change anything about it [the recording process], because it’s left us in a really good place for our second album. We can really think about it and we don’t have to make the same album again, we can do something different if we want.” Speaking of potential new sounds from the band, Harry told us that they had already begun working on their sophomore release. “We’ve already started our second album and have four songs so far. It’s going good, and we’ve got about 14 demos, and we’ll probably do another 8 or so and then pick the best. I’d really like to do 12 tracks.” While the band were recording their debut album they listened to a lot of Christmas music, and have just released a cover of the iconic Wham’s “Last Christmas.” “I think we covered it just because it is like the Christmas song to do, and what we’ve always done with covers is change them. Like the year before we covered Mariah Carey, but in Radiohead’s “Creep”, so we sang the lyrics to “All I Want For Christmas Is You”, and we covered that for BBC 6.
PEACE | BY DAN GRAHAM FACEBOOK / / WEBSITE
We always try to do covers in a really obscure way, and when it came to this we decided well let’s not do an obscure cover, let’s do it straight down the middle and try and make it sound like the original recording. That was more stimulating for us than trying to think of a different way to do it. It was really nice and we had a laugh, which is what it’s all about. We recorded that in the studio time when we were doing the second record stuff, and it was actually on a day off. It was recorded at SARM, where George Michael recorded “Faith”, actually in that room. Upstairs was where Band Aid recorded “Feed The World” too, so it’s a really legendary studio for like 80s and Christmas songs.” Speaking of Christmas, Harry said “I don’t know what I’m doing for Christmas this year. I was thinking of going to New York or to India, I’m not sure yet though. I quite like the idea of it. I dunno, I’ve been away for so long now that it almost feels like I wanna go away.” PEACE’S songs are delivered in a way that anyone can relate to them, and this is purely down to songwriting. “I think I was quite lucky in that songwriting came fairly naturally to me, but it took me a long time to realise that I could write songs. I think I was just a bit scared at first, but once you do it, it’s fine. When it comes to writing, there’s always a topic or something that brings the words to you, but I like to write in a way that so that people can make their own in interpretations. I don’t really wanna
INTERVIEW BY: NICOLE THOMAS
be overly specific and I don’t want to put ideas in peoples heads. I like it if people can relate to it in their own way, and there’s a real sort of balance to getting it like that since you’re singing about stuff that’s personal to you. But I always like to apply your own meaning to songs, and then you feel almost like you’ve written someone else’s song a little bit.”
bands that sound like us in that Birmingham scene now, as Swim Deep are more the sound of it.”
PEACE are known as the band who pretty much established the Birmingham (B-Town) music scene in the UK. Yet they haven’t really been around to witness it, so we wanted to find out how PEACE felt about having this creator label and essentially missing out on it’s growth.
“I’ve heard loads about going to Russia to tour, and how that’s really fun, and a South America proper tour would be really good too. Or maybe Africa, I’ve never been to Africa. It’s weird going over to other more, unusual places, I guess.
“I guess it is kind of bittersweet. It’s nice to have like helped that whole thing happen, but then we haven’t been there for it at all really, so it’s quite weird. I’ve never really wanted to be part of like a scene or a movement. We’re not selfish or anything, but we’ve always been us and we’re doing our own thing. It’s nice that this whole thing has come out around it though, but yeah, it’s quite weird. Especially because we’re really connected to it but not actually part of it. There was no real scene when we were there and actually playing in Birmingham. We were just the only band and then Swim Deep started and Troumaca, and I guess that was the closest thing to it. No one knew about that then, and no one really would. It was like three bands playing in a pub to their mates, then when we got signed it took us out of it, and then Swim Deep got signed afterwards. But there aren’t really many
So from shows in Birmingham, across the UK and even four trips to the States, PEACE are a band who tour a heck of a lot. But are there any places they haven’t visited yet that they want to?
