Venture Mag #12 by Venture Mag

Venture mag

october issue 2013

YOU ME AT SIX hot chelle rae / itch / my ticket home / ajr / neon jungle / nghbrs + more

EXPLORE One of the UK’s best rock bands, also known as You Me At Six are ready to take the world by storm. We chatted to them about their journey so far, on how difficult it is to break into the American music scene, and the rumours on everyone’s lips right now - their fourth studio album ‘Cavalier Youth’. We think 2014 could be their year.

YOU ME AT SIX

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SPOTLIGHT ARTIST: THROUGH COLOUR

LITTLE GREEN CARS

BEST OF FRIENDS

BLOODS

IN THE AUDIENCE

MY TICKET HOME

ALBUM REVIEWS

NEON JUNGLE

SHOW REVIEWS

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ON THE RADAR

RYAN KEEN, ITCH, HOT CHELLE RAE, ESCAPE THE FATE, NGHBRS, MANSIONS, MT. WOLF, ROYAL BLOOD, AJR, RYAN KEEN + MORE

HELLO! VENTURE MAG

ISSUE NO. TWELVE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - THERE’S NOTHING LIKE MUSIC TO RELIEVE THE SOUL AND UPLIFT IT. MICKEY HART

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ARE YOU HARDWORKING, ENTHUSIASTIC AND A LOVER OF MUSIC? JOIN OUR TEAM EMAIL INFO@VENTUREMAG.CO.UK

neon jungle trouble

the vamps can we dance

nghbrs hold up girl

chvrches the mother we share

itch homeless romantic

foxes youth

polica chain my name

you me at six lived a lie

red house glory fever

MONTHLY PLAYLIST Here’s our collection of songs that we just haven’t been able to stop playing throughout October. Neon Jungle could be the new up and coming girl group, while The Vamps have been working hard and narrowly missed out on their first number one. NGHBRS have one of the most creative videos we’ve seen, while Red House Glory are incredible live, or at least that is what their video suggests. What, or rather who is on your monthly playlist?

CLICK TO PLAY

MEET THE TEAM

Venture mag FOUNDER + EDITOR IN CHIEF BEKKA COLLINS: Founder / Press / Graphic Design / Writer BREANNE GILL: Editor In Chief JAKE WILLIAMS: Graphic Design

PHOTOGRAPHERS SARAH CASS / DYLAN RAZO / KAYLEE SMOKE

writers ASHLEY ALTUS / JULIA PURCELL / MELINA SCARFO / KAYLEE SMOKE

special thanks Through Colour / Itch / You Me At Six / NGHBRS / My Ticket Home / Hot Chelle Rae / Allie Gruensfelder / Amber Crisci / Ashley Matthews / Jess Thornhill / Mike Cubillos / Ever Kipp / Thom Denson / Jenny Entwistle / Anastasia Wright / Ryan Keen / Alexandra Comito / Ashley Townley / Mark James.

contact WEBSITE www.venturemag.co.uk

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ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

Through Colour are a Manchester pop-rock band who have just released their new album ‘Somnium’. Formed in 2003, the band have since returned after a four year break and are ready to show that they’re better than ever. We spoke to vocalist Steve about their start in music, newest single “Daydream” and future plans. 6 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK

spotlight ARTIST

THROUGH

How did you get started in music?

For me personally, it started when I first heard ‘Dookie’ by Green Day in around 1999. A friend gave me a copy of it on and I don’t think it left my Walkman (retro!) for about 6 months. It built from there. I met Lee in school and we instantly clicked. I knew he played guitar so we started a band with a few other guys, played some local shows and met Shaun and Jazzy through another local band. Eventually both bands split and we all thought about forming a band together. It’s still the best decision I’ve ever made! What can you tell us about your two part EP series? We didn’t set out to write a two part concept series, it just kind of happened naturally, really. We went to the studio and recorded a load of tracks. We knew there was going to be some sort of release but we weren’t sure if it was going to be an album, an EP, a few singles or anything. We came to realise when listening to the masters, that lyrically there were a lot of similar themes in two different batches of songs. Batch one was about getting out of somewhere we grew up and wanting more, and batch two was about here and now, what we are experiencing in this new life, in these new surroundings. Musically they sounded different too, so we thought it would be better to release two EP’s that had a nice flow to them, rather than 10 - 12 songs that just jumped all over the place in sound.

You have just released the first part, ‘Somnium’. Have you tried to convey a meaning or message throughout the EP? I wouldn’t say I deliberately set out to have a message in the lyrics, but there’s definitely a lot of hope on the EP. “Daydream” especially. I’ve always had that attitude of ‘life isn’t going to come to you’. If you want something, then go and get it. Don’t wait around wishing. I hope when people listen to the EP though it gives them a positive outlook on things. How was the recording process of ‘Somnium? We had an amazing time recording this EP. Ironically we moved away from North Wales for more opportunities and the best studio for us was there. We went to Ferlas studios to record with Rich Roberts who is an incredible producer. He really threw himself into the process and helped us pull apart the tracks and improve them in ways we wouldn’t have been able to do alone. It’s always good to get an outsiders point of view on new tracks as usually you’re just on a buzz after writing them, so you tend to not notice the weaker elements of the songs. It was refreshing to work with Rich, he brought some really interesting ideas to the table. Why did you choose to release “Daydream” as the EP’s first single? We played the first batch of tracks to friends and family and everyone was pretty much humming it for days afterwards. We originally

thought “Lost” was the stronger of the two, but we’ve been away for 4 years, and thought it was best to listen to people outside the band. We were going off our own personal choice or tracks we preferred, but it’s always going to be different for us as they all hold different meanings, so our opinions were a little clouded! We definitely made the right choice listening to them though. What has been your biggest accomplishment as a band? There’s been so so many. One personal one for me was supporting Enter Shikari. I am a big fan so to play a HUGE show with them just down the road from our hometown was an honour. But, supporting bands like The Blackout, Fightstar, Don Broco and more have been amazing too. Getting the “Daydream” video premiered on Rock Sound was huge too. Another humbling thing is the fact that people care about this band. The tweets/messages we get from people is overwhelming. There’s a group of people in Europe who have set up a fan site for us and print off their own flyers and go to shows/festivals to hand them out to spread the word for us. That is utterly incredible. We had no idea about that until people from the Netherlands started tweeting us saying they got a flyer at a show and checked us out. Aside from that, releasing this EP which people and press alike have responded well to has been amazing! Through Colour will be releasing some new videos soon and you can catch them at their upcoming shows. INTERVIEW BY: BEKKA COLLINS

LITTLE GREEN CARS Little Green Cars are a Dublin based indie-pop quintet who formed back in 2008, after a previous act, The Revolts, disbanded. The band combine whimsical lyrics, acoustic twines and pop-slicked choruses. Since signing to established labels Glassnote (US) and Island (UK), they have toured the UK extensively, supporting rising star Jake Bugg and have also started to crack the American music scene, where they’re currently touring until the end of October. They have just released their debut album ‘Absolute Zero’ and it seems that their five years of solid work is finally starting to pay off. Little Green Cars are set on taking the music world by storm, and we have no doubt that they can do it.

