Verity Mag by Verity Mag

VERITY Summer Issue 2013

FEATURING Sammy Adams, T.Mills & Kev.D

Interview with

Late Nite Reading

Versâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

talks YouTube fame, Jake Miller and future projects

Kris Allen

Out Alive Tour

All rights reserved. No material in this issue may be reprinted without the written permission of the publisher. Entire contents copyright ÂŠ 2013. Certain photographs used in this publication are used by license or permission from the owner thereof or are otherwise publicly available unless stated otherwise. This publication is not endorsed by any person or entity appearing herein. Any product names, logos, brands or other trademarks featured or referred to in the publication are the property of their respective trademark owners.

THE STAFF Editor-in-Chief Adrianna Velazquez Content Manager Emily Kirchner Photographer Adrianna Velazquez Writers Candace Rose, Courtney Rose Marketing Representative Talia Farias Contact veritymag@gmail.com

A LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER Dear Readers, I would first and foremost like to thank you for picking up a copy of the first issue of Verity Mag. We are aimed at spreading love within the music industry through exclusive coverage. Our goal is to promote both upcoming and well-known artists while providing you with top stories and special coverage featuring your favorite artists. A special thanks to: all the tour managers, publicists, record labels, featured artists and most of all our supporters. This wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be possible without you. Sincerely, Adrianna Velazquez

IN THIS ISSUE SUMMER 2013

COVER STORIES 8

Sammy Adams

T.Mills

Up-close and personal with Youtube Sensation Vers’

Interview with Late Nite Reading

PROFILES Kev.D

Round 2 Crew

It’s Mood

Brodi Nicholas

+PLUS Welcome to Verity

Now Trending

A&L #1 Radio Show

Behind the Scenes

The Jonas Brothers

Reviews

Exclusive Concert Photos

Kid Rock’s BEATDOWN...

on hard economic times and ticket scaplers

GIVEAWAY

With hard economic times hitting it’s often we must make sacrifices and reevaluate our priorities. By doing so we miss out on attending our favorite sporting events with friends or bypass a night of rocking out with our favorite musicians. Legendary icon Kid Rock is doing the unimaginable. Instead of tickets being priced at the usual $45-$100 per ticket, Kid Rock struck a deal with LiveNation and has set his ticket prices for just $20 across the board. With tickets being more affordable ticket sales have spiked and venues are selling out fast. The Detroit native has 6 sold out shows in his home state alone. In addition to the low ticket prices, Kid Rock has also managed to cut beer prices to $4 each and will provide free coffee at the shows. The cheap tickets and bargain-for-your-buck beer prices have everyone trying to find lingering tickets to the party. Why are tickets so cheap? Not only does Kid Rock believe that all of his fans should be able to have a night out without breaking the bank but he also worked out this deal with LiveNation in an attempt to put ticket scalpers out of business.

dy away a tren We’re giving s t-shirt! Brodi Nichola r your y July 19th fo b r te n e to Be sure in! chance to w

HOW TO ENTER 1. Follow @brodinicholas on Twitter. 2. Follow @VerityMag on Twitter. 3. Tweet us your favorite feature in this issue using the hashtag #VMGiveaway Contest ends 7/19/13

TRENDING Amanda Bynes ? y z a r C

Maybe not so much... Is Amanda Bynes crazy? Nah, she’s probably just doing it for the attention --or at least that’s a possibility. What’s funny is people are eating all of this up like they haven’t had anything to eat in days. Word on the street has it that Amanda is a Mike DeVoe, better known as Yik has skills that make him an schitzophrenic and on a bunch of drugs, artist to watch. but HELLO! She’s allergic to drugs, she His love for music started when he was just a 6th grader having even confirmed it herself. I mean, asking a rap battles with his friends. While his friends took it as a joke, Yik rapper (Drake) to destroy your lady parts took it a little more seriously and put effort into every battle. via Twitter is totally sane too, right? She’s With a strong Yik Nation to support him, it’ll be interesting to obviously keeping everyone’s eyes glued to see where he ends up in the next few years as he takes what started her every move. You’d think she’d have her off as a joke and continues to work own TV show by now. Oh wait, she already has. Amanda, please! hard to turn it into a career.

Young Independent Kid on the

Download his current EP “Cup of Coffee and a Microphone” from SoundCloud.