Like we went to play in Kuala Lumpur, and it was like a 500 capacity show - so it’s a fairly small show but like, it’s a massive deal to the people that are there, even though it’s like the size of a show we played in Birmingham a year ago. We’re not a big band in Kuala Lumpur or anything but it meant so much to us. Especially because people there are into new music just as much as people are in England, but they don’t ever get to see any of the bands whereas you can see a new band in a pub here. “Being on the road has I guess more world-wise too, my sort detector is a little bit more fine I know all the other guys a
made me a bit of like bullshit tuned. Obviously lot more too.”
We then asked Harry a topical question that often causes debates in the industry; what has more value a chart-topping album or a solid live show? “I think a solid live show, for us. But then you know, it depends on group. For the charts nowadays sales are so important. Like the thing is, if you released a record on one week, they can know if it will go higher based on what else is being released. You know you can get a number one record that would then be number 30 if it was on a different week. So I dunno whether the charts are very accurate anymore, but they do mean a lot. I just think that live shows are just kind of more important.” With that being said, our time was almost up with Harry as the band needed to get ready to perform their third show of the tour. So we asked a final question, what are your 2014 plans? “I guess our plans for next year are getting the bloody record out, so yeah, doing another record and more touring. Just more everything. It’s exciting being busy and we still have a long way to go.” PEACE are showing no signs of slowing down and we have a feeling that 2014 will be just as successful for them.
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PEACE | BY DAN GRAHAM FACEBOOK / / WEBSITE
TOUR 32 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
STORIES
LOST IN ATLANTIS Lost In Atlantis is Elisabetha Rosnowski, Tim Pinedo, Eric Pinedo, David Allen and Ryan Streeter. They create sweet sounding electronic rock music and are based in Phoenix, Arizona. They told us about what a crazy 2013 they have had.
“This year has been overwhelming in a great way! We've been able to tour almost all of the United States and meet so many great and wonderful new fans. Kevin Lyman chose our band to play Vans Warped Tour 2013 on his Kevin Says stage with so many other great acts! So this year has been a great learning experience for us. To choose our ‘favourite’ tour memory for most of us is hard because everyday on tour was a new and exciting moment. Vans Warped Tour was a defining moment in our bands career though. So many rising bands yearn for that moment to play Warped Tour. It's like a right of passage into the music industry that proves you've got the dedication and determination to make it in the music world. We played a week on the tour, but that week was one of the most remarkable and life changing moments for all of us. We were able to hangout with bands we looked up to, play a stage in front of new crowds everyday, and bust our butts promoting and doing what we love doing best! It was a test of our passion and a moment in our careers that we are so grateful for. 34 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK
Right after our week on Vans Warped Tour we decided that we would volunteer in the kitchen for the tour and travel and follow Vans Warped Tour (many bands do this). On our way up we got hit by a drunk driver in Gallup, New Mexico. This wasn't our only accident! We got hit by a semi-truck driver in Bakersfield, California the previous year and our tour bus rolled over 4 times. Since, our van was demolished by the drunk driver we unfortunately were unable to
continue and follow the rest of Warped Tour. However, we were so fortunate for our lives and to escape with minimal injuries. These traumatic events in our bands career inspired us to create a U.S. tour for High Schools called "Nothing Can Stop Us". Spreading the message to persevere and continue living your dreams "no matter what!” We are a proving testament that even when you are at your rock bottom you have to persevere and
continue living your passion. Continue moving forward for your dreams! We spread that message everyday of our lives and at every single show. Even though our accidents were very traumatic for us, they are also one of our most memorable and unforgettable moments that we are so grateful for, because it bonded our band so much closer and it gave us a purpose as a band to continue spreading our message to those that need empowerment and courage.”
The bands guitarist, Ryan Streeter, then told us about his favourite tour memory. “It was on the Nothing Can Stop Us Tour”, he said. “It was our first DIY tour where we toured by ourselves. I remember looking at everyone at our first show before the curtains opened and being speechless that 300+ people bought tickets and were waiting on the other side of the curtain just to see my band play. It was an incredible feeling. The curtains opened and I couldn't even hear myself think over how loud our fans were screaming, reaching
their hands out to grab our legs as we perform and even crying. It was crazy realizing that just a few years ago, I was in my room practicing my ass off and now my band is able to do our own successful DIY tour, draw great crowds and make a profit from tour! Any touring band out there knows, it is hard to make a profit on tour. Thanks to everyone who supports Lost In Atlantis and myself!”