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WORDS BY: BEKKA COLLINS

BEST OF FRIENDS Best Of Friends are a multi-instrumental group who are currently based in Boston, MA, and also features two members of the band Boys Like Girls. The group got together after performing a song at one of the band members wedding ceremonies, and the buzz they received allowed them to create the “Best Of Friends”; a musical project with undeniable energy. Having described their music as “family”, the members combine organic and electronic instrumentals with gang vocals offering up a recent twist on folk-music. They recently released their debut EP and their latest music video for “Here We Go” has received over 100,000 views since its release in late August. We think the Best Of Freinds are a band to watch out for.

WORDS BY: BEKKA COLLINS

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BLOODS

AN UNEXPECTEDLY FORMED TRIO.

BLOODS

will make you want to quit your job and start your own garage-punk-pop band. The trio from Sydney, Australia admit they didn’t know what they were doing when they unexpectedly formed Bloods. Guitarist MC used to play bass, drummer Dirk used to play guitar and bassist Sweetie was a classically trained violinist. I guess that goes to show you never know what to expect, and just how quickly things can end up changing. Despite the challenges of learning new instruments and getting to grips with new roles, Bloods create contagious gritty and energetic music about the perils of youth. Since 2011 the three friends have been teasing fans with singles before finally releasing their debut EP ‘Golden Fang’, this August via SHOCK Records. Each track is an explosion of sugar coated harmonies, lo-fi guitars and grunge vibes. Drenched in teen angst and sweet vocals, the brash “Into My Arms” is a must listen. You can’t fight against the urge to blast Bloods ridiculously loud and dance around your room. With their blend of fast paced punk, you just can’t resist.

GARAGE-PUNK-POP TUNES AT THEIR FINEST.

WORDS BY: MELINA SCARFO

my ticket home ON ‘STRANGERS ONLY’, WRITING AND BEING ON THE ROAD...

Myself and my brother Marshal,

our drummer, took guitar and drum lessons at a shop uptown. We had a friend who took lessons at the same place and our teachers suggested we learn songs together. We leaned a few tracks and then started meeting other kids who had real bands in our highschool. We saw them doing it and thought hell yeah let’s start our own band, and from there we’ve had a few member changes and here we are as

My Ticket Home.

You have just released ‘Strangers Only’, is there a meaning or message you have tried to convey throughout the album? Definitely not. We feel like the music doesn’t have to have some ridiculously epic statement to be good. We just write things to fit the mood of

the track. don’t care care more feel rather

Not to say that we about lyrics, we just about the style and than literal meaning.

Where does the name ‘Strangers Only’ come from? The title honestly just sounded cool. If you were to put a meaning to it, it would be a sort of fresh start I guess. We’re basically a different band so the title suits that perfect haha! What was the recording process of your album like, did you face any challenges or is there anything you would do differently? There were the usual challenges like all records. We spent a lot of time writing and rewriting the material over the course of about 3 months. Once in the studio the biggest challenge was getting the record to feel natural and real. Will and Randy, the producers, wanted to keep

it very modern and polished as far as takes and edits go, but we fought very hard to keep it from sounding sterile or fake. There’s more value in song when it actually sounds like someone is playing it. What is your writing process like, is it static or does is differ depending on the song? Usually it goes the same. We will get a spark from bands were influenced by and run with that. 9/10 times we write a hook or riff on guitar and then we structure it from there. Once we have the basic pieces we play with the structure and such, usually trimming unnecessary sections. Then we rehearse it several times and check the tempo and feel. From there you just tighten up the screws and fine tune it. Vocals are almost always started once the track is finished, and the same process started over with the vocals.

“MUSIC DOESN’T HAVE TO HAVE SOME RIDICULOUSLY EPIC STATEMENT.” Do you have a favourite lyric from the new album? Not so much the lyrics but rather the specific vocal takes. I really like the layered vocals in the start of the bridge of “Ayahuasca”. And the second verse of You “All Know Better Than Me” too. What songs are you most excited to play live when you’re on the road this fall? All of ‘em. We only play the new record live so I’m excited to just mix up the set and play the whole thing!

one of your live shows? Hopefully it’s a fucking party. The whole point is to let go of thinking and just act on feeling. Very spontaneous and free. Every show is different though and it depends on the crowd. We just love playing our shit so we can’t help but get into it. Is there anything you think you have learned about yourselves as a band from touring? Yeh absolutely. Play what you like and make sure you love your music. Each day your time on stage is the only thing that’s really yours. Everything else is subject to change. Fame and fortune are unfair and most bands don’t get famous so you really have to love your shit otherwise you won’t last. Do you think the dependence on social media has helped or hindered up and coming bands? I have quite a love/hate view on it. It sucks ass because you have to spend so much time on the internet doing such tedious things because it’s become standard. But at the same time if you put in the work the internet can make you famous so it’s a catch 22 really. What do you have planned for the rest of the year? We just released ‘Strangers Only’ so tour nonstop for sure! All kinds of media and music videos etc. We’re always working on shit so there’s plenty more to come.

What could we expect from

INTERVIEW BY: ASHLEY ALTUS

Neon 14 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK

Jungle

Who runs the world? Girls. Well at least that’s what Beyonce said, and we figure she may be right. The Spice Girls are the best selling girl group of all time, closely followed by Destiny’s Child and TLC. Then you have bands like The Sugababes and Girls Aloud who have arguably made an impact in the music industry. Hoping to add their name to the list of influential girl groups is

Neon Jungle.

Neon Jungle are a newly formed four piece that is made up of Shereen, Asami, Jess and Amira. These four girls from London, Suffolk and Scotland range from the ages of 16 to 20, and despite only forming at the beginning of this year, have already created such strong bonds with one another. Shereen has been described as the shyest member of the band, but we’re not sure how long that will remain true. Her interest in music stems from her singer-songwriter father while Asami who was born in Japan, but raised in Suffolk was spotted after uploading videos of herself singing on YouTube. London Girl Amria (note is a massive Beyonce-obsessive) has studied dance and music while Jess has a handful of acting experience under her belt. As a collective they have cited that they have diverse musical influences that range from the Foo Fighters to Bob Marley. They’re hard to categorise and they wouldn’t want it any other way. Their strikingly different backgrounds also makes things a lot more interesting, not only in day to day life but in the production and outcome of their music too. When asked about their debut album, Asami said: “There are so many different genres on there.

“PREPARE TO BE SURPRISED. WE WON’T BE PUT IN ONE CATEGORY!”