Photo by Adrianna Velazquez

SAMMY

A D A M S

When you’re sitting in class you usually catch yourself contemplating how hungry you are or how much you wish you could go back to sleep. As the day drags on and your pile of homework begins to grow you can’t help but contemplate how much you hate school. That’s exactly what Sammy Adams was contemplating as he sat in a college lecture hall only to head back to his dorm to write “I Hate College,” a spunky remix of Asher Roth’s “I Love College.” Little did he know that this audacious remix would quickly become his first single that would go viral after being uploaded to his friend’s blog. Sammy Adams (Samuel Wisner) was born into a musical world. He is the son of Chuck Wisner and Kata Hall. His father played the drums in a rock band while his mother sang backup vocals. It didn’t take long before Sammy found the root of his musical talent when he started playing the piano at age seven. By age 11 he learned to improvise which led to his profound love for producing music. The passion he developed for music exploded when he discovered his love and appreciation for Techno. While attending Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut his passion for music really started to develop. Whether it was creating beats to listen to before a soccer game or making songs in his dorm whenever he could, Sammy Adams became dedicated. During his soccer career at Trinity College he was selected for the All-NESCAC team in 2008 after tailing 11 goals and 11 assists opening all 16 games for the Bantams. As the year continued, Sammy became more known on campus for his music opposed to his role as team captain for the Trinity College soccer team. His “I Hate College” remix immediately became an internet buzz reaching people all over the east coast. Sammy began booking shows at local colleges and

effortlessly built a college fan base that continued to grow after each performance. The positive feedback he received from his fellow classmates and other college students he met along the way strongly encouraged his music career. Following his viral remix, Sammy Adams set out to release his first album “Boston’s Boy,” an album that blasted its way to the top of the iTunes charts on the day it was released, selling nearly 8,000 copies in its first week. As his fan base continued to grow, Sammy Adams began performing at bigger festivals and venues. He has performed at festivals such as Lollapalooza and Bamboozle as well as opening up for artists such as LMFAO, Kid Cudi, Nicki Minaj and Drake. He has performed 180 headlining shows, selling out at over 100 venues including Terminal 5. This past April, Sammy toured with special guest T.Mills, a Riverside, California based rapper with a similar style of music. Together they traveled across the United States on the “All Night Longer Tour” with performances that left lasting impressions among fans along the way. It was Sammy’s creative remix, “I Hate College” that led him to the fame he holds today. His big “Blow Up” is what got him signed to RCA Records and has continued to guide him on a successful and unimaginable journey. Sammy Adams has achieved a lot in just a few short years of his career, but this is only the beginning. With continued hard work and devotion he will continue to grow and influence the music world with his profound style and there is nothing that can be done to stop him from rising to the top. By Courtney Rose

COVER STORY 09

3, 2, 1...You’re On! This is what Alena, Londeau and their assistants hear every Sunday at 5 p.m. right before they’re on the air. Alena and Londeau, currently on air personalities for Detroit’s RawRadioX first met at another radio station where they became good friends and decided it would be fun to have their own radio show. They are now one of sixteen radio shows at the RawRadioX studios in downtown Detroit. In just a few short weeks of being on the air they’ve quickly moved up and dominated the number one spot in internet radio in Detroit captivating listeners all over the world including Japan, Yemen and Italy. The duo usually start the show off with recapping their week since the last show aired and then go into topics they have selected for the week.They have three sets of two songs playing every half hour featuring music of all different genres. They’ve played the latest music, like remixes of the hottest pop songs, and they’ve played old hits, like songs that Trick-Trick forgot he even made. If you aren’t listening to them on the air you can interact with their assistants who live tweet and post on Facebook during the show. The duo has had as much fun in the process of starting-up their independent radio show as they have had on the air.

“Since meeting Londeau and collaborating with RawRadioX, my life has been a roller coaster of creativity and joy,” says Alena. “We’ve met many local Detroit artists and a few international artists who originated from Detroit. We’ve had fun, laughed a lot and argued all in the name of fun. We’ve had the opportunity to meet new A&L supporters via Facebook and Twitter, contributed to charities, been to concerts and met the artists, talked about racy topics and learned the ins and outs of having a radio show while perfecting our craft. I have so much gratitude for Lori Hildebrant (Whitedogg Detroit) and Rikki Roxx for creating a platform that reaches people all over the world.” The duo couldn’t succeed without their support system. “Without our A&L assistants we would be lost. They run the show,” praises Alena. “Most of all, I have complete and utter respect for my partner, Mike Londeau, who diligently works so hard to make Alena and Londeau the best it can be. He is my number one, just like Alena and Londeau is to the world. I’m truly humble and thankful.” By Candace Rose

Behind the Scenes

With Chris Rhatigan

Music has influenced our everyday lifestyles for decades. It has become a form of self-expression sown into the fabric of our livelihoods. Most people don’t take the time to look behind the scenes of an artist’s career. Instead they tend to focus on what is put before them. Often times we don’t realize there is more than what meets the eye. While many of us have artists that we admire, it should not go unnoticed that there are others involved behind the scenes that make the magic unfold. There’s one thing that Jake Miller, A$AP Rocky and Cory Gunz have in common: having worked with Chris Rhatigan, a videographer from Pennsylvania. For Chris, having a profound love for videography he began recording footage of him and his friends doing pranks. His favorite part has always been spending time editing the footage afterwards. While then it was just a hobby, now being twenty-one he takes it a lot more serious, learning the tricks and trades of the business along the way. Rhatigan’s hard work and dedication is taking his career on an upward spiral. He is currently the official videographer for Hi-Rez the Rapper, an artist he has supported and watched grow since the beginning. Having achieved so much already, Chris has nothing short of a promising future ahead. With plans of moving to Orlando this August to perfect his craft at a private film school, there is no telling where his talent will take him. You may just catch one of Chris’ productions featured on MTV or MTV Jams someday; a goal that Rhatigan has set for himself.