GIANTS Hailing from Essex is punk/hardcore act GIANTS who have had a more than impressive 2013. Having done a few headline tour across the year with support from bands such as Dead Harts, Golden Tanks and German act From This Day On, the lads also supported H20 across the UK, but we wanted to find out more about their lives on the road.
MOST MEMORABLE 2013 TOUR This year, our most memorable tour is easily our first ever headline European run that we did this September. Every day was crazy. It was actually quite a hard tour, loads of the shows were last minute, and more of the drives were real long. We lost a lot of money, but it was worth it. It was probably the most memorable two weeks of our lives so far.
WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS ABOUT TOURING Travelling to places and doing things that we would never have been able to do if we didn't tour in this band. Meeting amazing people who are fans of our music and playing with bands we had only before dreamed of playing with.
weirdest thing you have experienced on the road this year A strict vegan household that had a placenta in their fridge, which was being saved for the person it was once attached too, so that it could be given to them on their 18th birthday so they can eat it. Either that or a burning baby doll set a light by pirate rum. All of this was on the same night...
what have you learned from being on the road In my opinion you learn more about the people you tour with than you do of your own family. There are loads of things I could say about everyone but I would say that as a band/group of people I have recently learned that apart from the fact that we’re all weirdos, we are quite a humble bunch of guys, we’re easily pleased and grateful for any hospitality anyone can give us.
FAVOURITE TOUR MEMORIES? As a band we all know that we have the curse of 'The Higlife' hanging over our band/tours. 'Higlife' all started on a tour with our long time friends Fights & Fires when we printed a shirt design involving loads of photos from our shows. It was supposed to read 'Enjoying the Highlife since 2009' along the bottom, as “The Highlife” is one of our songs, but until the day before the tour we didn't notice that we'd actually put 'Higlife’. A whole batch of t-shirts were wasted and we lost a shit tonne of money on that tour, thus starting the never ending joke of our hilarious bad luck and that we will always be living the 'higlife'. Last year we supported We Are The Ocean across the UK & Ireland. For a band at our level touring in Ireland is incredibly expensive, but we wanted to commit and do the shows. The cheapest way we could get there was to put a load of merch in our guitar cases, squeeze them into We Are The Ocean’s van whilst we flew there from Liverpool. As you can imagine this was stressful to organise mid-tour and we left it to our bassist Pete to book our flights to Ireland after the London date, at 3am, pissed out of his head. We discovered the day before our flights that he'd spelt our drummers name wrong on the boarding passes and so we were shitting ourselves at the airport as we thought we weren't going to be let through the gates. Luckily it all went fine, though it wasn't until a few weeks after the tour Pete let slip that he had spelt his OWN name wrong too, but just kept it quiet to avoid the heckling ha! On our March headline run with Dead Harts as support earlier this year, our vans tyre completely blew out 5 minutes from the Manchester exit on the motorway, leaving us sitting in the cold. The RAC rang us and told us that they wouldn't send out a van unless everything was loaded out the back, so we had to load out in the freezing cold and rain at 4 in the morning on the side of the road in Manchester. When the guy turned up he said: "Dunno why you did that, wouldn't have made a difference to me changing your tyre."
On our first ever show in Europe with the Departed last year, we were all partying after the show. Our merch guy decided he needed some stuff from the van so me, him, our driver, George and Ben discovered that our van wasn't where we left it. This was the most devastated we had ever felt on tour. In some weird drunken Sherlock Holmes moment, I clocked that there was no glass on the floor, so someone couldn't have broken into the van. We asked the locals in incredibly drunk broken Belgian and finally managed to suss that the police had taken it as it was breaking some Belgian road law. We got the most mental cab to the police station who told us it was at the impound. Relief rained over all of us, for our driver Chris in the form of tears, and after another life threatening cab ride a payout of 300 Euros from our own pockets we released the van.
