VERITY WINTER 2013
Introducing
Heffron Drive Strange Talk
Australian band talks signing to a U.S. label, and shares plans to release debut album in 2014
WHO WE ARE Verity Mag is a digital magazine dedicated to bringing you the latest news in the music industry. We are passionate about promoting both local and well-known artists through interviews, album reviews, concert coverage and other exclusive features.
04-05 LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER Dear readers, We have been hard at work and dedicated to bringing you the best of music and promote artists and music that we believe in. For this issue we had the opportunity to catch up with one-half of Heffron Drive. Kendall Schmidt talked with us about his side project, life on the road and future plans for the band. We also talked with Gerard Sidhu, of the Austrilian band, Strange Talk. While we had a lot of fun creating this issue we are excited to wrap up the year by introducing a variety of musicians that are specially crafted by their originality, creativity and talent.
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FEATURES Strange Talk [04]
Nightswim [06] Neon Hitch[08] Heffron Drive [10] Ariana & The Rose [16]
Sincerely, Adrianna Velazquez
THANKS TO
Big Machine Agency, Fin Leavell, Julie Lichtenstein & Jami Stigliano
EDITORIAL
Top 10 Songs of the Year [17] Reviews [18] Live Performances [20]
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EDITORS
WRITERS
DESIGN
CONTRIBUTORS
Emily Kirchner Adrianna Velazquez
Adrianna Velazquez
Courtney Rose Katie Martini Adrianna Velazquez
Alyssa Dowling Alyssa Milliman
CONNECT
veritymag@gmail.com @VerityMag
STRANGE TALK Words by Courtney Rose Photo by Shervin Lainez
The Australian invasion first began when their breakout single, “Climbing Walls,” from their self-titled EP went New York City, the city that never sleeps, is the epicen- viral and landed the number one spot on Billboard’s ter of strange things and strange talk that have made im- Uncharted in 2011. The EP generated international buzz possible dreams possible by opening the door to endless which propelled the band into international limelight leading them to an international record deal with Windopportunities for those who dare to chase them. Talk began last October when an indie band from Mel- Up Records. bourne, Australia called Strange Talk caught the atten- Cast Away, the band’s highly anticipated debut album, is tion of an A&R from Wind-Up Records after perform- scheduled to release in early 2014 and contains 11 tracks of indie electro pop including dance floor bangers, elecing at CMJ Fest in New York City. “One of the A&R’s, Shaun, came to our show and loved tro-ballads and everything in between. it. We went up to him after and we had a chat and gave Their unique branding encompasses a powerful blend of electrifying synths and pop beats that showcase their him our business cards. He was talking to our managdiverse style and heighten the competition. Strange er at the show; we did the following day, and we just progressed from there,” explained producer/DJ/bassist, Talk’s ability to combine their unique set of skills and Gerard Sidhu. “We were talking contracts a month later incorporate individual style into their collective sound and suddenly we were back here in the U.S. a year later, has landed frontman Stephen Docker, drummer Travis Constable, guitarist Gillian Gregory and Gerard Sidhu onto a U.S. label with major support.” 04 \\ STRANGE TALK
a special place in the indie-electro-pop genre. The Australian natives joined forces in 2010 when they decided to set out on a musical journey. The journey led them to a friend’s farm in Castlemaine, Victoria in October of 2011 where they wrote the first half of Cast Away. The new year led them to the coast where they settled in Mount Martha at Gerard’s sister’s beach house. It was there that the second half of Cast Away was laid out. “I think that’s just the way it’s always been, it’s the way we know how do things. Coming up the way we have; being studio based you naturally just write and produce tracks to the level you want it to be,” explained Sidhu. Self-producing their EP and debut album has not only allowed them to have control over the final product and alter the sound at their discretion but it has also played a key role in jump-starting their career.
