Issue #7 Verity Magazine - Fall 2014

VERITY FALL 2014

NEW FOUND GLORY THE READY SET / I SEE STARS / STAGES & STEREOS / +MORE

V M

EDITOR

Adrianna Velazquez

DESIGN/PHOTOGRAPHY

Amber Ainsworth Danyyil Nosovskiy Brian Puninske Aubree Stamper Adrianna Velazquez

WRITERS

Amber Ainsworth Courtney Rose Aubree Stamper Adrianna Velazquez Nikole Vendl

CONNECT

www.veritymag.com veritymag@gmail.com @VerityMag

WHO WE ARE Verity Magazine 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.

FEATURES

Stages & Stereos [04] Kitten [06] I See Stars [08] New Found Glory [10] The Ready Set [16] Hollywood Ending [18]

EDITORIAL Reviews [22]

Live Performances [24]

Stages Words by Nikole Vendl Photo by Daniel Shippey

Sometimes life finds a remarkable way of turning tragedy into success, and for rock band Stages & Stereos, that seems to be the case.

The band initially parted ways in 2010 after just three years and according to lead singer Daniel Lancaster, the reason for the split was mutual.

“We were going through a lot of things and we were thinking, ‘Is it possible to move on and have a career making music?’,” questioned Lancaster.

Afraid that music wouldn’t sustain the lifestyles they hoped to lead, Stages & Stereos parted ways after releasing only three EPs. The band felt as though they hit a dead end, which eventually led to their break-up. “We had zero open doors, we had nowhere else to go,” said Lancaster. “We played for major record labels over and over again and could not receive a deal.”

When Stages & Stereos dissolved, Lancaster moved on and became the lead singer of another band, Select Start but his past was anything but forgotten. “Every show there would be at least one person who would come ask, ‘What happened to Stages & Stereos? We miss you guys.’ To me, that was always very touching and super important to us getting back together,” he recalled.

As Select Start began to fall apart, tragedy struck leading to the reunion of Stages & Stereos after bassist Ian Edge joined the Army and became critically injured, losing his leg during his deployment in Afghanistan; a tragedy that became a defining 04|VERITY MAGAZINE

&

Stereos

moment both personally and professionally for Edge and ex-bandmates, later sparking their return.

Following Edge’s return home from the Army and his recovery from the injuries he sustained, he and Lancaster were inspired to start writing music together yet again.

“I called Donnie Webb, our drummer, and I was like ‘We’re gonna write songs, we’re gonna go to the studio, we’re going to do this, do you want to be a part of it?’ we came together and just reunited, put out a record, super rushed. We wrote it probably in four days, our first one and it’s been magic ever since, it’s been wonderful,” said Lancaster.

The product of that studio session was the band’s 2012 EP, Anchorless. “Anchorless is about the struggle and about moving on and about no matter what, persevering,” explained Lancaster. A concept which perfectly describes everything the band has endured since the very beginning.

Anchorless is perhaps the most important collective effort the band has ever released, containing personal stories that truly showcase the band’s strengths and weaknesses and their ability to adapt to change.

“Pressure Under Fire” is an emotional track that tells Edge’s personal story about his perception of his wartime experience and the impact it had on life thereafter. For band members Lancaster, Edge, Webb and friends Zach Schweizer and Alex Reed, Anchorless was a product of a natural reunion that was destined to happen.

In 2013 the band released their latest EP, Small Town Favorites, a record they recorded in a warehouse in Tallahassee where they spent more time learning about each other; an EP they believe is about more than just the music. “That is us getting to know each other as people and understanding what everyone in the band is completely capable of,” explained Lancaster.

“That is our transition into what we actually are now and I think it’s a perfect transition. That record is us getting to know each other, it’s a beautiful thing figuring out your strengths.”

While some may question the production of a full-length album, Stages & Stereos offer that the idea of producing a fulllength album is an important milestone that shouldn’t be rushed. “The way that I feel about it is that your debut album is the most important part of your career, completely. It’s such a special thing getting to create— it’s your masterpiece and I think creating that life is very, very important and if you feel you don’t have the funding, if you feel you don’t have the resources to create that then it’s quality over quantity,” explained Lancaster. It is this same commitment to authenticity that has kept Stages & Stereos on their path to success.

“So we put everything we can into the resources that we have and creating EPs. I feel that when we get the opportunity to create a full-length, it’ll be the most important thing this band has ever done, I can’t wait to do it,” he added.

Since their reunion, the band has spent plenty of time on the road as part of the Glamour Kills Tour with Mayday Parade and recently wrapped up The Come Alive Tour with Our Last Night, Set It Off and Heartist, the kind of bands that have heavily influenced their evolving sound over the years.