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Dance, pop, a bit of basement, dubstep, grime, rock. With some of our songs you won’t believe it’s the same people who sang Trouble.” “Trouble” is the bands debut single which was produced and written by CockNBullkid and Fear Of Tigers. It comes in at just over two minutes and a half with a punky yet refreshing vibe. Though geared towards the mainstream crowd, the song has a lot of positive features while being clever and contagious at the same time. Stretching across genres that the band don’t want to be defined by, “Trouble” dabbles with a bubbly mixture of rap, dance and pop. While the teenage angst and memorable chorus can’t be ignored, it’s still an overall smart and sassy track that is sure to do well, it may even chart. The single has already garnered over 1 million views on YouTube and is a success across the blogging platforms. As for what’s next for Neon Jungle, we can expect a debut album from them in the near future and a handful of tour dates. The girls have noted that they’re extremely different to the traditional girl band model, in that they’re not polished in their performances at all, and dance routines? Think again. The girls are all about being raw and real, and routines take away from allowing them to vibe off one another and soak in the energy. But we can be assured that though they may be lacking in the matching outfits and choreographed routines area, their shows are full-on, energetic and not to be missed. Do Neon Jungle have what it takes to be one of the next influential girlbands? We will just have to wait and see. What do you think?

www.facebook.com/NeonJungleMusic www.twitter.com/NeonJungleMusic

WORDS BY: BEKKA COLLINS

Mansions

started as the solo project of Christopher Browder, who created the new venture in his hometown of Louisville, KY. In 2008 Browder recorded what would be Mansions first “official” album, ‘New Best Friends’, but the release was delayed until the following year. During this gap, a brace of EP’s were released to continuously build the momentum surrounding Mansions. This period of creativity changed Browder’s approach to songwriting, and by the time new ‘New Best Friends’ was released, Mansions had moved on from that sound and performance style. The deeply personal ‘Dig Up The Dead’ was Mansions sophomore album. It was recorded across a six month period in various houses and apartments across the South East. Upon finishing the record, Browder and bassist Robin Dave relocated to Seattle, WA. After playing a handful of shows and gaining recognition for his past two releases, people were talking about Mansions. But was this a good thing? Browder notes that people were referring to Mansions as a “fuzz-pop band”, and he didn’t think his records showcased that, but it didn’t mean they couldn’t. ‘Doom Loop’, out November 12th, is the most anticipated album from the act yet. A departure of their previous sound in favour of this “fuzzpop” nature, it makes sense in Browder’s creative journey for him to follow this newly built path. The album is decribed as loud, despite being constricted by its environment having been recorded in Browder’s apartment. We don’t know what to expect, but you can bet that we’re excited about it and you should be too!

MANSIONS www.facebook.com/thisismansions www.twitter.com/mansions

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WORDS BY: BEKKA COLLINS

NGhbRS

ON “HOLD UP GIRL,” ‘TWENTY ONE ROOMS’ AND TOURING...

www.facebook.com/NGHBRS www.twitter.com/NGHBRS 20 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK

Long Island, New York is home to rock quartet NGHBRS, who formed in late 2009. Jordan Schneider, Ian Kenny, Tommy Fleischmann and Eric Vivelo made the collective decision to form NGHBRS after all of their previous bands had parted ways. Tommy and Jordan had been playing music together for a long time, and Ian knew them through the Long Island Music scene. They began writing and rehearsing as a trio before enlisting the help of Eric on bass. Once the four of them got together, their chemistry was undeniable and so formed NGHBRS; of one of the most talked about unsigned acts of this year. We spoke to vocalist and keyboard player, Ian Kenny, to learn more about the band and their experiences so far. After constant rehearsals and writing sessions the band came to a mutual understanding of their sound, “We’re just a straight up rock band, but our sound is definitely eclectic. We enjoy and are inspired by all types of music, and that is definitely portrayed on our records.” With that notion in mind, the band took the plunge and independently released their debut EP ‘Hellomind’ in the summer of 2010. The band described their first release as “a stepping-stone and learning experience for us all. It was a collection of tunes that did not have the intention to become a record, but merely showed off what we can do as a band.” Though the songs on ‘Hellomind’ may have become somewhat of an accidental record, this is not the case for the bands debut full length - ‘Twenty One Rooms’, which was released this past July. “‘Twenty One Rooms’ is way more focused and in my mind an experience to listen to. The tracks really play off of one another and complete a record. The approach to both albums was very different, as we recorded ‘Twenty One Rooms’ live, and ‘Hellomind’ multitrack. I definitely am very proud

of both records and honesty don’t think that ‘Twenty One Rooms’ would sound the same without having put out ‘Hellomind’ first”. The band recorded ‘Twenty One Rooms’ in an abandoned mansion, which was the former home of American poet and journalist, William Cullen Bryant, with Ian describing the experience as: “one of the most inspiring times of our lives.” When it comes to the record itself, you can tell ‘Twenty One Rooms’ has been put together structurally to tell a story. “It is a bare-bones organic live rock record. Lyrically it is a collection of honest thoughts. I think the main meaning of the record is to bare-all and completely expose ourselves as musicians and songwriters. The album was recorded live and we really wanted

“WE REALLY WANTED PEOPLE TO HEAR AND FEEL HOW WE FELT.”

people to hear and feel how we felt while living and playing music in that place and time. It’s a snap-shot of our lives; four dudes in a room writing music.” Releasing an album that covers several lyrical themes meant we were curious about where their inspiration comes from and their writing process. “I draw my lyrical inspiration from life experience, poetry, the past, and my friends and loved ones. I tend to get very personal with my lyrics but definitely enjoy having people take my lyrics and apply them to their own life experience and emotions. I think personal interpretation/connection is an important quality in songwriting. Our writing process is simple, we usually jam an idea for a while and once all four of us are inspired by

a guitar riff, vocal melody, bass line etc, we go from there. It does get tedious at times and we definitely have our disagreements, but we balance each other out and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” expressed Ian. Since the release of ‘Twenty One Rooms’ music fans and critics have started paying more attention to NGHBRS. Their most recent video for their single “Hold up Girl”, has probably garnered the band the most attention they’ve had yet. “The video for “Hold Up Girl” was a crazy idea that I had, and with a lot of time and effort we pulled off. Without Jordan’s skills it simply would have not gotten done. It is an Instagram based music video; a collection of videos and pictures that sync up with our song as an iPhone scrolls through Instagram. We compiled 24 videos and a ton of photos, wrote out an upload map of how the video would flow, uploaded the videos and photos and captured the phone scrolling through them in 4 sections. After all of this Jordan edited these 4 sections together and put a few extra bells and whistles on it. We are super proud of the outcome.” The band have also been praised for their live shows. From a NGHBRS live show, you show expect: “Energy, emotion, and passion. We put just as much effort in our live show as our records. We are entertainers and we definitely keep our show interesting and unlike the last show you went to. From being on the road, we have learned that the chemistry and musicianship you gain from playing shows night after night is unreal. Through touring I have learned that there is so much beauty in the world that goes unseen by too many people.” The band have a bunch of CMJ shows lined up and plan to tour to support ‘Twenty One Rooms’. If you haven’t picked up their album, or checked out their video for “Hold Up Girl”, what are you waiting for? WORDS: BY BEKKA COLLINS

mt. wolf

Mt. Wolf are a London quartet who formed back in 2011. Childhood friends, vocalist Kate Sproule and acoustic guitarist Stevie McMinn had always had an interest in music. Kate is a clasically trained vocalist, and had a choral scholarship at Cambridge University, while Stevie is a master of the guitar. After realising they shared the same ambitions as Stevie’s college friends; creating music that pushes boundaries, the quartet formed and have never looked back.

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Now accompanied by Sebastian Fox on electric guitar and Alex Mitchell on drums, the band have devoted the past two years to honing their sound and creating a pathway for themselves in the music world. Kate noted it was difficult to abandon all of her previous training in order to create the music they wanted too, but she refused to give up, and even passed up on a job offer to dedicate time to the band. Though it doesn’t sound like

they had any problems to us. Their latest single “Midnight Shallows” is a hauntingly beautiful song which repeats “the only way out is through self doubt,” and blends dream pop riffs with darker beats to create an undeniably promising track. You can catch Mt. Wolf on tour across the UK from the middle of October until mid November.