By Courtney Rose

Photos by Adrianna Velazquez

T.MILLS From being 5 years old and getting his first guitar to touring all over the country, Travis Mills, stage name T.Mills has set a sure career for himself. His love and appreciation for music has been evident since his days as a child. At age 5 he wrote songs which he performed at his grandma’s wedding. At age 13 he joined his first band and has been in a number of different bands ever since. It wasn’t until 2004 when he joined Riverside, California pop-punk band Rome as the lead vocalist that he began to consider music as a possible career. Joining Rome early on in his career gave him a taste of what the job entailed as they embarked on small tours throughout California. With all of his bandmates being at least four years older he was at a serious advantage opposed to other young artists with similar aspirations. Performing alongside these more experienced musicians left him with lessons and a strong stage presence he would be able to apply later on in his career. His journey with Rome ended just two years later in 2006 when the band parted ways. After leaving Rome, Travis Mills decided to pursue a career as an independent artist. His solo journey started off with a major change in tune as he left behind the pop-punk genre. Being in the pop-punk scene for two years he realized he wanted to be himself and returned to his days as a seven year old when rap and hip-hop were his genres of choice. Travis’ admiration

for legendary icons Tupac and Biggie as well as his distinct appreciation for these two genres sparked his rap career as an independent artist. In 2009, Travis Mills was picked up to perform for the entirity of Vans Warped Tour where he played his first show as an independent artist in Pomona, California. Being invited to perform on Vans Warped Tour is a dream for many aspiring musicians and it certainly was not something that came at ease for the talented artist. While on tour Travis sold merchandise just to pay for a bus ticket so that he could live out his dream. Traveling across the country without a manager gave him the right tools and ‘do-it-yourself ’ mentality needed to be a successful independent artist. Since then, the now twenty-four year old triple threat from Riverside, California has released one album, two EPs, two mixtapes and six singles over the last four years and recently toured with Sammy Adams this past April. Travis Mills is an artist whose work cannot be categorized under one genre. He’s what many would call this generation’s hybrid artist. With a variety of music ranging from rap to hip-hop and pop to electric, his work has made a name for itself while keeping fans intrigued. His energetic stage presence and songwriting skills will enable his career to thrive for years to come. By Candace Rose & Adrianna Velazquez

COVER STORY 15

After a long awaited three-year hiatus, the brothers are back before the storm to set the party off. The Jonas Brothers announced on April 2nd that they will be touring in North America this summer. Earlier this year they released their newest single “Pom Poms,” a song that was produced by one of their own and the youngest of the group, Nick Jonas. The pop trio came together after Nick began pursing music as a solo act when he was seven years old. They collectively signed to Columbia Records as the Jonas Brothers where they would open up for multiple artists including Jump5, Jesse McCartney, The Click Five as well as The Backstreet Boys. Signing with Hollywood Records in 2007 and starring in their own hit TV series “Jonas,” created an immediate buzz. The series focused on the three as they tried to live ordinary lives while pursuing their musical endeavors. It didn’t take long for the Jonas Brothers to quickly become the new heartthrob boy band every teenage girl went crazy about. Over the course of their career their sound has

matured as they have grown into adults and pursued personal endeavors during their three-year split. A split that has undoutedly provided each one of them with experiences that will contribute to future albums as they reunite. During their hiatus the Jonas Brothers toured internationally visiting fans in Asia, Russia, South America and the Philippines just to name a few. They also purusued their independent endeavors as well. Nick Jonas formed his own blues band as a side project called “Nick Jonas and the Administration” and even went on tour. Joe Jonas joined American Idol as a guest judge during season ten while Kevin Jonas was living the married life after wedding Danielle Deleasa on December 19th, 2009. The brothers also parted with their longtime label, Hollywood Records in 2012 to join Einstein Records. The Jonas Brothers’ will hit the road for their 2013 tour scheduled to kick-off in Orlando, Florida on July 3rd and wrap up in St. Paul, Minnesota on October 8th. By Candace Rose

Weston, Florida native Jake Miller is currently the hottest young talent to hit the industry. This past January the multi-talented musician cut a record deal with eOne Music, a division of Entertainment One based in Port Washington, New York. Jake Miller’s music career became his number one priority when he dropped out of the University of Miami to dedicate his time to making music, a hobby he’s had for as long as he can remember. His career sparked when he began to receive attention via YouTube causing his fan base to grow tremendously. In 2011, Jake participated in the 18

Samsung & T-Mobile Kickin’ It With the Band Competition and finished as the grand prize winner. He was awarded $35,000 to fuel his musical aspirations. Despite his achievements such as performing along side artists like Flo Rida, Asher Roth and Austin Mahone as well as being featured on MTV.com, Jake Miller’s record deal with eOne Music is by far his biggest achievement yet. Within the first few weeks of his nationwide The Miller High Life Tour he has sold out shows across the country, starting out in venues with a 200 persons capacity to venues with 1,000-2,000 persons capacity.