For the band, groundwork remains the core of their existence; allowing them to establish a support system that enables them to continue doing what they love. According to Lancaster, in the modern era of social media, Twitter followers don’t necessarily translate to fans. “If you have fifty-six thousand followers, that doesn’t mean you’re going to draw 200 people, that doesn’t mean

you’re going to draw them,” said Lancaster.

“Be organic, be an organic musician and get what you earn. You earn those followers, those people and they come out to your shows and they buy your record. That’s the best way to do it. I really don’t think that faking it and whoring yourself out as much as possible is the best way to do it. I still think there’s an art to being inaccessible.”

Throughout their journey of ups and downs, there has been one valuable lesson that has stuck with them throughout it all, a lesson they continue to reflect on and apply to their lives today despite their success to date. “Be humble and to appreciate what you have. If you don’t understand what you have then you treat people a lot differently.

It’s not about telling everybody about yourself— it’s learning to listen, not to speak,” said Lancaster.

Although the band has experienced much success since joining forces for a second time, Lancaster notes that the most important discovery through it all has been learning that in order to achieve success they must free themselves of the things that hold them back, “We all felt jaded by different people, we felt that we had been held back by certain people. We felt we could do whatever we want and no matter what, it’s going to work out.”

STAGES & STEREOS|05

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Kitten Words by Adrianna Velazquez Photos by Amber Ainsworth

Kittens are typically considered cute creatures but an edgier mood is rising. Electrifying indie-rock band Kitten, started by Chloe Chaidez, was a band name that just sounded iconic.

For Chaidez, the band’s formation was a natural evolution from her interest in music that began at the early age of ten. A natural, music was embedded in her DNA. Chaidez grew up with creative parents and a brother, who although was focused on his studies, was also a natural.

“As cliche as it sounds, it was never an option for me,” said Chaidez. “It was something that I just couldn’t picture myself ever doing anything else.”

Growing up with a drummer of a father from Los Angeles’ punk scene, Chaidez was introduced to the likes of David Bowie and Led Zeppelin, developing a unique blend of musical influences that have now been intertwined into her original work.

Although her father was a musician by trade, Chaidez has found most of her influences come from people and places outside of her home. “I feel like there are other things in my life have influenced me musically more than he has,” began Chaidez, “but I think throughout the years because I was young and he was the quickest connection to my musical inspiration I think that was always a little bit skewed in that way. Of course I grew up around constant music, he definitely influenced me but not as much as people think.”

With a back catalog of three EPs and debut album, Kitten’s evolving sound has been influenced from the likes of Led Zeppelin to Prince and everything in between. In 2010, the band released their first EP, Sunday School followed by 2011’s Cut It Out and 2013’s Like a Stranger prior to the release of the band’s self-titled debut album released earlier this year. Although the band’s sound has continued to evolve and mature with the release of each record, the most defining point came when Chaidez began to lose herself in the stereotypical rock and roll lifestyle.

“I would drink before and after shows… do drugs,” remembered Chloe. “The real problem was that I couldn’t stop myself.

It wasn’t just about fun. I was frustrated, scared and confused and I wanted to kill those feelings, but I justified it by saying this is the rock and roll lifestyle.”

When Chaidez came to the realization that drugs were destroying her creativity and ultimately her career, she returned to Los Angeles where she spent time apart from distractions and temptations, refocusing her outlook. Putting her focus on music and kicking old habits was a turning point for the band’s self-titled album; a turning point that led Chaidez to develop and discover everything she aims to achieve through music.

Through songwriting collaborations, a refreshed outlook, and focused approach, Chaidez began to hone her skills and establish a signature sound, an infectious blend of 70s post punk and new wave rhythms that is now Kitten; dreamy pop meets rock and roll.

Although the group has only recently released their self-titled album, they’ve already put their name on the map as support for seasoned acts Young the Giant, Paramore, and The Neighbourhood, among various other big names in the music scene.

They have found themselves on the bill for SXSW, Summerfest, and Riot Fest— festivals that are a direct reflection of the journey Kitten has experienced thus far.

For Chaidez, the most memorable experience came when the band played Summerfest the same time as Outkast. With expectations that no one would show up to the performance, Chaidez was surprised to hit the stage with a packed audience before her. These moments have served as eye-openers of just how influential the band truly is.

Touring has definitely been exciting for the band and being on the road has pushed and inspired them farther as performers.

Hayley Williams of Paramore and Dick Valentine of Electric Six are two people that have encouraged Kitten on their already extremely remarkable journey, reminding them to never forget what their passion is.

“The singer of Electric Six gave me good advice, he told me— he was like, ‘Follow your vision through, don’t let anyone come in and tamper with that’ and I feel like that’s important,” said Chaidez.

