Issue 4 by Vignette Obscura Magazine

ISSUE 4

“In Unison” by Zara Kand Page 7

Will I ever stop talking about the changes in the magazine? It seems like everytime I write another letter from the Editor, there are always changes in the magazine. Well for starters we are once again a duo. Yes I ate the second writer, just kidding. In all seriousness, there have been many changes throughout the summer. We have a new logo, new website and new issue that we are really excited to share with you. When we last spoke it was the end of spring and summer was just beginning. Now summer is at its end and fall is about to begin. But before that happens, we have the end of summer issue of Vignette Obscura. In the two months that it took to put this together, Tammie and I experienced odd things. In my case, I had never experienced the flu for a whole month. Also, I had never interviewed an artist in the morning. I mean, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer, who is awake before noon and who gets the flu! I did. Tammie, on the other hand, cannot wait for summer to just end. She hates the heat and the lack of an AC unit in her studio makes it impossible to deal with. Besides that, we met more incredible artists with intriguing stories. Each artist featured in this issue is incredibly different from one another. The wonderful thing about the arts is its many forms and manifestations. It allows each artist and musician to follow their calling individually. A painter that we featured said her work expressed her desire for the world to be accepting and to embrace all people from all walks of life. One musician said he used his music to express his opinions on society and equality. Each artist has something different to say and a beautiful way of expressing it. My desire for this magazine is to find every artist hidden under the bright lights of the Sunset Strip and give them a platform to display their work. Thanks and enjoy the summer issue. -Sevanny/ Royal pain in the ass

TABLE OF C d n a aK

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Writer

Sevanny Campos Tammie Valer

Editor

Adam Campbell Tammie Valer

Photography

Tammie Valer

Designer

Tammie Valer

Illustrator

Adam Campbell

Special Thanks

Bedlam Lullaby, Breaking Tempo, Busbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s East, Girl On Fire, Jasper William, Los Angeles Arts District, Michaela Corbitt, Natalie Krikarian, Northridge Copy and Graphics Center, Sage Rhianna, Samantha Pearl, Tribal Cafe, Troy Romzek, Whiskey A Go Go, The Witzend, Zara Kand.

Credits

“A Moment Out of Time”

Zara Kand

“The Sleeping Artist”

Written by Tammie Valer Zara Kand was the first artist that stood out amongst other submissions for this issue. What caught my attention were the colors she used on her paintings. Without spoiling too much for myself, I took a look at her work on her website and skimmed through her bio. Her painting, “The Sleeping Artist”, Immediately caught my attention. A few questions came to mind: What is going on here? What is the story? What does it mean? When you come across a painting or other art pieces that make you ask these type of questions, That means they have left the viewers the ability to interpret their own meaning behind the work.

This is the case for Zara Kand. Her paintings are her thoughts and inspirations and she gave me the opportunity to share these thoughts with her. What type of art do you do? I have many creative interests, but my main outlet is through oil painting. Why art? What's your background? Ever since my early childhood years, I have felt inclined to express myself through art. I have no doubt that this was enhanced by the creative environment I grew up in. Both of my parents are artist and musicians and reacted enthusiastically to any

artistic activity that I partook in. The combination of my natural interest in the arts and the reinforcement of my family to pursue it has led me to become a fully dedicated artist in life, in a career, and for enjoyment. I have explored many mediums, including writing, drawing, even drumming in a band with my mom, and it is through my creative discoveries that my soul remains nourished. Nothing else can do it for me, not even great wine or sex. Describe a real life situation that inspired you. When I was finishing up high school, the last years of which were in an independent school, I had begun to

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Antique Past Timesâ&#x20AC;? think that I still needed to choose another career to be the bread and butter provider, even though my passion rested in the arts. My teacher at the time had taken notice in my artistic talents and thought it be best that we shift the focus of the subjects we were learning to address these specific talents of mine; for instance, instead of making me write a history paper on Martin Luther King, he let me sculpt a clay figurine of him. The fact that my teacher was willing to alter the curriculum to suit what was clearly my purpose in life made a huge impact. If he believed in me, then I should believe in me. I realized I didn't need to choose a separate career, that I was going to keep doing what I've always done: be an artist! This shows, once again, how effective a supportive environment really is in someone's life. Although I don't make as much money as I would