WORDS: BY BEKKA COLLINS

royal blood

Royal Blood are a rare breed, not because they are a male duo, no, but because Michael Kerr is the vocalist and bassist, while Ben Thatcher plays drums. If you had previously asked yourself if that set-up could work, you would probably answer “no,” and that is because in most cases it does not. But here lies a rarity, a bass, a drum kit, and an impressive set of lungs and you have Royal Blood, a band that shouldn’t work, but definitely do.

The duo from not-sosunny Brighton immediately reminded me of a male version of The Pretty Reckless in sound, not looks of course. Now take that as an insult if you will (you’d be wrong though), but their gritty riffs and driving beats create an impressive alt-rock sound that I can guarentee you wouldn’t expect. I also get a Jack White vibe, but in a way that’s nicely produced and not overdone. For a duo, they certainly have a full sound.

Their latest single “Out Of The Black” is impressive in more ways than one, and it will be interesting to see where this single gets them, having already had it played on the BBC, we feel like it’s gonna be everywhere. The duo are currently on the road and will release “Out Of The Black” on November 11th, but you can hear it before then and we suggest you do.

WORDS: BY BEKKA COLLINS

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into it. over it. THE 52 WEEKS PROJECT AND BEING OUTSIDE OF HIS COMFORT ZONE

For most musicians, one band is enough; some may have claims in a side-project, but usually the extracurriculars end there. It seems that no one told this to Evan Weiss of Into It. Over It. As if being the man behind one of the leading underground indiepunk bands today wasn’t enough, Weiss also plays in bands Their/They’re/There, Stay Ahead of the Weather, and Pet Symmetry. And just when it seems impossible that Weiss has any creativity left in him, he has also engaged in extensive musical projects. The 52 Weeks project, which marked the beginning of Weiss’ career in Into It. Over It., was a treacherous endeavor in which Weiss wrote, recorded, and released a song a week; and the Twelve Towns series which had Weiss team up with six different recording artists to release six different 7-inch splits, themed around different cities. Weiss’ creative journey began in the fifth grade, when he formed a band, J.A.R., with his friends in their home state of New Jersey. The band’s name was eventually changed to The Progress, and saw moderate success, until splitting in the winter of 2008. In the few months preceding the split, Weiss had donned the name Into It. Over It. and began recording the 52 Weeks project. Into It. Over It. is characterized by the brutally personal and honest approach Weiss, drummer Nick Wakim, and other contributing members take to writing and performing. The lyrical content is often anecdotal, referring to friends by name and issues of quotidian life. However, these stories are not to be taken lightly and are riddled with deeper and more provoking thoughts, giving the listener insight into Weiss’ private headspace.

In the same way, Weiss uses the guitar as an extension of himself. While the lyrics are illuminating for the listener, the way Weiss handles writing the guitar part is equally, if not more, personal. There is such finesse and care that is so evident when listening to the guitar. The melody of Weiss’ voice and the melody of the guitar never clash, but are in a subtle call-and-answer; challenging and egging each other on, but always working together to form something innately dynamic. With the release Into It. Over It.’s fourth full-length record ‘Intersections’ and playing in three other bands, one must wonder how Weiss and company have managed to keep it fresh. With a deliberate attempt to try new things, Weiss recorded ‘Intersections’ entirely without using a guitar pick, and Wakim cut out particular aspects of his drum kit. These changes, coupled with the prowess of accomplished producer Brian Deck, created the progressive and exciting release, pushing Weiss “outside of his comfort zone,” according to the singer. Weiss has said that ‘Intersections’ is decidedly “more raw and natural” than previous releases, something that came with losing the notion of perfection. Lyrically, Weiss plays with the dichotomy of the past and where he stands now, a theme that extends into the title of the record. ‘Intersections’ is proof that, no matter how many projects Weiss manages to take on, he is still able to fully give himself to everything he does. You can check out Into It. Over It. on tour now with Saves the Day and Hostage Calm.

WORDS BY: JULIA PURCELL

ITCH TELLS ALL BANDLEADER TO SOLO ARTIST ITCH ON HIS NEW SOUND, COLLAB WITH ADAM LAZZARA AND MORE...

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Jonny ‘Itch’ Fox is an artist who has had more than several years experience in the industry with his previous London based band, The King Blues. He is often known to relate his music to his surroundings, and is certainly an artist who wants to be heard. He is an observer of the world, and creates foundations by making lyrical statements. He believes in change, and isn’t afraid to give an honest point of view. Though he is now a household name, his progression into the musical world was incredibly unconventional. He got his start in the industry by throwing squat parties. “We’d just find an abandoned building and open it up, hook up the electrics and throw these massive parties. Initially, people would come down because it was somewhere they could get intoxicated and dance, but eventually, word of mouth started spreading about me and more people started coming down for the music. By this time, I was doing protests. We built a sound system on the back of a giant tricycle run off a car battery, and we’d take it down outside Houses of Parliament or cycle along the protest playing. That’s how people of the underground first started hearing about me. The King Blues were known for their infectious blend of punk and poetry, a genre that the music industry definitely lacks. When they parted ways a lot of speculation arose about whether Itch could still create such refreshingly honest music as a solo artist, and upon listening to his solo material we know he can. But if you have any doubts, Itch described his sound himself: “I’m an MC, but I pick beats that are more musical than usual and generally more aggressive. I talk about social and political issues, but I also want my listener to feel like a king and to feel like

they can change the world.” Technically Itch is not a new artist, as his time with The King Blues holds him in good steed against others in the industry. We wanted to know how being the frontman of such a well respected yet somewhat controversial band helped him prepare for life as a solo artist. “Being on the road for 10 years and building it up the grassroots way truly prepared me. Especially in terms of the hard work, the etiquette, and knowledge from all the mistakes I made and all the things I did right. You can’t learn that type of stuff in a university course or by reading magazines and watching documentaries. I live this. I am an artist. I would be an artist if I had nothing and was rapping at people on a street corner for spare change. I’d choose to do that over anything.” And live the artist life he does, but thankfully he is a step above rapping on the street corner stage. Itch has just released his brand new single “Homeless Romantic” which features Adam Lazzara of Taking Back Sunday. “It’s [“Homeless Romantic”] the story of a teenager whose life deteriorates until he’s on the street, but ultimately it’s a story of hope and humanity. When it came to working with Adam Lazzara, we were just throwing different names around as to who would be suitable to collaborate with. I hear a lot of rock bands today who scream and shout, but I don’t believe them. I don’t believe they’re actually angry or have anything to be mad about, but when Adam sings you can actually feel the pain in his voice. I believe him. So, we sent the song to him and he was mad cool. He flew in to LA and was a beast in the booth.