This past April Jake released a new EP “The Road Less Traveled” which ranked as the #1 album on iTunes surpassing popular artists such as Lil Wayne prior to being released to the public. These experiences are just the beginning to the road to success for the multi-talented musician hailing from Weston, Florida. With what appears to be the strongest Millertary in the country it is evident that Jake Miller is the strongest and hottest new artist to hit the airwaves with an army of fans to support him along the way.

By Adrianna Velazquez

A “Miller High Life” Experience Meet Abbey Crawford, a 17 year old from Michigan whose dreams came true when her idol, Jake Miller visited The Crofoot in Pontiac, MI on May 10th.

A Letter From Abbey Dear Jake, Never in a million years would I have ever expected that you would ever notice me, let alone take me on stage with you. Being up there on that stage with you the only thing that was on my mind was, “AM I REALLY ON STAGE WITH JAKE MILLER?!” Standing there next to you made me the happiest girl in the world and it made me the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. A couple hours before the concert we had a conversation by your tour bus about the camouflage Detroit hat I got you, but I never thought I’d be up there on that stage. For a month I had “Beast Mode” on repeat trying to learn the lyrics. Just six days before the concert I finally memorized it and I knew I had to do something else to get noticed, so I made a sign. The moment you asked, “Who made me this sign?” I had this feeling I couldn’t explain, but I loved it. Being there with you was the best day of my life and I promise you I will never forget it. You taking me on stage means so much to me and I am so thankful for every minute of it. You’re amazing, Jake. I love you. Love, Abbey (Your “Beast Mode Girl”) 19

VERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; talks YouTube fame, Jake Miller and future projects. Article by Adrianna Velazquez

he greatest thing about living in America is your freedom to be what you want, do what you enjoy and say what you feel. We spend our lives in hopes of finding our purpose and spend our time doing whatever it takes to make our dreams come true. Throughout our journey we meet a diverse ray of people. We meet individuals from different ethnic backgrounds, different regions and even different social classes. Despite the adversity that sometimes arises from being raised by a single parent, Jordan Sierra has accomplishments that any mother would be proud of. Born November 8th, 1993 the Cuban American found his love for music at just 11 years old and began practicing recording at the age of 14. Better known for his YouTube fame as Vers’ after uploading a homemade video of himself rapping while imitating artists such as Drake, Lil’ Wayne, Eminem and Ludacris he quickly found himself in the limelight of becoming an internet sensation. He even gained the attention of Perez Hilton who tweeted about the young talent saying, “This kid is dope.” In addtion to his YouTube fame, Vers’ freestyles have been featured on WorldStarHipHop.com. It wasn’t until his homemade YouTube video gained over 1.5 million views that his career began to take off on a more professional level. Vers’ has since released two mixtapes, “Who Is Vers?” which released in 2011 and “Fitted Cap and Some Cargos” which released in 2012. While it’s been a few months since his fans have heard anything new, there is definitely some new material in the works that possesses a more urban style according to the hip-hop artist. “I’m thankful for the fans that have stood by 22

me. It’s been awhile since I’ve released anything new but I’ve been working on my first EP that incorporates a lot of my old style with a new twist. I also have some videos in the works,” assures Vers’. Vers’ has also performed alongside e-One Music recording artist and longtime friend Jake Miller. Vers’ joined Jake Miller on The Miller High Life Tour for dates scheduled throughout their home state of Florida. Vers’ recalls meeting Jake and their friendship that sparked immediately, “I came across Jake on Twitter and other social networking websites we just started talking. We eventually decided to meet up and we clicked right away. We hit the studio, recorded a couple songs and became good friends and the fans love it. Jake’s a cool guy and we learned a lot from each other.” Inspired by artists such as Nas and Busta Rhymes Vers’ is most known for his ability to mentally visualize strong lyrical concepts before they flow from his mouth much like his idols. Vers’ possesses versatility in his ability to not only produce strong lyrical flows but also in his ability to sing, inspired by Jake Miller and Justin Bieber these skills enable him to capture a diverse audience. Although Vers’ has raw talent that will undoubtedly lead him to stardom music remains his second priority. Currently attending a local college pursuing a business degree Vers’ stresses the importanace of a good education, “I’m pursuing music but right now it’s just a dream, my education comes first.” While the nineteen year old has many accomplishments to account for he has faced obstacles along the way. The hardest obstacle he’s had to overcome since the start of his career has been his teenage know-it-all mentality. “When I first started off I was stubborn and being a teenager had a lot to do with it. I liked