It has enabled them to develop skills that have propelled them beyond the waters and into international territory. In between the time spent producing their debut album, Strange Talk played gigs across their motherland, giving them an opportunity to develop a captivating stage presence full of energy. This summer the band returned to the United States and made appearances across the country. With elevated tempos and intoxicating beats that create a euphoric vibe, Strange Talk does nothing short of keeping fans entranced. Their unique branding and resourceful nature have led them to career milestones they have aspired to reach since the very beginning. With the support of Wind-Up Records and the highly anticipated release of Cast Away, Strange Talk will continue to make a breakthrough in the music scene in 2014.
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NIGHTSWIM
Words by Adrianna Velazquez Photos by Lauren Gherardi When I was thirteen years old, a friend introduced me to a pop-rock band called The Summer Obsession, and it wasn’t long before I knew the lyrics to every song. Never did I imagine that six years later and 1,015 miles from home I would finally meet one of the vocalists from that band. I was standing near the pier at Jacksonville Beach when I noticed highlighter pink Converse shoes coming my way and was greeted by Fin Leavell. After walking along the beach and finding a quiet spot, he began telling me about his musical endeavors. Fin’s musical journey first began when his family relocated to Jacksonville from his hometown of San Antonio, Texas so that he could attend a fine arts school where music became his focus. Being in bands such as Against All Authority and The 06 \\ NIGHTSWIM
Summer Obsession have offered an array of rewarding experiences, but they have also been challenging and presented obstacles. “My biggest obstacle…my own afflictions. Confidence issues ever since other bands have broken up,” said Fin. “I wrote with somebody for so long—when you stop writing with somebody it’s like you’re a new person. It takes years to build up your shell again, because you opened yourself up for somebody and now your shell is open still but there’s nobody there.” From being in a pop-rock band and touring with popular acts such as Cartel and Plain White T’s, nothing felt quite right. It wasn’t until he found himself in a recording studio late one night in Los Angeles where he wrote “Waiting Room Of Your Mind,” that Nightswim came to be his first solo project. “This is kind of like my last attempt at doing it right,” said Fin.
With an electro-pop influence and a melodic arrangement of guitar riffs, bass and drums, Nightswim is a musical journey through space and time that encompasses nature and creativity. From writing, recording, and mixing Color Stardust, the first EP released by Nightswim in 2012, Fin has taken ultimate control over his art. “I feel like I’m in a place where I’m allowed to do what I want instead of having a whole bunch of pressure and expectations,” he explained. This past November, they released their first fulllength album titled I’m Not On the Moon. The album showcases an interest in science, nature and the earth through songs like “Fire and Snow” which talks about the elements of creation and “Calm Down” which explores a dream of traveling through star systems within our galaxy. Nightswim recently bridged the music and video game worlds. “I’ve always loved video games, now I’ve
found some people that enjoy music and video games too,” explained Fin. This past fall, Nightswim teamed up Brave Wave, a music label based out of Japan that produces and publishes music while exploring the interplay between music and video games. Nightswim was featured on a compilation album titled World 1-2: Encore for their remix of “A Crooked Man’s Eyes,” originally composed by Mari Yamaguchi for Mega Man 5. The album produced by Brave Wave features video game composers and arrangers and a tracklist of remixes of songs from Mega Man to Zelda and many others. Nightswim takes us on a journey through space and time and is reflective of Fin’s own journey. Overcoming obstacles and navigating his way past setbacks, he is finally where he feels he belongs. VERITY MAG \\ 07
“Being an artist was never something I chose. It chose
me when my dad named me Neon.�
Neon Hitch Words by Courtney Rose Photo by Zawadi Abwao