if I were a car salesman, I feel spiritually rich, and that is important to me. Describe your style. What makes your artwork stand out from the others out there? I've been told my work is surrealistic. In earlier years I could see how this was true, but I seem to be painting more realistic environments these days. Still, they are not so realistic, for they seem to possess an added dimension of consciousness and illumination.. I like to call it reality enhancement! I'm not really sure how my art stands out from other artists, there are so many artists out there in the world and I would like to think that it is everyone's goal to be unique. All I know is that I'm just myself, all the time. I try not to compare or to aspire to be like anyone else, I just let what's inside come out

naturally. I suppose this is one way I know I'm being unique, because whatever specific ideas or visions I receive happen only in my head and can't really happen in anyone else's.. and so I make sure to stay pure and true to these visions and not poison them with outward influence. What do you do to get inspired? I love watching art films, stop-animation in particular; walking in nature, meditating, looking through art books, cooking gourmet meals, anything to let my mind wander, play, if you will. Describe the thinking process behind some of your work. My work is very concept oriented. Sometimes I get an inspired vision that is purely aesthetic, and I try to evaluate what message can be shared through the vision. What story can it tell?

Has your work been featured in any other publications or been displayed at any galleries? Describe the experience. I have been exhibiting my work consistently since the age of 18, before it was even any good haha. The latest galleries I have shown at have been The Hive Gallery, Cannibal Flower, The Rat Factory (solo show), and coming up in October will be a featured show at Sev Ven Gallery. I have also been included in many publications, the last one being Winter Tangerine Review, a New York publication. I have learned a lot from my experience with gallery interactions, what they like and expect from artists. There is an important balance artists must possess, I believe, in which you maintain a level of professionalism, but not compromise personal integrity. When you create and share art just to please others, you may make some money but what else do you get out of it? One time my work was being analyzed by a gallery owner and it was clear all the ways that they wanted me to change my style around so that it could better suit their scene. Well, I walked away feeling defiant and more focused towards my personal vision than ever before.. it led me to write a book about not being swayed by outside demands!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Togetherâ&#x20AC;?

Sometimes itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the other way around, in which I get the idea for a concept first, and then I try to figure out how to make it work on canvas; how to share this message visually. It's very important to me that art shows meaning that may potentially affect someone's life, and so I am way more drawn to works that were really well thought-out rather than merely being design based. What mediums did you use to complete your art pieces? Any specific tools? These days I'm all about oil on canvas, baby! It's a very traditional way to paint, and I'm all for it since the blending of colors is so nice and smooth, like magic!

What memorable responses have you had to your work? I have had many wonderful responses from people regarding my work, and I feel really lucky and grateful for it. I have been told that my paintings are wondrous, strange, inspiring, dreamy. I have even been told that they wanted to take it home and masturbate to it! Is there a project you are working on at the current moment? What is your dream project? I have many fixations at the moment. My main concern is learning and perfecting my skill, because while I have dished so much stuff out in the past, I really would like to take time to put my abilities to the test and achieve what I never have before! Although I believe we never stop learning, not till our last dying day.

I also am still working on that book that I mentioned previously, it is almost ready for publishing. My dream project is to create a public space for people to do creative things in, a place that is truly bizarre and inspiring, where people can enjoy themselves in whether they are making/exhibiting art or just hanging out. What advice would you give artists who are only just starting to pursue art? Focus on identifying your inner voice, that should be the main concern. All outward influence, unless completely positive, should be shut out so that nothing interferes with this fragile discovery process. It is also really important to not judge yourself or the quality of your work, exploration is now and developing skill is something that happens eventually, so be patient and don't criticize yourself for not being as good as other artists. HAVE FUN! What would you like people to take from your work? I want you to be transported to a land, somewhat like reality, but where bounds and limitation melt their edges. Where emotions confront you like relentless rain storms, where hopes and desires exceed the material realm. I want you to feel exhilarated, raw, lustful of all the worlds enchantment. I have not yet succeeded, please let me know when I do.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Flare of Elements to comeâ&#x20AC;?

Zara has personally inspired me to pursue what I love to do and not give way to those who try to change an artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work. I was fortunate enough to meet with Zara at her home and studio near downtown LA. It was a very warm and peaceful afternoon. Her home,on itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own, was such an inspiration. She has surrounded herself with art. I was able to take a closer look at her paintings. To no surprise they were even more pleasing to look at physically and up close. It is my hope that artists like her, artists like me, or those reading this, will be inspired. There is more to come from Zara and she will be back on this magazine as soon as her book is published.