to think that I knew everything. I never wanted to listen to my peers or take advice from anyone but I realized that jumping around from genre to genre looked unstable from a business perspective. I started listening to what people were telling me and it’s helped me out a lot,” reflects Vers’. Not only has he matured on a personal level but Vers’ music possesses a strong change in maturity since his debut in the music scene. His music gives everyone hope and shows them that everyone has a fighting chance to change and turn their life around if they really want to. While many artists may claim that they don’t have a favorite song they’ve written or produced Vers’ is quick to point out his favorite song thus far. “Beautiful,” a song that tells the story of a single mother raising a child on her own and doing everything in her power to provide her child with opportunities she never had reflects the story of his very own childhood being raised by a single mother. This is an experience that has contributed to his strong and determined character. Its powerful lyrics leave you with a strong message to never leave someone, love unconditionally and always respect one another. Though he has many accomplishments that could be considered his biggest achievements this far in his career Vers’ has a differnet take on his biggest achivement, “A lot of artists would say their first single or first time on stage was their biggest achievement but for me it’s meeting the right people to work with. You can have the best music in the world but not

the right people around to work with to get your music heard. I’ve been fortunate to have a good team to work with for the past three years from my manager, to engineers and videographers. A good team is key,” expresses Vers’. Surprised that his video of imitating some of his favorite artists made him an overnight sensation and jump started a career for himself, Vers’ remains dedicated, motivated, and inspired to follow his dreams. On his quest to become an iconic hip-hop artist there is one message he hopes to portray to other aspiring musicians. “Be yourself. Don’t change who you are or what you do and always listen to your peers. Don’t ever stop, always keep working hard. Always remember that when you sleep there’s a chance for someone else to go up and take your place,” advises Vers’. The Miami native remains an artist to watch as he continues putting his versatile skills to the test as he continues pursuing a music career. While Vers’ remains unsigned, he’s dedicated to recording and sharing his raw talent with the world one track at a time. Being raised by a single mother who provided him with everything he needed and more, Vers’ is dedicated to making a name for himself to make his mother proud. His humble upbringing and unique set of skills are two attributes that will undoubtedly take his career to a whole new level one step at a time.

“When you sleep there’s a chance for someone else to go up and take your place.”

COVER STORY 23

L A T E

N I T E

READING With their new EP that was released this past April, Late Nite Reading is making their way to stardom. The guys talked with us about their formation, the new EP, the Bryan Stars Tour and their future endeavors.

Q: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk didn’t start getting serious about it until we added with us. Let’s start off with a little bit of background Drew and Clayton to the band. information of LNR. What are your names and what role do you play in the band? Q: What inspires you to continue your pursuit in the music industry being that it’s so competitive? A. Dalton Wixom on lead vocals, Brady Szuhaj on the bass, Drew Cottrell on the drums and Clayton Collons A: Growing up we watched our favorite bands start on lead guitar. small and later become a big deal. Seeing how much our fan base has grown and continues to grow really Q: What sparked the formation of LNR? makes us want to go out on that stage every night. A: Summer of 2009, the summer between 8th and 9th Q: What music artists have been inspirational and grade I (Brady) contacted Dalton and presented him influenced you to pursue your dreams? with the idea of starting a band. We both love music so we went with the idea. It was just for fun and we A: Definitely All Time Low, Blink 182, a lot of pop/ 24

indie bands and all Warped Tour performers. There are bands from every genre that inspire us, people wouldn’t think so because we’re a pop-punk band but it’s probably our least favorite genre to listen to just because it’s what we play all the time. Q: Your new EP “Walls” released April 26th. How does this EP differ from “Dedicated and Deadlines” in terms of sound, vocals and composition? A: It’s way better. Before there were only about 4-5 songs we played at our shows. We never really changed our instrumental tone. We feel that this EP is more mature and puts us on a level where we contend with everyone else. We focused a lot more on the actual composition of our musc from instrumentals to vocals. Lyrically, it’s our favorite EP so far. Q: What have been some of the biggest milestones in your career so far? A: The Bryan Stars Tour is one of them for sure. It’s a tough question because milestones are always changing. What you think may have been a huge milestone two months ago is nothing compared to what you’re going through and experiencing now. We feel like everyday is a milestone, everyday we’re growing and learning. Q: LNR was scheduled to open for The Summer Set at their show at The Rave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 26th. What was it like opening for a band that’s grown so much so fast? A: It was the biggest show we’ve played so far. It was the same day our new EP “Walls” was released. It was just really awesome to open for The Summer Set and a great way to bring in the new EP. Meeting Brian Dales was really cool too. Q: If LNR could tour with anyone who would it be? A: Wow, that’s a really tough question. There’s so many bands we’d love to tour and play with. All Time Low for sure, Good Match, The Ready Set, 21 Piolts and The All American Rejects just to name a few. Q: What sets LNR apart from other artists?