Aside from getting to tour with seasoned acts and having recently released their debut album, Chaidez finds the biggest reward of the band’s continued hard work and dedication in performing. “Performing live for an audience is the reward after recording the album,” said Chaidez.

When it comes to performing, the band takes advantage of not being able to replicate songs live, by adding breakdowns, live drums and switching it up every night to keep fans intrigued.

Passion is evident through the music they create and Kitten’s indie sound is a perfect combination of various influences that keep old fans coming back for more and pick up new fans with each tour. With a sound that combines guitars with an 80’s and new wave vibe, Kitten has discovered a formula for making music that just works.

KITTEN|07

Words by Aubree Stamper Photo by Casey Watson 08|VERITY MAGAZINE

“It can’t be about the money, it has to be about the music.”

It’s extremely easy for a band to lose themselves in the music industry, but Electronic Hardcore Music pioneers, I See Stars, vowed to not fall into that cycle and are no strangers to hard work and sacrifice. Over the years they have maintained a humble attitude, never becoming trapped by their own ego or taking fame and fortune for granted.

“When you go into this business it can’t be about money, it has to be about the music.

As long as you have that mentality then you’re all good,” began Oliver. “I’ve been doing this for ten years now and we’re just starting to make money and be comfortable. You have to spend money to make money. You have to see this as an investment and the biggest investment is your time.”

What began as a dream fueled by a 5th grade talent show that inspired frontman Devin Oliver to form a band has since led the Michigan natives to a career doing what they love but the decision to take a hobby and their passion for music to the next level didn’t come easy. In fact, sacrifices were made although the band’s success was never promised.

At just fifteen years old, Devin left school to sign a record deal with Sumerian Records and began touring shortly after. “I knew I wanted it to become a career when I had the opportunity to not do this,” Oliver explained. “It was when I was fifteen and we got a record deal and it meant us leaving school. I was a big basketball player and was very involved and it was heart-breaking for me to leave all of that, but music has always been what I loved and I knew I See Stars was a good band and could do big things.” With the support of his bandmates, Oliver decided to dedicate six months to the band with the option to return to school if things didn’t work out. After making the decision to leave school and hit the road the rest was history.

During the earlier stages of their career, the band blew up locally, having established a solid fanbase and quickly began catching the attention of larger bands in the music scene, largely thanks to Myspace and their local support.

“Myspace was a huge stepping stone for our band,” admitted Oliver. “We recorded,

ourselves, our first ever CD called Green Light Go! and once that came out that’s when things really started picking up on Myspace and we started getting hits all the time. It was one of the first electronic hardcore things to really come out.”

Shortly after, I See Stars started playing at Myspace Cafe every weekend, constantly selling out shows which led to them accumulating a larger local fanbase that still thrives today. At this point they had their present day lineup, they began putting together their post-hardcore and electronic sound, and began catching the attention of bands they idolized. “It got to the point where bands were requesting us on the shows,” Oliver said. “Touring bands, bands like Emmure, The Devil Wears Prada, August Burns Red, and Rookie of the Year because they were like, ‘This band brings a bunch of kids in Michigan, we want them on the show!’” According to Oliver, I See Stars were always grateful to be recognized by bands they looked up to. “It made us feel like we served a purpose even as a local band. We’re not just a local band that is trying to get on the show, we’re a local band being requested ‘cus we have a fan-base.

That’s when it got exciting,” said Oliver.

As much time as the guys spend out on the road they continuously aim to make each tour, each show bigger and better than the one before. Investing more money into stage set-ups including wild light shows.

“It’s not like we make a bunch of money from a tour and pocket it,” said Oliver. “We take that money and reinvest it to make the experience of our band more worth it for our fans. Our fans know we’re gonna come and we’re gonna bring it more than the last time.”

Although the band has spent a lot of their time out on the road, they’ve also spent their nights in the studio where they produced four studio albums, experimenting with different genres as they discovered their sound. “With The End of the World Party we did a little bit of experimenting.

We liked it but at the same time it wasn’t our best work,” Oliver admitted. “When we went into Digital Renegade we were like, ‘We’re an electronic rock band and that’s what we wanna be.’ We’re always gonna wanna grow. That doesn’t mean change, it

means getting better and thinking outside the box and testing our limits, but always keeping our fans in mind.”

While the band’s focus has changed throughout the years and music has evolved, Oliver believes the biggest evolution came between the band’s third studio album, Digital Renegade and their latest album, New Demons. “Instead of focusing so much on being pitch perfect, I was more focused on feeling what I was singing. It wasn’t all about sounding great, it was just about sounding real and that gets lost a lot in music these days,” explained Oliver. “In the future that’s my goal as a vocalist, to keep it real, keep the emotion there, and not let it die out with all of the production that gets put into music these days.”