For more on Zara Kand, visit her website at www.zarakand.com

Natalie Krakirian

Natalie Krakirian’s art is like a pretty girl with a potty mouth. It’s expectantly lovely and loud in both her sketches and graphic design pieces. Her imagery is complex, warm and sassy. Looking through Krakirians graphic design pieces, there a beautiful pieces that are accompanied with the words “Fuck, SHIT” in big bold letters. She expresses her frustration and feelings in her work. However, her work is more than just a hot girl flipping the bird. It has great line-work, creativity and an appreciation for abstract and typography. Krakirian is a student graphic designer at Woodbury University, as well as an avid doodler. Evidence of her love of drawing can be seen in the foundation of her work. We met with the artist to discuss her transition from paper to the pen tool. How you did get involved in art? Up until I was seventeen, I was a ballet dancer and at that point although I loved it, it wasn't a career choice for me. I didn’t know what do at that point so then I started sketching and then thought, “Lets go into animation.” I talked it over with my parents and while they support my love of art they asked, “Is there anything else you are interested in?” I decided graphic design was the perfect mix. I could tell my parents that I was being efficient but I am able to do art and get a job too. Isn’t there graphic art in animation? Yes and even now I’m thinking maybe I’ll sneak in a few animation classes. The crazy thing is that I fell in love with graphic design more than I thought I would. So I’m really happy that I ended up doing that and I am learning a lot.

Written by Sevanny Campos 14

Tell me about your early experiences with graphic design? I look back at some of the things I thought were good and they are just a mess. One of the things I was taught in school was, ‘Don't use more than two typefaces or fonts in a piece’. Doing that makes the piece look cluttered. I look back and I have around fifteen different typefaces in one piece. The same thing happened with sketching. I think everyone starts at a base level with art and then figure out what they like and progress from there.

How has your art developed since you started working with graphic design. How old were you when you started dabbling in it? I just turned nineteen when I started learning graphic design and I have been sketching ever since I stopped dancing. My designs developed because of all the knowledge and feedback I have gained from teachers. One thing I learned in school is to be constantly looking at what others are doing and saving images and using that as a reference. I’ve become very aware of the design around me to the point that it irritates the people around me. I look around and say “Bad design! Why did they do that?” It’s really funny when you see really bad photoshop and wonder if someone just chopped that out of the image. What do you love about art? The idea that I created something that would not have existed. As intimidating as a blank page is when your trying to sketch something, there is also the thought that “I can do anything”. I love

the idea that I could create something out of nothing.

What do you want people to see when they look at your work?

The cool thing about going into graphic design as an appreciator of drawing is that it’s helped me in my classes. I am able to do things others can’t and my teachers encourage me to use that in my design.

I want people to see that I put thought into every aspect because, holy crap, there is a lot of thought into a piece. In some of the conceptual pieces I have done, I have spent up to eight hours lining up type. There is a lot of thought that I put into my work. Even in some of my simple sketches, there is a lot of consideration. Hopefully my work is able to make people realize that.

What’s the difference between your personal work and professional work? My personal work is not impulsive but it is an impulse. I have to get a point across and I am going to make it as quickly as possible. Sometimes I will continue on with it and other times I will stop after I reached my point. School work is completely different because we are expected to come up with 28-30 sketches of ideas and from their narrow it down. It is a much longer process but it is really amazing to see how much things change from beginning to end. I started to apply it to my personal work because I feel like I could come up with some of my best work.

For more on Natalie Krakirian, visit her website at www.natalieksart.tumblr.com

Sage LaMonica

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I’m from a small town called Agua Dulce and I lived on a ranch with twenty animals and I moved to burbank for school. I am still adjusting to the city but its been fun. I decided in high school that I really liked drawing and I wanted to be an artist. Before that I thought I wanted to be a forensic scientist but I totally changed direction. How did you transition from drawing to graphic design? I knew very little about graphic design when I started looking at schools. It was my understanding that it was drawing but on a computer. I thought it was a good way to make money and that it was a safe choice and it’s not that at all. I love it and I love that I can incorporate drawing into what I do. What the biggest difference between drawing and graphic design? I would say structure there is a lot of knowledge that you need to have about typography and composition. It’s less freedom but it’s still art. How have you used graphic design outside of school? I haven't had any internships yet. I have been trying to do some freelance work for album covers and things associated with music. That’s what I want to do so I have contacted my friends and asked them if they wanted a free album cover. That’s been going pretty well actually.