A: We’re really open. As bad as it may sound we still have that “high school” mentality. We don’t have a huge ego like a lot of other artists, we’re very humble and appreciate everything we have, every opportunity we’re given. We really appreciate our fans and we do a good job showing it; we’re always hanging out with the fans before and after shows. For me (Dalton), I’m really interested in their stories. I always think about what it is they’re going through, where they’re from, why they’re here and just who they are. I always want to know more about our fans and reach out to them in any way we can. Q: What are short term and long term goals of LNR? A: Short term goals are to sell as many EPs as we can and tour more. Long term goals would be to play on Warped Tour and make a living doing what we love. All the money we make in sales from our EPs and tickets to our shows go right back to the band and gets invested again and again. We don’t make a living off of what we do. We have a clothing line and it’s pretty much what we live off of. All the money we make from our clothing line pays for our food and other necessities while we’re on the road. Ultimately, our biggest goal is to be signed to a major record label someday. Q: This past spring LNR spent two months on the Bryan Stars Tour. What did you like most about this tour? A: It has been the most interesting tour. It was very cultural, one of the bands was from Sweden and another was from Australia. It was really cool getting to learn about their cultures. Everyone on the tour was awesome, it’s like we were a big family. It was great touring with Bryan Stars too, he’s the most humble guy we know. Q: If there was one message you could send to your fans what would it be? A: Our message would be how much we appreciate them and love them. As cliché as it may sound we truly wouldn’t be anything without them, they’re the reason our dreams have come true. Our fans are the best people in the world.

Reviews

Album Review songs by putting the song titles in hashtags. If the hashtag became a Demi trending topic the song was then by Demi Lovato unlocked and made available for Review by Candace Rose the public on Vevo. Demi collaborated with Cher Lloyd Demi Lovato opened up to fans in “Really Don’t Care,” a new song with the release of her fourth stuido off the album about a boy that blew album which debuted at number any chance he ever had with the 3 on Billboard’s Top 200 this past now twenty-one year old. May. One song that really stands out Her latest single, “Heart Attack,” among others is “Nightingale.” It’s a from the self-titled album,”Demi,” song that unleashes a time of pain. was a hit on Billboard’s Top 100 and Demi explained that “Nightingale” took the twelfth spot. reflects a tragedy she experienced The ex-Disney star used social when her dear friend passed away media to debut the new album. She when they were just thirteen. had her Twitter followers unlock Demi’s new self-titled album is 26

unique in the way that it invites you to see a more personal side of her, unraveling some of her darkest moments. It not only gives you a firsthand look into her personal life during hard times, but it also shows what a strong and independent woman she has become. While many artists try to connect with their fans it’s safe to say that Demi Lovato has done just that. Throughout her career she has connected with her fans on a personal level, leaving them with hope of a better tomorrow in their moments of weakness.

Song Review

Sweet Nothing by Calvin Harris Ft. Florence Review by Candace Rose

For some, Florence Welch will always be associated with her self-titled band, Florence & The Machine. For others, the electronic beat created by Calvin Harris combined with the powerful vocals of Welch is what caught people’s attention and was the first they’ve ever heard of the infamous Florence Welch; either way, Sweet Nothing, a song featuring the two artists, has been filling the airwaves. Sweet Nothing’s meaningful lyrics and groovy beat are irresistible to say the very least. Fans of Welch were excited to see

Anarbor’s latest album, “Burnout,” takes listeners in some surprising directions, some completely outside of the band’s comfort zone. Faithful fans of the rock band were probably expecting an album full of hard guitar riffs and the usual songs about drinking, smoking and being reckless, but were probably surprised by the uncharacteristically poppy twists and turns the album takes. Unexpected songs like “Rock to My Roll” and “Take My Pain Away” have a slower, more mellow feel, ditching the hard rock façade for ukuleles, acoustic interludes and slightly less cynical love lyrics, “hit me like a kick-drum, love me like we’re still young. We’re older but we’re still the same, baby, take my pain away,” for example. It would seem the band is attempting to do love songs with a rock-and-roll edge to break out and reach a slightly more commercial audience. A song sure to be a favorite among listeners, “18,” carries on the poppy flavor with its falsetto notes and catchy, considerably humorous lyrics, “18, crazy, I know what you want from me. So if you wanna piss off your parents, date me to scare them, them, show them you’re all grown

If long hair and tattoos are what attracts you, baby then you’re in luck,” making guy fans snicker and girl fans blush. Anarbor fans shouldn’t fear, however. The album is more than soft notes and still screams of the old band throughout. The album opens up with a strong, true-to-rock song “Every High Has a Comedown,” either a literal song about the after-effects of a rush or some clever metaphor for something more personal—hallmarks of an Anarbor song. In addition, the album includes a re-released, mastered track of “Whiskey in Hell,” a demo song the band released earlier in 2012, showing old fans that the band is still all about their rock and roll, I-don’tgive-a-sh*t attitude. Plus, fans who love their misfit, rebel rock anthems won’t be disappointed with their tracks “Freaks,” uniting the “freaks” of the world by pledging “right or wrong, we just belong. Only the freaks come out at night,” or “Damage I’ve Done,” an honest tune about growing up and fearing you’ve made some mistakes along the road, a theme that can universally be identified with. For first-time listeners or long-

her work with such a well-known and respected artist like Calvin Harris. It will be hard for any other artists to top such a strong and popular collaboration this year. Sweet Nothing will hopefully only be the first of many other collaborative efforts from the talented Calvin Harris and Florence Welch. After collaborating with Calvin Harris on a song that’s been flooding the airwaves it will be interesting to see Florence Welch get the spotlight attention that she undoubtedly deserves.