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The single has already become quite a hit with the Warped Tour crowd, where the pair performed the song together. The official music video has also already received over 115,000 views since its release at the end of June. For the video, “Hannah Lux Davies did an awesome job directing it. It’s important to me as a former street kid that these things are shown in a certain light. I never want it to be some Guardianreading middle-class idea of what a street kid is. I always wanted it to be more like a Ken Loach movie, like yeah life is shit and we have it tough, but fuck, we have to laugh, you know?” and that was the main inspiration behind the video, to just be real. We have already briefly touched upon Itch’s sound, and how his poetic lyrics are relevant to today’s society whether that be socially or politically or sometimes even both. But we think it’s safe to say that Itch must be one of the most lyrically talented artists out their today, and as someone who takes such time and care to craft their lyrics and songs as a whole, we wanted to know what his writing process was like. “It’s different with different producers. With Feldy, we start with nothing, just talking, and then we have a friendly competition. I’ll say that beat isn’t good enough or put a bass in there, and he’ll say that line sucks or that word isn’t good enough. It’s cool like that. We really push each other and build everything together. With Dan the Automator, he comes at me with a beat and I go away and write to it. Then, he records me rapping and that’s pretty much it. It really depends and varies from producer to producer.” Itch has also recently signed to Red Bull Records, which will have an evident impact on his career as any label signing should. “The

reason I decided to go with Red Bull and not a major or a standard large indie label is because Red Bull thinks outside the box. They’re a very artist-friendly label and they understand my vision. They’re all about bringing it to life rather than just making me do the standard rounds. I can go to them with a creative idea and they’ll listen.” So with that note in mind, we presume Itch’s next musical offering will be released via Red Bull Records, and we already know that he has been working on some new material. “Honestly, they are the best songs I have ever done. We have been working on this album for a good few years and written so many songs. It’s unreal, but these are genuinely the best ones we have.”

“YOU HAVE TO RESPECT EVERYONE’S GRIND, NOT JUST IN MUSIC BUT IN LIFE.” And alike many other fans, we can’t wait to hear what Itch has been working on. Another thing we were curious about, beside his new tracks, was Itch’s views on the music industry. It’s known for being one of the toughest industries to work in, and being an artist means this industry is what Itch has to deal with on a daily basis. As he holds true to his social and political views, encouraging change where he thinks it would be best suited, we wanted to see what Itch would change about the music industry if he was given a chance. “I wish people would buy records, that would make the whole industry a lot easier. The second thing I would change is the concept of knowledge. Kids today have little knowledge about the industry, but little knowledge is a dangerous

thing. There’s too much judgment without really knowing the situation. You have to respect everyone’s grind, not just in music, but in life.” Itch will be heading out onto the road to headline this years Kevin Says UK Tour in November. We were wondering what Itch brings to his live shows that other performers don’t. “I give every show all I have. I don’t care how many people are or aren’t there. When I’m on stage and performing, I give everything. I come off dripping in sweat about to pass out. That’s how I know I’ve done a good show,” and as far as we’re concered, a good show is all that matters. Plus Itch is no stranger to the road, and the time that he spent travelling the world has had a great impact on his work ethic. “It [touring] taught me everything. There’s a lot of people out there, especially in rap, who have no idea about life on the road. They can sound nice in their friend’s studio with no pressure, autotune and all that stuff, but until you can kick it live - are you real? You get out in front of people’s faces when you are hungover, when you’re losing your voice and haven’t slept, when you look like shit, feel like shit and may even sound like shit. But if you can take your personality, experience and charisma and make the crowd move, you are a real MC.” You can catch Itch live down the US East Coast, as he is on tour with Deltron 3030 for the majority of October. After that he will be gracing UK ground for Warped Tour and the Kevin Says Tour in November. We know that the end of 2013 of will be big for Itch, but we’re more looking forward to what 2014 will bring.

www.facebook.com/itchsmixes www.twitter.com/itchsspeeches

WORDS: BY BEKKA COLLINS

COVER STORY

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YOU ME AT SIX

WORDS: BY BEKKA COLLINS

PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

YOU ME AT SIX

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GUITARIST CHRIS MILLER ON THE BANDS NEW ALBUM AND CRACKING INTO THE AMERICAN MUSIC SCENE. You Me At Six can easily be described as one of the UK’s best rock bands. Having formed back in 2004, the band remained fairly low-key, refining their sound and performance until they were sure they could take the industry by storm. Guitarist Chris recalls how he got started in music, “I got started in music from about the age of ten. My Dad and my family were always musical and there was always a guitar laying around in the house. Naturally I started to learn and wanted to do what they were doing. My Dad and my cousin started teaching me, and I moved onto electric guitar from there. Since then, I haven’t been able to put it down.” It took the band four years before they released their debut album ‘Take Off Your Colours’ in 2008, which includes some of the bands most popular songs such as “Save It For The Bedroom” and “Kiss and Tell”, the latter of which found itself in the UK singles chart. Their second album ‘Hold Me Down’, debuted in 2010 and reached number 5 in the charts, showing progression in the bands sound and an evident jump in their fan base. They then released their third, and most current release ‘Sinners Never Sleep’ in October of 2011. Though we’ve been left yearning for a new album from the group for the past two years, the good news is that their fourth album ‘Cavalier Youth’ will be released in January 2014; and

is already one of the most anticipated releases of next year. “‘Cavalier Youth’ is something we are all really excited about. It’s a really nice step forward for You Me At Six. I feel like we’ve all become better songwriters and there is something for everyone on the album. I am stoked for everyone to hear it!” Since the news broke about the new album, the band have premiered their latest single “Lived A Lie”, which has already been incredibly well received. It’s a “a nice step on from our previous album,” noted Chris, “It was our way of easing people into the new material as it’s not too different from what we have done in the past. It’s a big upbeat, positive poprock song and we thought that was the right way to come back from our break.” When Chris spoke about the differences between the bands past album releases and ‘Cavalier Youth’ he said: “I think it’s [‘Cavalier Youth’] a more mature sounding album and really shows where the band is at this point in time. We haven’t been scared to write the sounds that we want to write, and have really explored every avenue of our sound. There’s a few surprises in there but we still have retained what You Me At Six are about.”

When it comes to releasing your fourth album, we can imagine like with any band, there is a lot of pressure for the album to do well, and that’s why it’s essential to not only create your best content to date but to work with the best team. You Me At Six teamed up with producer Neal Avron for ‘Cavalier Youth’, but how did they settle on finding the perfect producer? “We thought up a dream list of producers that we would love to work with and admired their previous work, so it all spanned from there. We met with a few people and Neal really stuck out to us as someone who fully understood our band and could see exactly where we wanted to go with this album, and the correct way to do it. We have worked with people in the past that didn’t quite understand this so we all felt like it was the right thing to do. We all had an amazing experience recording with Neal and would do it again without even thinking about it.” For any artist it is harder to crack into the American music scene than any other, and as a British band the chances of making it onto the airwaves overseas is slim to none. Those who manage to accomplish it show true musicianship, and You Me At Six are slowly on their way to conquering the United States of America.