Written by Sevanny Campos Sage LaMonica’s pencil drawings are reminiscent of the art in childrens’ poetry novels, much like Shell Silverstein illustrations. Her sketches are original and imaginative pieces that, while dark, still feel familiar. Still a student, LaMonica is gaining experience as an artist and graphic designer by creating album art for local musicians. The artist visited our studio where we leafed through her sketchbooks and questioned every creation and creature in its pages.

How would you describe your art? I draw a lot of things that are not human, like creatures, and it's kind of dark but it’s not creepy, it’s just a little abstract. I also like drawing people and incorporating words in my sketches. When you have a feeling and you don’t know how to put in into words and you draw something, its the best form of expression. I gain a lot of inspiration from music. I associate music with feeling and that feeling will channel onto paper. I want people to know what I am feeling when I listen to that song.

What is the most difficult thing about showing people your art? The most difficult thing is working hard on something and being so proud of it only to show someone and the person will view it differently from you. It might look cool but you are going to need to fix something for them to like it. It’s really disappointing but I appreciate the feedback. I think I get to connected to anything that I do. My work means so much to me and when it does not mean as much to anyone else it is a little disheartening. What’s your biggest challenge as an artist? As an artist my biggest challenge is being an artist and a graphic designer because there are different programs that I need to take the time learn and master like InDesign and Photoshop. It takes away from drawing. Then I get stuck in this weird, ‘I can’t do anything phase’ because I am trying to do both. But if you can incorporate your art into your graphic design, that is a great strength to have.

For more on Sage LaMonica, visit her website at www.sagerhianna.tumblr.com 26

Michaela Corbitt

Written by Sevanny Campos | Edited by Adam Campbell When looking at a photograph by Michaela Corbitt, you might ask yourself if it is in fact a photograph. It is a photograph. Whether you are shocked, impressed, or both, Corbitt’s work is alluringly curious. Individuals who are hesitant to accept photography as an art form need to realize fine art photographers are not looking for an image to hang in front of a living room of a gated community of a suburb. Fine art photographers are not looking to capture a memory. They are looking to create an image using light and focus as a paintbrush to achieve the desired effect. Only then do they use the shutter to create a vision. As is the case with Corbitt. Using a camera, she creates an image that causes an onlooker to question and think about the image before them.

Her image of a woman with a flower wreath on the crown of her head while her eyes are covered in saran wrap, is hauntingly beautiful. We sat down with the photographer to discuss her work and the direction her photography is headed. Tell me about yourself? Originally, I am from Albany in upstate New York. It’s gray nine months out of the year. After I graduated high school, I went to SUNY Purchase School of Arts and Design in Westchester. I went there for four years and got a BFA in Photography. After I spent the summer in New York, I realized I didn’t want to live there. I figured I would try my hand in LA to avoid winter and have been here for two years.

I have continued to pursue photography here with good luck but sometimes it is a struggle hustling yourself freelancing but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitely worth it being able to say that you do something you love. How did you get started in photography? Actually, my sister got a camera for Christmas. She asked for it and I had never thought about it. I have always been an artistic person but I was more inclined to draw and paint but she never really used the camera. It was a 35mm Canon Rebel. Pretty simple but nice to start out with. She used it twice and I decided to take a photography class in my school. My teacher, Mrs. Roe, really inspired me and made me realize that photography was not just about documentation. I never thought of it as an art until I took that class.

Then I started messing around with the camera. After I started developing my pictures, I fell in love with the whole process. When did you consider making it a career? Going back to that teacher I had in high school, she really encouraged me to go after it. She said I have a good eye and I really enjoyed doing it. That was when I considered going to art school. My professors at Purchase really inspired me. They are working artists as well as professors. They really showed me by example that I could make photography my life if I was truly passionate about it. You have some beautiful work on your website. What do you look for in a photograph? Back to the basic concept of

photography, light is needed to make an image whether that's on a piece of film or a digital negative. I do not really try to plan out too hard what I am taking a picture of if I see something or the way light hits. I think about how that will react with the camera and transform through the lens. I do not see photography as documentation like I would have when I was younger. I don't see things of this world when I am looking for a photograph. I see it as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own window to another one. For me photography is a gateway into a new world, not a way to look back at this one. How has your photography changed since you first started? When I first started, I definitely planned things out to the point that it stressed me out if I saw something in my mind and wasn't able to translate it exactly into an image.