The extraordinary story of Neon Hitch’s journey began shortly after her birth when her family’s house burnt down and her parents separated. Her mother, Irene, decided to buy a bus and turn it into a luxury living arrangement and they soon ventured off to Europe where they adapted the gypsy lifestyle. “Growing up in a bus traveling the world has given me a unique outlook on life which has always set me apart. Whether that be a good thing or a bad thing, I’ve never fit in,” explained Neon. As they traveled, she, along with her mother and sister made a living off of money they earned in street performances, and selling clothing and jewelry. Life on the bus was too overbearing for Neon so she ran away at fifteen and quickly adapted to her new home, the streets of London. She made her rounds from her father’s home in London, to soul searching across India and sometimes making her way back to Europe. She continued traveling in hopes of finding herself and discovering her place in the world. “I have an outrageous amount of hope and trust in the universe so I have always gone out of my comfort zone, even if it’s dangerous. I’m an ambitious person and achievement comes from taking chances,” she explained. Taking those chances has allowed Neon to achieve her dreams. Her dreams began with an unknown musical talent recognized by her (now ex) boyfriend who motivated her to share her talent with the world. Her life rapidly began to change when british rapper, The Streets, signed Neon to The Beats Recording in 2007. This landed her the opportunity to open up for well-known rapper, 50
Cent.This enabled her to live out her dream, making the stage her home. Unfortunately, the label soon shut down and she was back to being temporarily homeless; which ended when Neon took a flight to America for a meeting with Benny Blanco in New York. Her songwriting left quite the impression, and she signed a record deal and soon began working to produce “Blah Blah Blah” with singer Ke$ha. Neon has collaborated with other singers and songwriters such as Gym Class Heroes and most recently, Kinetics and One Love. Teaming up with Kinetics and One Love has given character to Neon’s latest project, for which the mixtape 301 To Paradise will be released as an introduction to her next album on January 3rd. “I love those boys so much they really get my sound and together we’ve crafted the 301 To Paradise mixtape that takes the listener on a journey to the land of Neon.” Neon has since found a home with Warner Brothers Records. Her most recent EP, Happy Neon, has given her an even greater sense of who she is as an artist. “I was going through a tough time with my label as internally there was a lot of change over so I decided to take things into my own hands and make something purely artistic and less conventional to express how frustrated I was feeling. We’re in a great place together now,” she explained. Through these minor setbacks, Neon has prevailed and has found her place in the universe, showing us that a rough past does not mean there is no light for the future. “The bad things that have happened in my life usually have a positive outcome so I’ve learned to embrace my mistakes. The universe has a plan for all of us.”
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HEFFRON DRIVE Words by Alyssa Dowling Photos by Adrianna Velazquez
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ost known for his role as the frontman of the boyband, Big Time Rush, Kendall Schmidt’s musical journey started long before he was playing stadiums of 15,000 and starring in Nickelodeon’s highest-rated live action TV show. His first musical venture started after relocating to Burbank, California from his hometown of Wichita, Kansas. “It’s been inspired for awhile, it’s something I came up with back in 2008 with my buddy, Dustin. We started making music and we both lived on Heffron Drive, and when we started making songs that actually sounded pretty good, we had to come up with a name,” Kendall explained. “Heffron Drive sounded appropriate, we thought it sounded like a cool name and a cool street—a street that treated us very well,” he joked. Aside from his acting endeavors, Kendall, along with bandmate Dustin Belt decided it was finally time to branch out and pick up from where they left off. “I think the most important thing is that when people perceive it, there’s a lot of things that I’m interested in and if they’re interested in me then there’s a lot more that I have to offer than just being in one band and I love Big Time Rush and I love performing with the band and I just want people to hopefully maybe find some new music that they like,” explained Kendall. Fans across the board have embraced Heffron Drive as a new musical pursuit for Kendall and Dustin. With only 5 songs uploaded to Myspace, no professionally recorded material and no telling where the project would take them, Kendall and Dustin set out on an international tour back in May. They played a handful of shows throughout Germany and ever since, fans across the United States had been patiently awaiting a chance to see the duo live. This past October, they got the announcement