“WE’VE CONSTANTLY BEEN TRYING TO CATCH UP ALL AROUND THE WORLD.” Having toured the states for around four years now, the band have explained that it’s something they love to do. After having “great success in the UK earlier in our career, we’ve constantly been trying to catch up all around the world. It’s a good challenge to have and it’s nice to see that all our work is paying off, and that people are starting to get into our music.” Like we said, trying to break through into the American music scene isn’t an easy task, and Chris reaffirmed our thoughts about the challenges the band have faced on their quest. “Trying to get noticed is hard and it takes so much longer to tour the states. You can tour the whole UK extensively in about 2 weeks where as to get round the states main areas you need at least a month. It’s time consuming but totally worth it as the country is so different.” Speaking of differences, besides the obvious we wanted to know if there were any differences

between the UK and the USA music scene. “There’s a big difference. I feel like the UK music scene is a lot more natural and fair where as the USA seems a lot more dog eat dog. It’s all about association in the states and very hard to get noticed. It’s a great feeling when your work starts to pay off though,” and it’s clear that the bands time is now, as they’re currently touring across the states on a headline tour. When it comes to shows, “prep wise we always just meet up and have a few rehearsals before a tour starts to get back playing together again and decide what we want to play. We might even drop a few new songs on this tour. You can expect a very energetic show from us” states Chris, as he expressed his glee at headlining. “It will be nice to player a longer set. We always try to make the shows as fun for everyone as much as we can, and it’s going to be a good time” From being on the road You Me At Six have learned “a hell of a lot. As we were all 15 or 16 when we started touring we all had to grow up pretty fast. You realise that as a unit you aren’t always going to get on, and you learn to look past that. 5 guys in the back of a van for 2 months isn’t the most pleasant experience if you are all up in arms!” Though constant hard work, touring, and

FAN QUESTIONS What were the biggest challenges you faced recording your new album? [@hiyaitshelen] There was many challenges recording the new cd. It was mostly the pressure we put on ourselves to really produce the best songs we possibly could. 34 -- VENTUREMAG.CO.UK

Are there any differences between English and American fans? [@justalonelystar] American fans are a lot more laid back and chilled where some UK fans can be absolutely crazy! It’s all good and we appreciate anyone that comes to any of our shows.

and sticking with each other through the good and the bad is why You Me At Six are so respected in the industry, and have gone on to achieve so many things. “I think our biggest accomplishment so far was selling out Wembley Arena at the end of 2012. It’s a very prestigious venue in London and was an honour to play it, let alone sell it out as the headline act. That will always be a huge accomplishment for us. I think the ultimate goal for us is to be able to do this successfully for as long as we possibly can. We don't want to be gone in a year or two we are hear for the long run. We are all still quite young. There are not many bands that are just about to release their 4th album at the age of 23.” So with a new album on the way that’s expected to be in our hands by January of next year, a bunch a tour dates across America, Europe and even Australia, we have a lot to look forward to in the You Me At Six world, and we can be safe in the knowledge that they won’t be going anywhere but up.

Was there a certain message you wanted to portray when writing the album? [@amyrebair] I think the title really explains this. The thought behind ‘Cavalier Youth’ was that it portrays where we as people and our fans our at this time. It’s basically saying care free youth. Don’t worry about what other people think and be yourself.

WIN THESE PHOTOS TWEET US @VENTUREUK WITH THE #VENTUREMAGTWELVE and #yma6photos

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CARLY RAE JEPSEN PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

hot chelle rae ON THEIR NEW MUSIC AND SHARING THE STAGE...

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PHOTOS BY: DYLAN RAZO

l a c i s g mu

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o t t n e elem

.” w o h s ve i l r u o

c e p x e can

www.facebook.com/hotchellerae www.twitter.com/hotchellerae

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We spoke to drummer Jamie Follese of pop quartet Hot Chelle Rae about the bands forthcoming release, sharing the stage with Justin Bieber and their future plans. You’re gearing up to release a third album, how do you think it differs from your previous releases?

got to write with a lot of new people and with that there are definitely some different styles that we haven’t experienced before. What was it like being a part of the Believe Tour?

have had a good run so far but this is just the beginning of the marathon. It always takes longer and is 2x harder than whatever you thought it was. Do you think social media has helped or hindered the discovery of new artists?

It was a very special experience for me especially. We have done a tour with Taylor swift in arenas I think social media has 100% I think it’s definitely a big growth but that was in Australia. I’m a helped and makes music today. and a little bit of a departure from massive sports fan so to support My favorite part about living in our previous two records. The Justin Bieber in all of the places I today’s age of music is that if success we had with ‘Whatever’ have watched on television growing there is a talented person out has allowed us to do a lot of up was the best possible touring there with a gift they will no longer amazing things and go to a lot of situation for us! Also Justin’s go unnoticed. Justin Bieber is a places. We really draw from that a very talented young artist. prime example. If he hadn’t put when we write. It’s a little more that video on YouTube he would grown up sound wise but still fun. You’ve shared the stage with a probably be starting his first year multitude of acts, what can we of college. I think it’s amazing. Is there a meaning or a message expect from one of your live you have tried to convey shows? Is there any advice you would throughout the new album? give to people who want to You can expect a surprising musical start a band? There’s a lot of different meanings element to our live show. On our throughout our albums. All of recordings they don’t necessarily Never stop writing songs. A these songs are something we show off the musicianship that hundred bad songs is worth it for have lived or gone through so our band is capable of and we that one. it kind of feels like the songs really pride ourselves on that. are a part of you. It’s really just Especially coming from a city like What are your plans for the the best expression of ourselves. Nashville the bar is already raised. rest of the year? Can you tell us a bit about What have you learned about Right now Ryan and Nash are your writing process, is it static yourselves as a band from out in LA writing and putting the or does it change depending touring? finishing touches on what will be on the song? our 3rd album. Hope to have it I’ve learned that we as a band finished by the end of the year That has been one of the fun have a lot of growing to do and something out very shortly things about this new album. We and a lot more to achieve. We after that! INTERVIEW BY: BEKKA COLLINS

ryan keen

ON RECORDING, TOURING AND SOCIAL MEDIA... How did you get started in music? I got my first guitar on my 8th birthday, and have played ever since. I learnt a variety of styles as I grew up, the biggest influence on my playing being flamenco. I started singing 5 years ago after the death of friend, and have been writing, recording, and gigging pretty relentlessly since then! How would you describe your sound? I fit in the singer/songwriter category and draw influence from folk and blues. I write with my heart on my sleeve and think my guitar playing style is also quite a distinctive feature. How do you think your debut album ‘Room For Light’ differs to your ‘Back To The Ocean EP’? Production wise its gone a little bigger, and as a whole the album has more variety and contrast from song to song. Is there a meaning or message you have tried to convey throughout ‘Room For Light’? Yes, to look at the world with optimism, and to value relationships over materialism. Lots of the inspiration for the songs came from tougher situations but everything is always looked at with optimism “a darker place has more room for light”. What was the recording process of ‘Room For Light’ like, would you do anything differently? It

was

really

enjoyable,

both

myself and the producer Patrick Wood wanted to capture a good live performance of each song, and then build the production of the track around that. That way the essence and mood of each song was maintained throughout the process. What was the reasoning behind choosing “Old Scars” as the debut single from the album? Its got quite an upbeat summery kind of feel to it and seemed like a good first choice! Is your writing process static or does it depend on the song? It’s very much song dependent. Sometimes I write a song in a few hours, other times it will be a slow process over weeks or months. It varies as well with whether I come up with something on guitar first or if I have a certain phase or concept first. You’ve shared the stage with some notable acts including Ben Howard and Ed Sheeran, what could we expect from one of your live shows? I try to have quite a variety in a show, given that there’s only 3 of us on stage the sound is varied, and can be really big or very intimate. I try to make each gig special and interact with the crowd a lot. Do you think being on the road has taught you anything about yourself as an artist? I love being on the road and touring, it certainly leads to inspiration as you get to see a lot. I was also very nervous

when I first started but after gigging so much I now feel really happy and comfortable on stage. Do you think social media has helped or hindered the discovery of new artists like yourself? To be honest I haven’t utilised social media as well as many others. I’ve been trying to get better recently! Social media is a good thing I think though, you can stay in touch and interact with fans all over the world. If there was one thing you could change about the music industry, what would it be? It can still be pretty tough to compete as unfortunately money is still so key when it comes to getting promoted, so I guess it’d be great if everyone had the same opportunity. What do you have planned for the rest of the year? Once the album is out I’ll be touring, a lot! Both in the UK and then internationally. Is you

there would

anything like to

else say?