Through it all, Oliver attributes New Demons as the band’s biggest accomplishment to date, noting it as an accurate depiction of what they have set out to be. “I think that New Demons is I See Stars’ best work hands down. That record is so important to me, lyrically. I feel really proud of my vocals.

The whole cycle behind the album worked out the way I really wanted it to,” Oliver exclaims.

With New Demons, I See Stars perfected their EHM sound and set the bar high for other electronic hardcore bands. It’s heavier and more electronic than ever, and the mixture is a near-perfect blend.

I See Stars have yet to give up after all of the obstacles put in their path as they continue to evolve personally and professionally with every album, the kind of growth every band should experience. They believe in electronic hardcore music and put as much back into their live shows as they possibly can in order to stand out among other bands in the scene and keep fans coming back for more. With their continued passion and investments, the sacrifices they’ve made are certainly paying off for the band who have built a strong fanbase that enables them to continue doing what they love.

“It’s just about being passionate and determined and not giving up when things get hard,” said Oliver. “If you keeping fighting for it that’s when you’ll see a light at the end of the tunnel.”

I SEE STARS|09

New Found Words by Amber Ainsworth / Photos by Andy Foster

“It sounds like New Found Glory. It doesn’t sound like this mixed with this mixed with this,” said drummer Cyrus Bolooki, of the band’s newest album Resurrection.

After 17 years in the industry, New Found Glory can safely say that they have grasped a sound that has pushed them to success for nearly two decades. From their earliest starts in Florida, they have worked tirelessly as a band to overcome and rise above the challenges that come with being in a band that has been going strong for such a long time.

While there wasn’t much planned for 2014 originally, it was already known that something would eventually come along. When exactly was the biggest concern, as the group stumbled upon some problems in late 2013 when they had to go from a five-piece band to a four-piece after founding member Steve Klein and New Found Glory went their separate ways.

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The decision, posted to the band’s Facebook page, alarmed fans, who feared the change in the lineup would negatively affect the future of New Found Glory. Although the incident did cause a delay in new music, the band took a break that was necessary prior to recording their eighth studio album.

This time away from music gave the remaining members an opportunity to get in the right mindset before diving into creating Resurrection this past summer— a break that served them well leading into the new record, giving them a fresh start and renewed outlook.

“We went into it right around early summer, late spring and we’re like, ‘Let’s go write a record. Let’s kind of do what we always said we were going to do,” said Bolooki, “Let’s not allow any of the kind of struggle that we had gone through or the personal changes to affect us.’”

Glory

Following the band’s hiatus, the guys reunited and began writing and recording demos at guitarist Chad Gilbert’s house, a naturally evolving process that led to the creation of Resurrection. During these sessions, ten of the album’s thirteen tracks were written and recorded.

With Resurrection in the works, it only made sense for the band to take on a change in record companies. Hopeless Records took on the new project, a change that only seemed obvious for the group who has been active for as long as New Found Glory.

Though their previous labels always allowed for the band to maintain creative control over their work, a label like Hopeless was key to creating the new album this deep into their career.

“They understand that we’ve obviously been doing this for a long time, we know how we wanna sound and what we should sound like and they just let us do our thing,” said Bolooki.

With a roster of successful bands like Taking Back Sunday and The Used, Hopeless Records was a clear choice for the band who has been around awhile, something Hopeless knows how to handle effectively.

“We were trying to find a label that would be good in that sense, that would be able to market us correctly at this stage in our career,” explained Bolooki. Hopeless had the necessary skills to market a band that already had a fanbase and thus the album took off under their guidance.

Throughout the process, the label never suggested any changes to sound but instead helped New Found Glory further market themselves, exactly what the band needed to make a record like Resurrection.

Over the course of their career, there have been times when New Found Glory strayed from their classic sound, although at this point in their career, they are very aware of who they are as musicians.

“I think one of the biggest things that’s changed since ’97 is we’ve obviously gotten a lot better at our instruments and also tighter as a band,” said Bolooki. “I think we’ve also, especially now in our career, we have had times or albums in the past where maybe we kind of like tried something different or maybe strayed a little bit from what the classic New Found Glory sound is, but I think now more than any time, we really understand who we are as a band, what our sound is like.”

Besides finding a unique sound, New Found Glory has been able to not only find their sound, but have also learned to manage it to avoid repeating the same material that has been played again and again. “ It’s not really like rehashing material,” said Bolooki of new work the band produces. “It’s always new stuff and every record has its own little twist.”