Right now in the photographic world, fine art and commercial photography are melting together. In fashion, there are fine art influenced images. Images that are more thought out and conceptual than the average fashion photo. In my life, the difference is what I am paid to do and what I am not paid to do. I have gigs where I have creative input but ultimately they are their images. What do you want people to see when they look at your photos? I definitely want them to interpret the meaning themselves. People are always wondering, “What does that mean?” Part of understanding art and looking at art is determining what it means for themselves. I try not put any sort of structure around that. I want it to mean what someone thinks to themselves. I have always made my images without thinking about how people will interpret it. If I did, it would mess me up and change things. I want people to see the major part of my work, which is light and dark, both literally and interpretively speaking. Light is a big part of my work. Also the deeper meaning of light and dark is there as well. I want people to look at the good and the bad of things, which is a struggle people deal with everyday.

I strayed away from that after looking at various other artists work and seeing it could be much more than that. Waiting for that right moment, I realized it could be more. What is the difference between your fine arts work and commercial work? As far as my fine art goes, up until recently I’ve never included the human form in it at all. Really, I had no interest in including people in my pictures. Like I said earlier, my photos are a window to an alternate reality. The human subject kind of grounded it.

Do you have a favorite photograph you’ve created? I’ve taken a lot of very different photos that have a special place in my mind because of how I got to take it. I have a photo from my senior thesis, “This I Know is True.” And one day I set aside a day to go out to a farm and ride horses. I went around sunset and hung out for a few hours. At the top of the hill, there was a dirty white horse and the sky was pink. I took the picture and I couldn't wait to look at it. It was one of the first times I had been excited about a color image. Until that point, most of my photos were black and white. I find it challenging to find colors that are not overwhelming. I framed it in a way so that the horses figure is abstracted.

What are you currently working on? I’m working on abstracting the human form. I’m trying to incorporate it into my work in a way that I feel reflects my style and the idea I am going for. Which is leading me back to making darker images. When I was in high school, I suffered from anxiety and depression and it came out in my work. I was making some really creepy painting and drawings. I steered away from that and I started thinking about what people thought of my work. I thought “who wants to look at something sad or ugly?” So I started straying away from that. I’ve started slipping back into darker images. I’ve stopped worrying about what someone would think. I stopped giving a shit and started taking photos at night using my friends, who are more than willing to let me mess with them. They let me put saran wrap over their face, lie on a tarp with a brown paper bag over their head and their hands tied up. I am obsessed with texture as well. I will find things and touch them, look at them and figure how I want them in a photograph. I think this will turn into a series. I have enough to where it could be a series but I am going to continue on this path of experimentation and see where it ends up.

For more on Michaela Corbitt, visit her website at www.cargocollective.com/michaelamaecorbitt

Feature

Bedlam Lullaby

Hidden Jewels of LA

Written by Tammie Valer Bedlam Lullaby’s Samantha Parks invited Vignette Obscura to their performance at an open mic event called Sunday Jump at the Tribal Cafe in downtown LA. Samantha Parks and I met a while back, she used to be one of my models. It was then that I learned she was starting an all women a cappella group called Bedlam Lullaby. About a few months have passed since the beginning of this magazine. I found myself at this cafe, listening to a group I’ve been anxiously awaiting to see perform. Upon meeting them my instincts told me they were going to be great. Just by their personalities alone. They were friendly and they seemed incredibly close.

Finally they took the stage. I was surprised to see that there was no music accompaniment whatsoever. A snap of the fingers and a tap on their leg was the only thing keeping their beat. My instincts were right. They were absolutely amazing. My eyes veered away from them for a minute to look at the crowd’s attention. It was a crowded room, swaying their heads to their voices. All eyes were on them. I have never seen an a cappella group catch a crowds attention so quickly and so attentively. Neither have I seen an a cappella group perform so beautifully with just their voices and no music.

There was no second guessing. I had to ask them for an interview and about a month later they arrived at my studio and we began our interview. The members of Bedlam Lullaby include, Samantha Parks, Cameo Smith, Denicar Bergancia. How did you form Bedlam Lullaby? Cameo: A mutual friend that we had a class with. Samantha: Well, I’ve known Denicar for… Denicar: It’s been three or four years Samantha: She and I met at a coffeeshop that we used to work at. We both became facebook friends and we were