So much power lies within the fans, and I think that’s sometimes forgotten. Support artists by spreading the word and going to gigs etc. The fans make it all possible at the end of the day.

www.facebook.com/ryankeenuk www.twitter.com/ryankeen

INTERVIEW: BY BEKKA COLLINS

AJR

ON BEING BROTHERS IN A BAND... AJR are the latest family band to hit the headlines since The Jonas Brothers. This brotherly trio made up of Adam, Jack and Ryan started as a band more than seven years ago. After doing theatre, television and movies as children they segued into music after seeing a folk artist perform in NYC. They began street performing in the parks of New York and creating YouTube covers (shot, edited and produced by themselves) to help strengthen their profile. Their original songs took a different path years ago, after dabbling in many genres they solidified their sound, taking inspiration from artists such as The Beach Boys and Simon and Garfunkel and more modern acts like Imagine Dragons, Vampire Week and Fun. While being a band of brothers may have many positives, we wanted to know if it affected the serious stuff. Does being family help or hinder decision making? “Being brothers allows us to be completely honest with each other when it comes to decisionmaking. The process goes relatively smoothly because we know how each of us will react to certain decisions and we all have a clear idea of the direction we want to take our career in.” The

brothers

latest

decision was choosing to release the bands newest single “I’m Ready”, which has captured the hearts and ears of many, especially teenage girls around the globe. The band put out a rather quirky lyric video for the track, which combined over a 1000 photos and has already received over 80,000 views. “Back in June we did a photo shoot around New York and we were looking through the photos. Adam was holding down the arrow key on the computer and the flipbook style caught all of our attention. We knew it was the right move for our first lyric video. The official “I’m Ready” music video is set to drop in mid October. You have never seen any video like it! All we can say is that we hope the storyline of the video is foreshadowing what our career will look like.” We know that AJR have bigger plans up their sleeves too, as they’re keeping very secretive about their debut-full length album. We already know that they could potentially have it written: “yes, it’s true that we have written more than 20 songs that are album ready, but we are going to keep writing until the album drops and pick the cream of the crop to release.” And as far as the release date goes, nothing has been

confirmed but they are hoping for early 2014. With 20 written, album ready songs already under their belts, we wanted to find out more about their writing process, and whether it’s a group activity or if everyone has individual roles. “Writing is very different for each song. Ryan is the main songwriter and producer. Adam writes lyrics and Jack contributes on all fronts. Our inspirations come from everywhere: literary, artistic, musical. Sometimes the music comes first, sometimes the words, and sometimes a feeling. We also write, produce, mix, and record everything in our living room. The songs that we are releasing now have only ever been touched by our hands.” Having shared the stage with the likes of Hoodie Allen and Demi Lovato, the bands live shows are just as impressive as you’d expect. Between the three of them they play 9 instruments, and combine electric and acoustic sounds on stage via sample machines and computers. With more shows planned across the next few months with dates to be released soon, and the official “I’m Ready” video dropping in October it sounds like AJR have a lot planned for the forthcoming months. WORDS: BY BEKKA COLLINS

“The songs that

t we are releasing now have only ever been touched by our hands.â&#x20AC;?

ON THE RADAR chasing grace

Check out “Bullet”

We think that Chasing Grace, a duo who have emerged from the county of Hertfordshire, have what it takes to make it big. Comprised of singer-songwriters Philip Plested and Grace Ackerman, the duo have already achieved so much in their short time together. At 20, and 18 years old respectively, they have released their debut EP ‘Dinner Will Be Served’, and have warranted great press from their first release. With their duelling soothing vocals, driving drums and challenging riffs, it is easy to see how they’re gaining momentumn and why Naughty Boy has them on his radar, helping build their artistic profile. The band are currently on tour supporting Ellie Goulding, we already have our eyes pealed on this promising duo.

cathedrals

TWIN CABINS

evan and the brave

Check out “Unbound”

Check out “Cool Kids”

Check out “Stay This Way”

Formed in July of this year, Catherdrals take the meaning of discovering new talent to a whole other level. This San Francisco duo have already amassed an incredible following despite having one profile picture on Facebook and one song under their belt. Their debut single “Unbound” has sent those in the music world crazy. “Unbound” is a daring release of electronic beats, whimsical vocals and experimental riffs which has already garnered over 100,000 plays in ten days. Whoever Catherdrals are, they’re about to be heard.

Depsite its name, Twin Cabins is a solo project crafted by Nacho Cano. Born in Mexico City, Cano dedicated his younger years to learning instruments which allowed him to catalog his music by the time his adolescent years came around. Now based in San Diego, Cano is a bedroom producer and songwriter and his sound is evident of his West Coast upbringing. Twin Cabins creates music that echoes dreams, loneliness and careless youth. Though we don’t know a lot about Twin Cabins, we do know that their sound is pretty damn good.

Evan And The Brave are a four piece from Sydney, Australia. They released a stand alone single last year titled “Lil Monster,” which popped them on the music radar. Since then they have been working on developing their sound, creating dreamy-pop waves and lyricals tales. The band have shared the stage with the likes of Passenger, and are ready to show just what they can do. Having just released a five track EP ‘Island’ in September, their upbeat and quirky blend of folk-pop is perfectly showcased. Check them out on their upcoming tour.

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IN THE AUDIENCE VAMPIRE WEEKEND

‘MODERN VAMPIRES OF THE CITY’

TONIGHT ALIVE

JIMMY EAT WORLD

Aussie act Tonight Alive always make sure they come out fighting. Upbeat and full of spirit, the band rocked out on stage like it was the last chance they’d get. Chilling vocals, driven beats and memorable riffs, things picked up in the second half and ended on a high note.

Jimmy Eat World are a band with years of experience, and this shows in their almost flawless live performance. With an array of hits across all of their releases, plenty of sing-alongs and constant, driving energy a Jimmy Eat World show is truly something else. By far one of the best live shows I’ve ever witnessed in the past seven years.

WORDS BY: BEKKA COLLINS

WORDS: BY BEKKA COLLINS

ELLIE GOULDING

TEGAN AND SARA Tegan and Sara and Chad Gilbert brought Stubb’s in Austin, TX to their knees. Packed with a 20 song set list and a killer light show, Tegan and Sara delivered raw emotion and utter bliss to a cozy outdoor atmosphere. WORDS: BY ASHLEY ALTUS

anberlin Anberlin’s long love affair with Australia brought them back again this September. The Floridian five piece still deliver a memorable show even after ten years. They powered through their set and the energy never dropped. The night ended with the crowd cramming onto the tiny stage, and after such an electrifying performance they will be warmly welcomed back. WORDS: BY MELINA SCARFO

Ellie Goulding is an underrated artist despite her obvious success. You haven’t seen a live show until you’ve seen her. She gives and honest, almost vulnerable performance while still being fun-filled and energetic. You’ll dance, you’ll sing, and you might come close to tears. and you’re bound to have the best time.