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ERIC DASH
Eric Dash got his started in music when he was 8 years old by writing with his brother. This sibling duo, though never officially a band, took popular songs and changed the lyrics to make them comical, just like Weird Al Yankovic. As time went on, Eric started to take his music more seriously, and has spent this year on tour with Kendall Schmidt and Dustin Belt.
MOST MEMORABLE 2013 TOUR It’s not a tour, but I opened for Nelly this past August and there were about 3,500 people who came out. It was by far the biggest show that I had ever played and before I hopped on stage, I could hardly breathe. The promoter called my name on stage, I walked on, gave a brief introduction, and started playing my first single “One More Love Song”. The crowd roared after I struck the first chord and I literally stopped playing. I just started laughing in the microphone. I couldn’t believe it was really happening.
weirdest thing you have experienced on the road this year To have fans screaming for me every night has been a weird experience for me considering I’ve made my start in NYC and all of the venues are 21+. So the age shift is amazing and weird at the same time.
what are the best things about touring The best thing about touring is experiencing a little piece of each city and meeting interesting people along the way. Never a dull moment.
M LA
H S E
B
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T F I
T
Long Island, New York is home to the female fronted trio known as Blameshift. Their infectious blend of alt-rock tunes has allowed their independent path through the music industry to grow larger and stronger across the past five years. With a new album titled ‘Secrets’ under their belts, and known to be a well-oiled touring machine, we chatted to front woman Jenny Mann about the bands life on the road and her memorable experiences this year. “I think I started in music when I was 7. I started off doing local theatre when I was younger, and I knew from a very early age that I would pursue music for the rest of my life. It wasn’t until much later that I started doing original music, and Blameshift is actually my first band. I’d define our sound as high energy hardrock with some pop tendencies. We don’t take ourselves seriously, and we like to have fun with our music. We started the year off on The Reverbnation Tour with Apparitions and The Monsters I’ve Met. As the year went on were toured with some other amazing bands like Screaming For Silence, Dive and Super Bob. Our favourite tour this year has definitely been the tour we did over the Summer with Screaming For Silence. They are an amazing band out of Omaha, Nebraska. To call them humble is an understatement. They truly understand the demands of being in a full time touring band, and know how to have a good time while on the road. We are extremely close with them.” As we can imagine, being in a band subjects you to meeting a wide variety of people, especially when you’re out on tour. Sharing spaces with bands
and seeing the same people for weeks on end is bound to form friendships, and all good friendships have stories. “The most memorable tour story from this year actually happened pretty recently. One of our good fans has been battling cancer for awhile now, but we just recently found out. Her friend messaged us on Facebook asking if we could do anything special for her, because she was going through treatment and wasn’t sure she would be strong enough to make it to our show. We happened to be doing a TV appearance in central Pennsylvania and thought it would be awesome to invite her down. She came and spent the day with us at the TV studio and them we all had lunch together at The Olive Garden. The Olive
“THEY HAD A WET T-SHIRT CONTEST IN BETWEEN BANDS.” Garden actually heard about the story and picked up the tab for the lunch for all of us. It was such a special day and we were so happy to do it.” Jenny went on to say that the “the best part about touring is meeting new people and getting to see a different city/town every night. I feel really lucky to be able to travel for 8-10 months of the year. There is nothing it the world that I would really do.” Though touring has its perks, you are confined to one space and that can’t always be easy. “Down time on the road usually
consists of a lot of sleeping. Tim, our guitarist, does most of the driving because he has a very short attention span and sitting on the bus all day would drive him insane. For some reason, he loves to drive and we all love that he loves it! Besides that, we like to sightsee, hike, throw a football, keep up with our social networks and we always ending up walking around Wal-mart.” While that all sounds pretty standard to us, we know that sometimes things get pretty crazy on tour. “There are always weird stories that happen on the road. One of the most memorable ones from this year took place in Myrtle Beach, SC for Bike Week. We had a gig two nights in a row at the biggest drive thru biker bar in the US. The best part is that while we were on stage in front of hundreds of bikers, they were actually having a ‘burnout contest’ in the bar. The sound of the bikes was way louder than we were playing, which was hilarious. Then after we got done playing, they had a wet t-shirt contest in between bands. It doesn’t get any more memorable than that.” So have Blameshift anything from being road?