they were waiting for. The news came via Twitter when the band announced they would be embarking on a winter tour that would hit over 20 cities. The tour would showcase a setlist of old favorites, as well as a few never-before-heard tracks such as “Feels So Good,” “One Track Mind” and “Art Of Moving On.” Although they had not released any professionally recorded material prior to the spontaneous announcement of their winter tour, Heffron Drive fans remained dedicated. They attended shows knowing all the words to every song they could find on Myspace Music and Kendall and Dustin acknowledge each and every one of them. “I wouldn’t even be able to perform if I didn’t have fans to perform for,” Kendall confessed. Despite having a smaller and more intimate audience, playing stadiums of a couple thousand people has had lasting implications. “I gained a lot of experience just being on stage,” Kendall explained. “Performing, being on tour, knowing how to handle a tour.” There’s no doubt that being a member of a notorious boy band has cast positive influences in terms of managing all aspects of the Heffron Drive project. Even experience isn’t enough to pursue a musical endeavor. It takes a lot of hard work and teamwork. “I feel like if you find something you really enjoy, work really hard at it and dedicate yourself to it and meet the right people and it’s important to know all three you can’t do anything alone so you have to find a team that’s willing to support you,” admitted Kendall. The anticipation to hear new material has grown since the band shared their hopes to someday record an album or EP and promised fans that they would be back out on the road very soon. Exploring and connecting with familiar faces and new ones alike is something they feel contributes to their growth on both a personal and professional level. “Just traveling in general is really good for your brain. I feel like every time you travel you get a little bit more open-minded. You meet a lot of cool people on the road and it’s a dream come true. I think a lot of people would love to have the opportunity to play music for a living and I’m lucky that I get to.” VERITY MAG \\ 15
Ariana
& The Rose Interview & Photo by Adrianna Velazquez
We talked with 24 year-old, singer-songwriterAriana DiLorenzo of Ariana & The Rose about her career and touring with Heffron Drive this winter. VM: Being engaged in the world of performance since you were 12, singing and performing, when did you decide to focus more on the musical aspect of things? Ariana: I had been in the recording studio since I was about 14 just for fun, just because I liked it and I had met producers through people I knew and I sang on demos and I wrote on the side. When I was about a junior in college I ended up working on some dance tracks for people and writing for that and then going to Nashville to write as well. That’s when I realized that you really have to choose what you’re going for and go for it 100%. VM: When artists emerge, they often face a battle in finding who they are and finding their sound. Is there any significant evolution you’ve noticed since you’ve started? Ariana: I think that you really have to take the time to find who that is before you start really putting it out there. I started more in the singer/songwriter world but I also love dance music so I sort of went back and forth. I didn’t know exactly how to meld the two and that’s what I really wanted to do. I wanted to find a way to maintain writing songs that I felt were a little more singer/songwriter and told stories but could be set to dance beats or have synths in them. I think this EP that I’m putting out in February is really the first time I’ve felt like this is who I am and this is really a good representation of me. VM: Your song “Heartbeat” has generated a lot of buzz, what inspired this song? Ariana: I wrote the song actually as a love song at first. Lyrically, it felt like it was darker. So I ended up writing the story about that moment when you get into a fight with somebody and you really want to call them and you really want to let it go but your pride just stops you. 16 \\ ARIANA & THE ROSE
VM: What are some of your long term and short term goals as of now? Ariana: Short term, I’d like to sell as many copies of my EP as I possibly can. As a medium term goal, I would really love to go on tour this spring opening for an act that is doing a full-scale national tour. Opening for Heffron Drive has been amazing and it’s our first tour, so I’m really grateful to be doing that and I’d love to continue doing that and open for more people. VM: What was your reaction when you found out you’d have the opportunity to tour with Heffron Drive? Ariana: I was on my way to a writing session. It’s one of those things where you’re so focused on what you’re doing when someone tells you this big thing happend and you don’t think of it and like an hour later I was like “What? That’s amazing!” They’ve been really great to tour with and more than anything their fans are just the most commited and open great of people I could of ever asked for to be on a first tour with. I feel really, really grateful for that.