My first time seeing Florida act Set It Off and heck do they know how to work a stage and more so the crowd. An endless stream of energy so crowd surfing and fist pumping while managing to hit all of the notes. Impressive and a must see

WORDS BY: BEKKA COLLINS

SET IT OFF

REVIEWS

ALBUM REVIEWS //

album reviews ONE TWO THREE four five

OUT OF / five

LISSIE

‘BACK TO FOREVER’

If I could sum up Lissie’s sophomore release, ‘Back To Forever’ in a sentence, I’d say it’s an easy listening album with an odd sense of familiarity wrapped around every song. The title-track eases you into the album, while “Can’t Take It Back” encompasses crafty riffs and an energetic chorus, alike “I Don’t Want To Go To Work” and “Sleepwalking”. The unavoidable sense of familiarity is not all bad though, as for the most part there’s a new shine to something old. “Further Away” is reminiscent of a 90s “go-get-it” track which proves to be quite motivational, while “The Habit” is so old-school it almost hurts, but instead of crying you’ll end up singing. “Shameless” is a standout, purely for Lissie’s sassy lyrics mocking fame itself. The album ends with the beautifully crafted “They All Want You“, and all in all it turns out to be a pretty solid album. Though there is a lack of originality, there’s just something that keeps making me hit the replay button.

SAN CISCO ‘SAN CISCO’

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San Cisco are fun, and we all know it, but can they be more than that? It’s easy to sing along to the breezy verses of “Beach,” the bands forthcoming single, or bop your head along to “Awkward”, one of the most contagious songs on the album but is that all they have? While sharing a positive message through music seems to be a key motive for the band, tracks likes of “Lyall”and “No Friends“ show that they can actually sculpt a song. While they may be glass half full type of people, and will have no doubt popped a smile on your face, even if it was just for a second, we can’t undermine their talent, structure wise and in songwriting. “Hunter” is a slower track and focuses on a lyrical tale while “Metaphors” is whimsical and packed full of “oohs” and “aahs”. The album closes with “Wild Things” which has an early-day Gorillaz vibe, but makes for a fairly relaxed and unexpected ending. I guess this is effective, because it made me want to start it all over again. Though not groundbreaking, it’s certainly a valiant attempt at a debut.

ALBUM REVIEWS //

REVIEWS

MAYDAY PARADE

‘MONSTERS IN THE CLOSET’

‘Monsters In The Closet’ is the highly anticipated fourth studio album from Florida’s Mayday Parade. The twelve track release immediately shows the band have gone on to maintain and strengthen their sound as we’re greeted with a maturer take on their signature style. Fans will know openers “Ghost” and “Girls” as previously released singles, while tracks like “Even Robots Need Blankets” and “Hold Onto Me” have stayed true to the bands winning formular of driven ballads. And let’s face it, what’s a Mayday Parade record without a few ballads; they have been responsible for some of the best soppy-pop hits across the past eight years. “Repent And Repeat” and “Sorry, Not Sorry” bring out the bands slightly heavier side with soaring hooks and distinguishable riffs before the delicate “Angels” draws the album to a close. Mayday Parade have done it again, and created another album that is strikingly honesty and undeniably heartfelt, what’s not to love?

ECHOSMITH

‘TALKING DREAMS’

Echosmith, an LA sibling quartet signed to Warner Bros. Records have been making waves in the music industry, and their newest album ‘Talking Dreams’ could be the release that puts them on the map for good. At such a young age, it’s remarkable to see the power and maturity that is spread across their album. Opener “Come Together” is a perfect introduction to the bands sound, with airy guitars, strong percussion and a chorus that will make you move. The album seamlessly blends indie hooks, pop choruses and rock foundations to create a great diversity among their tracks. Other energetic highlights include “March Into The Sun” “Talking Dreams” and “Cool Kids”, while other tracks like “Bright” and “Tell Her You Love Her” take a softer approach, but showcase the vocals excellently. Overall this is an album I’m really excited about it, it has great potential and is a perfect go-to to lighten a mood.

PANIC! AT THE DISCO

‘TOO WEIRD TO LIVE, TOO RARE TO DIE”’

Panic! At The Disco have made three albums that sounds nothing alike one another, and so with their fourth release ‘Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die’ we had no idea what to expect. Drummer Spencer Smith and vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Brendon Urie have an incredibly strong and full sound, remaining as upbeat and confident as ever. “This Is Gospel” opens the album with melodic hooks while the soulful “Miss Jackson” follows. “Vegas Lights” is electronically heavy and a bit more mainstream, while “Nicotine” displays energetic percussion and tight riffs that is just as addictive as nicotine itself. The album closes with the appropiately titled “The End Of All Things”, which is melodically beautiful and a well suited ending. ‘Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die’ is an eclectic, pop-infused album with electronic elements that show another dimension to the bands sound, and is definitely worth a listen.

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ESCAPE THE FATE WORDS AND PHOTOS BY: KAYLEE SMOKE

Escape The Fate are back on the road with a killer new line up. After losing both guitarists (Monte and Michael Money) before the current Five Finger Death Punch tour, singer Craig Mabbitt, drummer Robert Ortiz, and bassist TJ Bell called in guitarist Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft (LoveHateHero) and former bassist Max Green. Bell moved to a guitar position, leaving Green to his old role in the band. Though many fans were skeptical as to whether or not the band would put on the same insane show that they've grown accustomed to, every ounce of doubt was blown away once this all-star group walked on stage. From the beginning of the set, fans were filled with anticipation for the band's arrival with their signature "Choose Your Fate" intro. Darkness in the venue set the mood, while fans screamed, pumped their fists, and chanted in unity. The haunting experience gave me goosebumps. Once the band took the stage and the lights created an

explosion of excitement, Escape The Fate wasted no time and jumped into an incredible execution of their powerful single "Ungrateful". The crowd was absolutely insane, and the band clearly fed off of it. Each member pumped so much energy and enthusiasm into their performance. You could see they love what they do and the chemistry between the members contributes to that.

smoother, hard rock sound to the band. Bass player Max Green kept up his incredibly energetic stage presence too, even after a long absence from touring. All three performers contributed to backing vocals and enhanced frontman Craig Mabbitt's distinct vocal style. As a long time Escape The Fate fan, it was really great to hear Green's screams once again alongside Mabbitt's.

Drummer Robert Ortiz has an incredible and almost alarmingly active drumming style, failing to remain seated or unnoticed, all without missing a beat. This element is quite important, as the dudes up front with guitars, a bass, and microphones need to keep in time. Each member stayed on point with one another. TJ Bell and Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft both shredded each guitar solo, making those insane riffs look simple, all while attending to screaming fans along the edge of the stage. "Thrasher" brought his own deep guitar tone to the mix, which I felt gave a

It was electrifying to witness fans respond. There was no hesitation amongst the audience for any sort of participation. There was constantly someone crowd surfing, fists in the air. Over the nearly deafening sound system you could still hear fans singing along. Though they concentrated on playing newer songs from 'Ungrateful', they finished off their set with an old fan favourite: "This War Is Ours". Whether they are headlining or supporting, Escape The Fate set the bar higher for a rock show and you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss out.

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PHOTOS BY: KAYLEE SMOKE

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