learned on the
“We have learned a lot about hard work, perseverance and overcoming hardships. It’s not easy being out on the road, travelling 200+ days a year. There are definitely days where I feel like giving up but then I remember why I do this and that’s for the love of music. Nothing really good ever comes easy. I personally have learned I’m a lot stronger and more adventurous than I ever imagined.”
top eleven 11
the neighbourhood I Love You
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days are gone
bastille -
bad blood
10 9
haim -
ALBUMS albums OF THE YEAR
8
vampire weekend modern vampires of the city
as picked by the venturemag team
the wonder years the greatest generation
6 THE 1975 -
7
ARCTIC MONKEYS -
5
THE 1975
4
PARAMORE -
PARAMORE
AM
3
THE MAINE FOREVER HALLOWEEN
LORDE -
2
fall out boy save rock and roll
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1
PURE HEROINE
Dustin Bentall
DUSTIN BENTALL PHOTOS BY: KAYLEE SMOKE
ON THE RADAR BON - BON
Check out “She Don’t Want To Know”
South London is home to many acts, including Sian King, also known as BON-BON. Coming from a family of non-musicians, but big music lovers, Sian grew up with a healthy mix of dance and indie music, and her vocal talents were noticed when she auditioned for her school choir. After releasing a couple of demos online, she soon found herself featured across dozens of music blogs and had grabbed herself a spot at this years Glastonbury Festival. Her live performance is rounded off with the help of her co-writer and guitarist John Landau, who she met after playing some shows in Soho. Together they penned her debut EP ‘She Don’t Want To Know’ which is due to be released this month.
AMEira
YOUTH MAN
sol cat
Check out “We Never Close Our Eyes”
Check out “Heavy Rain”
Check out “Keep Your Heat”
Rewind back to 2011, place your feet on Lincolnshire ground, and you’ll see the formation of the quartet known as Ameira. Coming from a post-hardcore background, the band have reinvented their sound and now create melodic alt-rock tracks that are reminiscent of Amber Pacific. Signing to Boxd Records in May of this year, their debut single “We Never Close Our Eyes” has hardhitting percussion bold vocals and chugging riffs. It feels like the band are growing into their sound and are ready to take on the music world.
When your best friends are all musically talented, and you’re all sick of the same shit bands at the bars you hang out at, what’s the obvious thing to do? Start a band, duh. And that’s exactly what Youth Man did, back in January of 2012. The high school best friends, Kaila Whyte, Adam Haitof and Marcus Perks had never played together in a band before, but after rehearsing in Adam’s kitchen they realised they had something special. Known for their post-punk filled, highvelocity shows we can be sure that Youth Man will have more to share with us in 2014.
Sol Cat from Nashville, TN are a 6-piece who have almost mastered the ways of creating psychedelic groove-rock tunes. I say almost, because they have only been together for a year, so I can pretty much guarantee that there will still be musical experimentation in their future. That being said, their new EP ‘Welcome To Cowabunga’ packs a punch of carefully selected and sculpted tracks that do the band justice, and they are already labelled as a big CMJ Buzzband. The future is looking good for this admirable act.