Top 10 Hits of the Year
Check out the top 10 most played songs on our playlist this year.
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1. Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke Ft. T.I. & Pharrell 2. Mirrors - Justin Timberlake 3. Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus 4. The Monster - Eminem Ft. Rihanna 5. Royals - Lorde 6. Wake Me Up - Avicii 7. Counting Stars - One Republic 8. White Walls - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Ft. ScHoolboy Q & Hollis 9. Let Her Go - Passenger 10. Demons - Imagine Dragons
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SONG Drink You Away
RATING 4.5/5
By Alyssa Milliman
genres and starts off with plenty of guitar riffs that give off a little southern twang. “Drink You Away” isn’t your typical break up song. It makes a profusion Justin Timberlake has strayed away of alcohol references that reflect the from his stereotypical pop roots with blues after a bad break up. the release of his latest single, “Drink The perfect blend of guitar riffs that You Away.” give this track a touch of southern The single explores a more mature twang, church organs that give it a Justin and takes attention away from bluesey feel and a little bit of soulful his boyband past. funk encompassed in the instrumenThe track explores a wide variety of tal arrangment and Justin’s vocals is
SONG Wrecking Ball
what makes this song the most impressive hit of the 20/20 tracklist. “Drink You Away” reaches far beyond Justin’s comfort zone by incorporating multiple genres into one hit and creating lyrics that turn an otherwise depressing break up song into a feel-good good jam through it’s soulful sound. You can expect this impressive track to make its way up the charts in the coming months.
RATING 4/5
By Courtney Rose Instead of her usual provocative attitude, she shows us her true emotions after a tragic heartbreak. The song sets off and the hurt in her voice is crystal clear as she describes the battle in her recent relationship with Liam Hemsworth. “Wrecking Ball” the second single Miley’s heartfelt melodies about losoff of Miley Cyrus’ latest album, ing the one she loved the most shows Bangerz, shows us a different side of us that despite what people think of Miley that we haven’t seen before. her, she’s still human.
SONG Let Her Go
In the music video, Miley expresses her vulnerability through nudity as a symbol for how the breakup stripped her down to the core. While some find it inappropriate, and anothers call it a stunt for publicity, they fail to read between the lines. Miley proves herself with this song by allowing others to see a hidden side of her they otherwise wouldn’t know.
RATING 4.5/5
By Katie Martini This softer folksy single is an echo of the dreamy melody of Ed Sheeran’s “A Team,” that incorporates a light piano intro that carries through to the end with a few other instruments joining in to create a radiant medley. The delicacy of this fan-favorite is maintained through clean vocals and 18 \\ REVIEWS
structured lyrics. Lead vocalist, Mike Rosenburg’s, strong yet vulnerable lyrics cast powerfully with lighter chords and turn this into a cliche, yet enjoyable, single.
RATING 5/5
song an indie folk, Mumford & Sons inspired beat. Harry takes the lead with his delicate vocals complimenting the folky track By Courtney Rose before he’s joined by Niall, Zayn, One Direction has strayed away Liam, and Louis. from their comfort zone with their “Story of My Life” shares the memolatest single, “Story Of My Life.” ries of each band member, and puts Unlike the stereotypical poppy love an emphasis on how much they truly songs we’re used to hearing from the cherish their family and friends. British boy band, their new single These powerful lyrics define the imis introduced with a light acoustic portant things in everyday life, and instrumental arrangement giving the expresses how each individual
memory matters. The newly released track gives listeners insight to their personal lives, while allowing you to connect with them through similar experiences. “Story of My Life” gives off good vibes, while proving just how talented One Direction really is. This song provides insight to how their age and maturity is beginning to influence their work. It’s certainly one of those songs that will never get old. VERITY MAG \\ 19
STRANGE TALK The Fillmore Detroit, MI
ARIANA & THE ROSE Embers Rensselaer, IN
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