Album Review

Burnout by Anarbor Review by Emily Kirchner time fans who may be a little confused by the direction the new album takes, it would be best advised to give the album a second, or even third, chance. If you find yourself being underwhelmed through the first listen, try it a few more times. The more you listen to it, the more it sticks with you and the harder it is to get out of you head. The lesson to learn from the band’s step towards a commercial flair is that pop in small doses, even for a rock band, can pay off.

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PROFILES Introducing new and upcoming artists that possess unique styles as they make their way to your playlist.

KEV.D Hailing from the east coast, Kev.D has taken the music scene by a storm. While some critics have said he would never amount to anything it can’t be denied that he’s already accomplished more than enough to prove his talent. At only 22 years old Kev.D has been featured on MTV.com, iHeart Radio and even Pandora. His career sparked with his interest in freestyling. With the support of a few friends he invested in a $7 microphone and downloaded a free recording program which he would later use to record his first track. After uploading it to Youtube he began to gain momentum as he received positive feedback from people across the country, ultimately sparking an even higher motivation for him to take his career to the next level. He did so by starting off like many artists don’t. Opposed to just spending endless hours in a studio recording song after song, Kevin Donovan also dedicated his time to learning the ropes of the industry while discovering a genuine appreciation for all genres of music. Taking the time to educate himself on more than just songwriting and recording has caused Kev.D’s style to mature along the way. Both his style and vocal range have changed as he’s spent time producing music in search of his true identity as an artist. Despite the fact that he is currently pursuing a career as an upcoming rapper, rap and hip-hop aren’t his genres of choice when it comes to being a fan himself. Growing up on classic rock and metal, he’s always wanted to be influenced by genres he personally enjoys, allowing them to influence his songwriting process. Kev.D’s goal as a rapper has always been to connect with fans by expressing meaingful and relatable life experiences through his lyrical flow. A prime example of his strong lyrical talent can be heard in

“Closing Time,” a song he wrote that focuses on the negative effects of society’s judgemental perception of women. Apart from his talent, Kev.D has a character that’s hard to come across these days. His unique talent and humble soul are bound to change the world. He shows endless thanks to his fans and even turns to them for support in hard times, whether it’s personal obstacles or career-related. There is one thing that is evident, he never forgets where he comes from depsite reaching milestones on his journey to fame. Kev.D has overcome hatred by keeping his head high and his heart strong which has only granted him greater success. By Courtney Rose

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IT’S MOOD If he hadn’t become a musician, Mood would have stayed in Los Angeles to continue dancing or designing clothes. While his focus has always been on dancing, at just sixteen he was contacted by a manager on MySpace. Thinking it was a joke he repeatedly deleted message after message until one day he decided to see what it was all about. To his surprise it was a manager that came across his work and wanted to have him come audition for a pop group out of New York. It wasn’t long after his audition that

he learned he made the cut. As a recording artist, chroegrapher and professional hip-hop dancer this provided Mood with an opportunity to take his hard work and diverse set of skills and turn them into a career doing what he’s always been so passionate about. Inspired by fashion/design, life experiences as well as girls his writing process remains spontaneous. Mood has written songs all over the place, in his bedroom, in the studio and even on a plane home from a show about a girl he met while traveling. His spontanoues writing process and relaxed studio time often inspire him to create fun dance music. Since the start of his career he has played a number of shows including a sold-out show of 100,000 in Dublin, Ireland. Mood played at the Pop Explosion show in NYC

earlier this year and was then booked for the entirity of the tour performing alongside artists like Eben Franckweitz from American Idol and Raquel Castro from The Voice.The Pop Explosion tour will contiue this summer hitting cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Hollywood and more. Inspired by Nelly and his diverse accomplishments such as his cross-genre collaboration with country superstar Tim McGraw as well as starting a school, Mood also has aspirations of expanding his presence. Rather than focusing solely on music he has also pursued his passion for fashion by starting his own clothing line called True Prodigy. While Mood’s style continues to change to a more pop sound one thing remains certain, he has unbreakable raw talent and a rigorous lyrical flow.

ROUND 2 CREW Chase Martin along with Justin Brown and Kevin Flynn from Cincinnati, Ohio attended the same high school growing up and were brought together through their common love for music. The trio created what they call the Round 2 Crew and have been composing hasty vocals and profound lyrics ever since. This trio isn’t your typical boy band. Justin and Kevin spend their time writing catchy lyircs while 32

Mood recalls the most important lesson he’s learned since pursuing his music career, “I’ve learned that you can’t let other people’s opinions affect you. Often times we pass judgement without knowing anything about a person. We tend to have preconceived judgements. We look at people a certain way and there’s a certain image we think they portray when in reality that isn’t who they are.” His lesson is one that we can all learn from and one that will only open the doors to more opportunities while meeting people that just may someday become people you can’t live without. As he continues to embark on a journey learning along the way Mood hopes to leave his fans with one message, “Be yourself, don’t be shy to be you.”