Of all the music New Found Glory has made over the course of their musical journey, Resurrection is the work that they can truly call their own. Through trial and error, the perfect combination was found and put into the album.

When it comes to pinpointing the sound of Resurrection, Bolooki can easily say, “It’s New Found Glory.”

Clearly, New Found Glory has still got the touch that made their music popular in the early 2000s. In the month since its release, Resurrection has broke the 25 on the Billboard 200 chart, while peaking at the 3rd position on the Alternative Albums chart, and currently holding the 6th position on the Top Rock Albums chart.

Although they’ve been working hard for years, making music is something that still has yet to get old for New Found Glory. Playing with the same group of guys for 17 years has its perks, such as getting to know each other on a level of brotherhood, rather than just being bandmates and constantly pushing each other to be the best that they can be.

“As you play with people just inherently, you kind of learn each other’s like intricacies and the way that you play off of each other,” said Bolooki.

They’ve learned how to make things work when trying to get a song right or when dealing with differing opinions, even using voting as a method to solve disagreements that may arise. Through the years, the guys have gained experience in handling those differing opinions that each member has; agreeing has never really been a major issue when New Found Glory goes to work. In fact, Bolooki claims that the hardest thing about being in a band doesn’t have anything to do with making music-it’s the touring and mixing the career with the real world.

NEW FOUND GLORY|11

After working for 17 years, the guys all have families that they leave behind when they go on the road but even when touring, life at home is still calling. Bolooki discussed a recent struggle of trying to close on a new house during the current Glamour Kills Tour.

“I had to wake up at 8 because I had to get on the phone to make phone calls,” said Bolooki, noting that that early morning came after playing with the band until midnight the night before. “They all stop working at five and that’s pretty much when I start working, “ he added, referring to

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“We will end

the people he had to deal with when trying to purchase his house.

While such a serious music career can get strenuous, the guys of New Found Glory remind themselves that what they’re doing is special so that when the job does start to take its toll, it doesn’t burn them out or negatively impact their music.

Bolooki keeps his outlooks on his sometimes chaotic lifestyle positive, “This is one of the most rewarding careers you could ever have so I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

this when it’s no longer fun.”

Despite the fact that Resurrection was released in October and NFG is currently touring, new music and touring is something that seems to be nearly inevitable at this point. After the Glamour Kills Tour ends, the guys immediately head to Europe for another tour. Then they will be starting 2015 off with tour dates in Australia, with the possibility of shows in Asia as well. From there, the group hopes to tour back and forth between the US and Europe, filling up the band’s schedule from now until the end of 2015.

For the guys in New Found Glory, their career is what they choose to do day in and day out because they love

it. Though the hours can be grueling and the time commitment of touring can be difficult, it hasn’t become a boring job just yet.

“We will end this when it’s no longer fun,” said Bolooki of the band’s collective decision of when to finally stop making new music. “I don’t foresee it happening anytime soon.”

NEW FOUND GLORY|15

The Ready Set ............ ............... ..........

Words & Photo by Adrianna Velazquez

As I walk into the green room at Saint Andrew’s Hall in Detroit I observe a group of people standing in the center of the room talking as I put my things down.

Among them was Jordan Witzigreuter, better known as The Ready Set who I can’t help but notice is one of few musicians who came prepared for the unpredictable Michigan weather wearing a black and grey plaid shirt topped with a black leather jacket and black beanie.

I approach him and introduce myself only to be greeted with a soft “hello” before sitting down on the tainted blue couch that wasn’t at all comfortable. I flip my notepad open while Jordan remains silent, he’s shy and reserved which almost seems hard to believe for someone with a record of success much like his.

Sitting there, he begins to tap his hand on the armrest of the couch as he begins to tell me his story, carefully choosing his words.

“For some reason [my mom] had the idea that I should take drum lessons when I was eleven years old,” Witzigreuter says softly. “I don’t know if I gave any signs that I would like doing that or anything, but she was like ‘You should try this and see what you think,’ and I tried it and fell in love with it.”

Although his parents were not musically inclined, their ongoing support empowered Jordan to follow his dreams, dreams that some parents might think are unattainable.

“My parents were never particularly musical, but they were always super supportive.

Anything I wanted to do musically they were supportive which is kind of rare because to most parents music is kind of a shot in the dark,” says Witzigreuter.

Drum lessons and supportive parents was all it took for the Fort Wayne, Indiana to 16|VERITY MAG

begin what has since become a long, successful journey. “I always looked at it as a hobby until I started to see these bands come through my town on tour. They would cruise up and play a show and leave and go to the next town and I thought, ‘Wow, these bands are doing something, they’re going out and building themselves up,’ and a couple years later I’d see them and they’d be big,” Witzigreuter says smiling, his voice getting louder with enthusiasm as he begins to break out of his shell.