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The Matinee
THE MATINEE PHOTOS BY: KAYLEE SMOKE
REVIEWS
ALBUM REVIEWS //
album reviews WORDS: BY BEKKA COLLINS
ONE TWO THREE four five OUT OF / five
BRITNEY SPEARS ‘BRITNEY JEAN’
DAYTONA ‘DAYTONA’
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Britney Spears was the ultimate driving force behind teen pop in the 90s, and we know that deep down you’re a B-Spears fan. Let’s face it, everyone is. But just because she was once the “it” girl doesn’t mean she’s retained her crown. ‘Britney Jean’ is a challenging album for the listener, and while it has it’s moments of bliss it’s difficult to stomach completely. Covered in bubbly electronic beats, Spears’ real vocal talent seems to drown in the deep end of overpowering effects. But is this what she was going for? I mean, her sound has transitioned dramatically across the years, and with Guetta’s and Will.I.am’s influences ‘Britney Jean’ is easily going to grab her some club classics. Let’s avoid the remixes though, most of the tracks already sound overproduced enough. Overall the album is electroinfused and whether we want to admit it or not, a lot of fun. Check out “Alien”, “Tik Tik Boom” and “Body Ache” if you’re ready to dance.
Indie-rock trio Daytona have recently released their self-titled EP, with warm almost Caribbean vibes and jangly guitars we’re almost transported back into those Summer days. Previously from other band backgrounds, it’s nice to hear a lighter concoction of sounds coming from these musicians. Opener “Road” sets the albums pace with a lively bass line and a choir of cheerfulness. If you’re sad, listen to this song. No seriously, I couldn’t stop myself swaying. “Honey” and “Lighthouse” dabble with slightly harder instrumentation, while still being quirky and upbeat, ensuring to keep the overall light, fluffiness quality to the album. “Maria” is all about versatility, changing tempo and taking the listener on a journey while “Rain Coat” is melodically honest with constant drums and subtle keys. The album closes with “Oregon”, which combines pretty harmonies with a softer tone, creating an almost bittersweet ending. As a debut, it’s a pretty great attempt.
ALBUM REVIEWS //
REVIEWS
DAUGHTRY
Chris Daughtry placed on American Idol a huge seven years ago, and now his band have released their fourth studio album ‘Baptized’. The title-track opens the album and layers upbeat “oohs” on top of heavy country inspired beats. The acoustic driven and electronic influenced lead single “Waiting For Superman” follows. “I’ll Fight” could, and totally should be the next single from the album. Upbeat and daringly pop, this is a radio ready single that could easily be a standout on the album, while “Wild Heart” flows into an almost folk-like vibe, which actually works well. “Long Live Rock & Roll” needs more foot-stomping, more power, more everything - it needs to rock harder, but it is quite a quirky addition to the album minus the namedropping lyrics. After that, we seem to hit a snag in the album as it shoots downwards. The second half of the album plods on, before we end with “18 Years.” It’s not a bad song, but it’s not ultimately effective as a closer. This is a promising album in parts, but may not be an ultimate success with fans who love the grittier side of Daughtry.
STATES
With the help of a Kickstarter campaign, States have released their second studio album ‘Paradigm’, which was produced, mixed and released independently. Eleven tracks in length, opener “Circles” is cleverly written with bold keys and melodic soundscapes, it creates the perfect introduction. “I Hope You Stay Gone” fuzzily breaks out into the bands newer, more anthemic driven sound, and by this point we’ve already grown attached to Mindy White’s whispy vocals. But “Fever” takes a hold of White’s voice, adds some grittier, deeper tones, and creates a track that is blues inspired with electro elements and rebel tendencies. “Bones” is a haunting ballad that creeps into the middle of the album, showing the bands diversity and talent for riddle-infused lyrics. While “All In My Head” is unmistakably honest and fresh. The album closes with “Absolute” which is more clouded and grungier on the base, but the lighthearted vocals draw the album to a close. If anything, ‘Paradigm’ shows how States have developed their style, creating a collection of songs that are completely different, while all still portraying their new signature sound.