Chase produces the soundtracks out of his in-home recording studio. Together they produce, write and manage their own music, a definite characteristic that sets them apart from many others. Two years ago they released their first song “Studio Life” on iTunes for the public to hear. It was the release of this track that jump started their career when people began to notice and appreciate their talent. Since the release of “Studio Life” they have dedicated their time to refining their sound as they discover who they are as artists. Inspired by artists Mike Posner and Mac Miller, Round 2 Crew follows the examples these artists have set by creating a unique sound that incorporates both the ingenious styles of these well-known artists as

Stay tuned with Mood by visiting: @ItsMood www.itsmood.com

well as the fluent lyrical prowess of their musical inspirations. Their dedication thus far has paid off as the group recently performed at OMG Fest in Dallas, Texas earlier this year. They have also been invited to perform at Pop Explosion in Boston this summer to share the stage with artists such as Peyton Sanders. In addition they will also be opening for ex-baseball player and rapper Mike Stud on June 24th. Like many other aspiring artists, Round 2 Crew is trying to set themselves apart from the crowd while making a name for themselves in the music industry. Their hard work has provided them with experiences early on in their career that will undoubtedly present this talented trio with

even more opportunities. It’s needless to say that their dreams are nothing less than tangible. Their talent, experiences and motivation will push them to new lengths. Together they create original ideas, expressing them through profound lyrics and amplifying them from a homemade recording studio for the world to hear. Be on the look out for Round 2 Crew as they continue to make their way to the top. It won’t be long before their songs hit the airwaves in cities near you. Stay tuned by visiting: @Round2Crew www.theround2crew.com PROFILES 33

B R O D I NICHOLAS Music has always been a passion for Brodi Nicholas, a twenty-two year old singer/songwriter from Sacramento, California. Growing up he participated in his school band. While in school he played both the violin and the trumpet. During his senior year he deviated away from his musical interests to focus on his favorite sports. After high school Brodi attended Sacramento State University as a business major. At the beginning of his sophomore year he moved to the sandy beaches of Orange County where he attended Irvine Valley College. Brodi’s musical career took off after writing a poem about an ex-girlfriend which later turned out to be his first single. “Overtime Lovin’” was produced by Dustin Woelk, a self-producer from the Sacramento area. After their production of “Overtime Lovin’” Brodi Nicholas gained a lot of support and local attention. He was featured on Good Day Sacramento in addition to receiving some airplay from local radio stations. It wasn’t long before he made appearances at local venues where he would perform live acoustic sets. Though his love for music was just a hobby at the time, it quickly became evident that music was his destiny. He left Irvine Valley Collge to make music his number one priority. Like all artists, Brodi has grown tremendously since his start in the music scene. At the start of his career he wasn’t too sure of who he was as a musician. Rap seemed to have been his nitch until he received some criticism for his lyrical content which contained vulgar language. “I really didn’t know why I used those kinds of words 34

to be honest. I think I just did it to be cool like every other rapper. Now that I think about it they didn’t really add anything to my music and people seen it as a flaw,” said Brodi. Since this realization his lyrical content has matured, becoming more meaningful and something fans can often relate to. His unique style incorporates a combination of rap, hip-hop and reggae and targets fans of all ages. Brodi’s usage and appreciation for live acoustics is apparent in his music, giving it a unique and lively sound that undoubtedly sets his style apart from many other artists in the industry. Despite the criticism he received for leaving college to pursue his musical endeavors he strongly reflects that if given a second chance he would do it all again. “Following my dreams was the best choice I’ve made. Instead of wondering what it would be like to follow my dreams I’m actually living them,” expressed Brodi. His goal as a musician is to spread positive vibes one person at a time through his work, sharing the message that today’s actions really affect tomorrow. “Follow your dreams with a purpose. If you want to change your life you have to do it yourself, nobody else will do it for you. Believe in yourself and make your dreams a reality,” he added. With an expanding fan base reaching as far as the east coast it is obvious that this is only the start of Brodi Nicholas’ career. His genuine character, good intentions, undying motivation and dedicated fans are the reason his dreams will continue to thrive. By Adrianna Velazquez

Fill in the Blank... I wish I were better at...surfing.

I love to...meet new people.

One time I...wrote a poem that became my first single.

I wish I could be...Spider-Man or Justin Bieber.

My biggest fear is...not making them proud.

Never have I ever...been to Australia.

I never leave home without...my guitar.

My pet peeve is...when people call me bud or buddy.

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Tim McGraw

Two Lanes of Freedom Tour At DTE Energy Music Theater in Clarkston, MI Photos by Adrianna Velazquez

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Kris Allen

Out Alive Tour At The Ark in Ann Arbor, MI Photos by Adrianna Velazquez

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