“I’d see these bands create their own careers and it was cool and that inspired me.”

For Jordan, social media was vital to his story. The ability for him to record and upload songs right from his laptop is all it took to be heard, and even more than that, liked. “When I started doing The Ready Set I built it up online. I started to build a social media following enough to start touring. It was just kind of an experiment to see if I could do it,” says Witzigreuter.

His talent accompanied with the power of modern day technology allowed him to reach people that he wouldn’t otherwise be able to connect with. These connections I quickly learned are what he values most when standing side-stage later that night watching him deliver an exhilarating performance of non-stop jumping while reaching out to touch every hand within reach belting out hit songs like 2008’s “Love Like Woe,” which peaked at No. 27 on Billboard Top 100 Airplay chart.

Witzigreuter has spent a lot of time out on the road, having been a part of Vans Warped Tour in addition to headlining The Glamour Kills Tour and currently co-headlining The Outsiders Tour with Metro Station in support of his latest album,

The Bad & The Better.

Having been in the midst of record label changes and fighting for creative control over music, Witzigreuter finally released his latest record, The Bad & The Better earlier this year, the first studio album to be released since his 2010 label debut, I’m Alive, I’m Dreaming.

“The biggest obstacle is realizing that I don’t have control over everything that happens. When I started I did because it was just me doing everything, but for any band it gets to the point where you have management, a legal team, a booking agency, a label and marketing people, all these different people that have to be on the same page at the same time,” explains Witzigreuter while noting that leaving Sire/Decaydance Records was a mutual and smooth process with no bad blood.

Now signed to Razor & Tie Records, Jordan released his third studio album, The Bad & The Better, an ode to accepting the bad with the good. “I think a lot of it was inspired by wanting to escape this weird pattern I was stuck in,” he says. “The overall concept behind the whole thing is taking the good with the bad and there’s two sides to everything, it’s all about how you perceive it.”

Although he may have got his start early on, Witzigreuter is nowhere near naive.

He’s spent the past few years honing his songwriting skills and exerting what seems to be a set of never-ending energy. With a humble attitude and a constant desire to continue growing, and evolving musically, Witzigreuter aims to always be different while remaining true to himself. “I never want to do the same thing twice,” says Witzigreuter.

THE READY SET|17

H O L L YWO O D E N D I N G Words by Courtney Rose Photos by Danyyil Nosovskiy

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Greeted by warm smiles and welcoming hugs I sat down with the guys of pop-rock band Hollywood Ending who immediately began complimenting me on my vibrant pink hair before I was quickly engaged by their story, one that was far from ordinary.

Since their start, Hollywood Ending has developed an interesting story unlike any ordinary boy band. In fact, when bandmates Tyler Wilson, Cameron Byrd and Dan Geraghty met Chris Bourne it was by no means an ordinary situation.

In 2011, Wilson, Byrd, and Geraghty joined forces from all across the Unites States, and even stretched as far as the United Kingdom where they recruited Bourne whom they discovered as a result of aimlessly hanging out on Chatroulette. The four instantly connected and the rest was history.

“I was in a situation where I finished college in the UK, and I was surfing on the beach in Cornwall. It was on the last day of my surf trip; I came inside and I had this offer on the table,” said Bourne.

A week later he found himself boarding a plane to the United States, leaving behind life as he knew it, taking the offer and joining the band.

Although the quartet decide to join forces and start a band they were without a name for several months and even entered Season 4 of Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing without an identity.

“We were already on the first competition as a band before we even had a band name, and then it just came to us,” explained Byrd.

“Sometimes names are aimed at a certain demographic, but I think Hollywood Ending could be aimed at anything.”

The quartet finished the competition in third place, but their journey was far from over. In fact, it was only the beginning of great things to come.

“We were only in the competition for a few months, it wasn’t a big part of our career but it did start the whole thing and it definitely put us out there,” said Wilson. “It kicked us out into the world on a pretty decent platform, a fanbase

that we could build off of.”

Since Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing, the band has ventured off on their own and have been quite successful in doing so. Together they began building a solid grassroots fanbase having joined multiple tours as a supporting act on tour with R5, Austin Mahone and The Janoskians among others. As the momentum continued, Hollywood Ending kicked off their first independent headlining tour having sold out shows across the U.S. and Canada.

Influenced by a variety of musical acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fall Out Boy, Weezer, Korn, Linkin Park, Blink 182, Sum 41 and even EDM, the band has taken creative control by combining their styles to produce their EPs Always 18 and Anywhere.

While both EPs are distinctively different in terms of sound, the production process for both EPs was equally as different.