LIFE ON REPEAT
‘Blacklisted’ is the sophomore, and unfortunate final album from Maryland act Life on Repeat. The whole album is power-stricken and forceful. Each song has been carefully thought out, and is an honest mix of driving riffs, thudding beats, controlled vocals and shuddering screams. Opener “Karma Calls” sets the energetic pace for the rest of the album as “The Creators (Light Inside)” showcases the bands lyrical talent before diving into a pop-punk chorus. Lyrically this album is thematically focused on fears, honesty and seems to be built on the backbone of certain experiences. Channelling hard-rock, punk and dabbling into hardcore, hard-hitting verses are never far away even though the band have experimented with different effects and textures. “Stumble” is the albums slowest track but still manages to fit in with their style. The album ends with the appropriately titled “Sorriest Goodbye” which starts with shrieking screams layered on top of a hardcore melody, reappearing in the chorus, while the verses are tightknit and driving. It’s bittersweet to say this album is the bands best.
‘BAPTIZED’
‘PARADIGM’
‘BLACKLISTED’
who loves what?
topALBUMS five albu five
1. ‘If You Leave’ by Daughter
armon jay
This is a recent obsession. I just can't get over how real it feels. The album tells a vulnerable story, those are always my favorite albums because you can get lost in them. It's like an audio book with a soundtrack. Elena Tonra's vocals are absolutely haunting too. She has a depth to her voice. When I listen to her sing, I always get a visual of the story she is painting with her lyrics. It's like I'm watching a movie. That's an incredibly difficult task to achieve as a songwriter. Kudos to Elena & Daughter. My favorite track on the record is “Shallows” (11). 2. ‘Walking On A Pretty Daze’ by Kurt Vile
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This dude is just rad. His records have a certain attitude about them that draw me in. His voice is so unique, it's a lazy (but good lazy), hybrid of talking & singing. He just sounds like he doesn't care. Not in a bad way though. I just get the impression that for him, it doesn't matter what people think of his music, he writes what he wants to write. I love that. In art there should be no rules. It's obvious that Kurt takes that approach. This album is a perfect record for me when I'm in an anxious mood. I listen to kurt a lot when I'm working on emails too. This album just makes the daily grind not feel as big of deal. It also helps me not take my self so seriously for some reason. It just gives me that 'let it be' mentality. My favorite track is “Never Run Away”.
3. ‘Muchacho’ by Phosphorescent This is the kind of record that has one timeless gem on it. Like for real, 'Song Of The Year' type song. I'm talking about “Song For Zula”. The album as a whole is great too, but man oh man, I'll be singing along to that jam for a while now. I remember the first time I heard it, I just sat there in silence until the song was over. After that, I listened to it first thing every morning for about ten days. 4. ‘Stories Don't End’ by Dawes There's a nostalgia to this record that I just adore. Maybe it's the Tom Petty vibes I hear in it. It takes me back to riding around with my Dad in the Summer as a kid, listening to “Breakdown”. The songwriting on this album is stellar. And, the record sounds amazing sonically. You can tell they spent time doing it right. My favorite track is “Just Beneath The Surface (reprise)”. 5. Feathers and Fishhooks by Rayland Baxter I was listening to this record everyday during the engagement period with my fiancé, who is now my wife. Something about it just gets me stoked. The mountain song was the first jam at our reception too. So I have good vibes connected to it. Rayland has a rad voice and he's exceptionally talented at crafting great songs. My favorite track is “Willy's Song”.
ums OF THE YEAR
the mowgli's
1. Lucius - ‘Wildewoman’ 2. Haim - ‘Days Are Gone’ 3. The Dillinger Escape Plan - ‘One Of Us Is The Killer’ 4. X Ambassadors - ‘Love Songs Drug Songs’ 5. Kacey Musgraves - ‘Same Trailer Different Park’
camryn
1. Panic! At The Disco - ‘Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die ‘ 2. A$AP ROCKY'S - ‘LONG.LIVE.A$AP’ 3. Justin Timberlake - ‘The 20/20 Experience’ 4. Drake- ‘Nothing Was The Same’ 5. The Neighbourhood - ‘I Love You’
nghbrs 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Half Moon Run - ‘Dark Eyes’ Local Natives - ‘Hummingbird’ Tom O'Dell - ‘Long Way Down’ Daft Punk - ‘Random Access Memories’ Cage The Elephant - ‘Melophobia’
tweet us your top five albums of the year @ventureuk
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
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LOVE,
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e r u t enmag
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