“The difference between Always 18 and Anywhere is that we literally did everything on Anywhere” said Wilson. “The marketing, the recording, the producing; everything was completely done by us. No one else had any input. We had a lot of input for Always 18, which isn’t a bad thing, but this EP was more organic,” he added.

Not only did the band experience a change in sound between both EPs as they naturally evolved and took a definite hands-on approach to their work, but they also faced personal obstacles along the way.

As a result, a change in the band can be attributed to their evolution between the two EPs when Bourne parted ways with the rest of Hollywood Ending between records for personal reasons; a separation that didn’t last long.

“It was funny because I remember Chris was still out of the band and we we’re just Skyping, we would skype him like everyday. We were together for three months in my basement producing everything ourselves on my computer and recording,” explained Byrd. “He’d send us a song in voicemail or email, and we’d be like “Oh, wow.

This sounds sick, we should change

this, but we should record it’ and he’d be like ‘Alright,’ and so we recorded it. Then he flew out a few weeks later and we just recorded the whole thing, just us.”

“I was at home writing songs and these guys were writing songs in America. We made a decision for me to come back and we basically had no management by that point.

We completely did it all independently,” added Bourne.

Their dedication and passion for music has garnered the band much success with their independent works. They began breaking charts, hitting No. 11 on iTunes Pop chart with their EP, Always 18 in addition to landing a spot on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart.

Aside from producing music independently, Hollywood Ending has spent the better part of their career out on the road on independent cross-country tours as well as a supporting act on tour with Austin Mahone, R5, The Janoskians among others; building a solid grassroots fanbase along the way and selling out shows across the U.S., Canada and Europe.

For Byrd, Wilson, Geraghty and Bourne touring since the age of sixteen and functioning as a selfrun band has taught them a lot and their hands-on approach to music has given them ultimate creative control to be the kind of musicians they have always strived to be.

“We made a lot of mistakes, but we learned a lot from them. We learned how things were; we had no idea what we were doing or how the industry worked. We just wanted to be musicians,” said Byrd.

Having spent the most of this year out on the road touring cross-country, the band is ending the year on the a good note as they are currently gearing up for the release of their new EP, Punk A$$ Kids set to release on Nov. 27.

According to the guys, the new record is a more accurate representation of their artistry with a more mature sound and concrete roadmap of the direction they have been trying to follow and the image they have been trying to carve out as a band.

HOLLYWOOD ENDING|21

ALBUM V

RATING 5/5

By Nikole Vendl enticing track about ending a relationship that seems to have already ended to the mid-tempo dance track, “It Was Always You,” which reflects on the realization that true love has been in front of you the whole time, what proves to be at the core of every song is raw, honest emotion.

In what is probably their best work to The band also stays true to their West date, Maroon 5 shines in every aspect of Coast roots with the love song and ode their latest studio album, V. to their home state, “Leaving CaliforThe album kicks off with the hit lead nia,” as well as “My Heart Is Open,” a singles, “Maps” and “Animals” and only beautiful, romantic duet in which lead gets better as it progresses. From the singer, Adam Levine is joined by Orange passionate ballad, “Unkiss Me,” an County native, Gwen Stefani.

SONG Centuries

Other notable tracks include the Prince-esque, “Sugar” and equally groove-based “Feelings,” as well as “Shoot Love” from the deluxe edition of the album.

Overall, V can only be described as an infectiously well-written collection of pop/rock perfection you just can’t help but sing along to.

RATING 4.5/5

By Nikole Vendl

Fall Out Boy’s new song, “Centuries” is nothing short of an anthem of empowerment as the band continues on their successful reunion.

Lead singer, Patrick Stump became inspired while on their recent Monument Tour with Paramore to create a new message of strength to resonate with their millions of fans. Written by the entire band, alongside Justin Tranter, Michael Fonseca, and Raja Kumari, the song rings out with defining lyrics like, “You will remember me for Centuries.”

The drum-heavy instrumental beat is reminiscent of a war-like battlecry, adding even more power and passion behind

SONG All About That Bass

the lyrics.

To top it off, the track also features guest vocals from LOLO, who is currently signed to bassist, Pete Wentz’s DCD2 Records, in which she samples “Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega.

With its anthemic, memorable qualities, “Centuries” could not have been a more perfect choice as the first single off of Fall Out Boy’s yet to be titled sixth studio album, which is expected to be released in early 2015.

RATING 4.5/5

By Adrianna Velazquez

There’s something ridiculously catchy about Meghan Trainor’s breakthrough single, “All About That Bass” whether it’s 22|VERITY MAGAZINE

the instantly poppy hand-clapping introduction that immediately starts off with Trainor lamenting the chorus or the head-bobbing beat that is sure to get stuck in your head.

A bold track about female empowerment, Trainor encourages women of all shapes and sizes to embrace their natural beauty, insisting that they are all beautiful “from the bottom to the top.” Trainor openly shares her view on body image

by making it clear that she won’t be a “stick figure silicone Barbie doll” type and any men looking for that better keep it moving.

The bubbly track contains influences from multiple genres with hints of rock, soul and country mixed within a vibrant pop blend. Trainor’s vocals are smooth and crisp and she’s certainly all about the music which she allows it to speak for itself.

ALBUM Versus

RATING 5/5

By Aubree Stamper

After losing another vocalist and there being no hope of finding a new one, in 2012 Emarosa decided to start completely over and search for a fresh face with a strong voice. Eventually Ex-Squid the Whale vocalist Bradley Walden acquired the job but had huge shoes to fill when he stepped up as the new frontman of the post-hardcore band. Just as Jonny Craig had problems when stepping into Chris Roetter’s shoes as vocalist of the band back in 2007, Walden faced the same dilemma.

With a voice so well-known and unique as Craig’s, how in the world could

Walden step in and bring Emarosa back onto the scene, please old fans, and live up to the expectations? Well he did just that and more. On Sept. 9 Emarosa released the album Versus through Rise Records and it accumulated the biggest first-day and first-week sales of the band’s history. Rightly so, the album truly showcases the return of Emarosa as a collective unit. Versus is old Emarosa tenfold.

Walden brings not only alluring, killer vocals to the band, but beautiful lyrics and a positive mindset. The album opens with the singles “People Like Me, We Don’t Just Play” and “American Déjà Vu;” two soulful tracks heavy with power and emotion.

Skip to track four, “I’ll Just Wait” and you’ll find a beautiful slower-paced ballad. The track “A Hundred Crowns” gives off a R&B vibe while still remaining

ALBUM X

alternative. The very first single released from the album, “Mad,” won over fans across the world and opened up the doors for Emarosa, introducing Walden’s dynamic yet smooth vocals and the band’s new energy. That energy from their music transfers into their live shows with Walden truly connecting to the fans and keeping the crowd on their toes with lively performances.

Overall, the album is full of passion and soul brought to the table by the addition of Walden and the rest of the band’s rebirth after three long years of nothing but downfalls. Versus is not limited to the post-hardcore genre, but breaks out and incorporates many different sounds from blues to soul to R&B, evolving into Emarosa’s most mature and lyrically-sound album yet. Versus brings that much needed vitality and stability back to Emarosa, and they’re here to stay.

RATING 3.5/5

By Adrianna Velazquez I’m moving on/I ain’t going back no more,” an attempt by Brown to express his real life struggles through tracks about love-gone-wrong.

The first album released since Brown’s ongoing legal troubles is unimaginative, lacking depth and personality. The lack of personality makes listeners feel distant and unaware of who Brown is in songs about life struggles where Brown seems Chris Brown’s sixth studio album, X, to be missing. a darker album that consists of Brown professing his life struggles and lament- With tracks like the album’s debut single, ing about women screwing him over is “Loyal,” featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga one listeners are likely to quickly forget. which lingered in the Top 10 of the pop The album, produced by Diplo, features and R&B charts it’s clear that the album’s track list features a variety of different a track list of songs that bounce between Brown’s hip-hop tactics and R&B producers. Additionally, the album grooves, starting off relatively slow only features overwhelming collaborations that seem to be the only thing catching to be amped by uptempo dance and anyone’s attention, putting focus on colself-concerning lyrics.

Throughout the album, Brown plays the laborations rather than Brown himself. victim with lyrics like, “I swear to God/ A perfect example lies in the track,

“Autumn Leaves” that features Kendrick Lamar who steals the spotlight along with other features from the likes of Usher, Trey Songz and R. Kelly who dominate the first half of the album.

Brandy lends her distinctive vocals on “Do Better,” while Lil Wayne and Tyga take the crown for their features on the album’s rather successful single, “Loyal,” that unfortunately for Brown, is far more successful than the album in its entirety.

Despite the lacking personality throughout the album, Brown’s skill is proven by his impressive vocal range, though in an era where fans take pride in being able to personally connect with their favorite artists, his failure to define his persona throughout the album put distance between himself and the fans, making it an easy-to-forget album that fans will soon forget even existed.

REVIEWS|23

Taking Back Sunday Chill on the Hill Sterling Heights, MI

Photo by Brian Puninske

Bastille

Masonic Temple Detroit, MI Photo by Amber Ainsworth

Charli XCX

Saint Andrew’s Hall Detroit, MI Photo by Adrianna Velazquez

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