Cameo: She introduced herself to me and she asked me, “ Hey do you want to join a group” and at first I was like “Oh my gosh, commitment!” but I got there and I loved them. Samantha: We all vibed instantly. We had a hang out and we all got along. Cameo: We met at a little tea shop. Samantha: A little boba place. We had a common background and it was very natural. We then just proceeded from there. It was a quartet for a while. We started late September or early October last year. We became a trio November. We lost our fourth member and just decided to continue as a trio. Do you write your own music? Samantha: We’d like to. Denicar: It’s a work in progress. Samantha: We’re not quite there yet. We decided that we are just going to do our own arrangement of covers. We strive to cover songs that are not only unique, but we challenge ourselves in a sense where we are always jumping to parts, always switching harmonies. You never know who’s singing when. It is kind of our trademark. Bedlam means chaos so that is part of the influence too, keeping it chaotic and fun. We have these chaotic lives as artists and thrive off of that. We’re bored otherwise. That’s where Bedlam came from.

both singers, always casually talking about working together, but we never did. I had been wanting to start a group. I got inspired by this group called Chic Gamine. I wanted to start an all women a cappella quartet, so I approached Denicar because she was the first person that came to mind and we talked about it. We slept on it for about a month. We initially did have a fourth member who was going to school. She actually brought us to Cameo.

Why a cappella? Cameo: I feel we get a better sense of the voice. Denicar: It’s not hiding behind an instrument. It’s us as it is. Personally, I love a cappella because you can express your voice a lot more. Cameo: Without it being blinded by music. Denicar: It’s up to you on how far you can push yourself as far as arranging and your range. It’s really your gift on that track versus you singing behind a drummer or guitar player. It’s just you. It’s just the voice which is awesome. Samantha: When I first heard Chic Gamine, I was blown away because you don’t hear people doing that in a non traditional sense. The only way people do it these days is through choir or your traditional barber shop, which is not what we are or want to be associated as that. I grew up listening to En Vogue and being blown away by that.

So when I heard Chic Gamine, I thought, this is a different version of En Vogue. These women are caucasian and canadian, and En Vogue are all powerhouse black women. They are underground and so different. When we tell people, they react with a “really?” It is just something different. Nobody does a cappella. Period. Cameo: I feel like you appreciate the instrument of your voice so much better. It’s just clean. When it’s just us three and you get such a vibe from it or you get such a feeling from it, literally all there is is our voices. Denicar: We are very different compared to the other a cappella groups out there like Penatonics, a friend from the Phil Harmonic, the people from Pitch Perfect. We are not necessarily doing Pop. The covers that we focus on doing are very underrated. We are covering Allen Stone, the Noisettes, and Meghan Trainor. Samantha: Then we’ll throw in traditional stuff like The Andrew Sisters but we will throw in our soul vibe, like this vintage vibe on it. Our own flare. Denicar and I specifically love Jazz and Big Band. Cameo loves this natural raw Soul Train kind of vibe. We all really

mesh and we’ve got our own little quirks but we’ve all got these old souls and we want to keep that alive, like this old-but-new sound. What’s the biggest challenge of being an a cappella group? Cameo: Rhythm. That would be the biggest thing, keeping the rhythm. Samantha: The tempo. Denicar: Keeping the energy. Especially when we are performing, because there is no band, it’s all us. Samantha: It’s funny. I got called out for seeming like I wasn’t confident. With a cappella, we are the instruments, therefore we have to be linked and watch each others mouths and be very cautious of that. It’s funny that people get that misconception. Traditionally it’s just how you’re supposed to do it. I think performing is definitely one of the biggest challenges. We’ve all got natural rhythm. We blend well together. We all are strong. It’s just a matter of deliverance. It’s something we’re still working on. Denicar: That’s probably our biggest challenge. But we’ll get there. Every day is a challenge. Cameo: But we learn something new.

Samantha: We are growing for sure. Did you all have experience in a cappella prior to Bedlam? Cameo: I’ve always written a cappella. I’m more used to the singer/songwriter type of music. Just for myself. Joining an a cappella group wasn’t totally left field for me. The only difference was that I wasn’t used to doing harmonies. You have to be able to hear someone else’s part and keep up with your part. That was kind of a challenge coming into the group. Samantha: I have a very strong choral background. I took private vocal lessons. When I moved here seven years ago, I had to break that and transfer into studio work doing tracks. I don’t really understand why people feel intimidated by a cappella. I’ve never thought about it being a big thing. If I don’t have the track, I’m just going to sing it. To me, it just comes naturally. Denicar: Like Sam, I came from a choral background. I was part of a Jazz ensemble for a really long time. We would do a cappella all the time. It’s a completely different vibe though. In that group, it was very “Okay, we’re

here, let’s rehearse.” We never tried to get to know each other. Where as with these girls, they are like my sisters. We are spending hours at a time together. It’s definitely a journey. Especially for me because I am not used to that. I am used to a very technical world. We get in and then out, so this is a new thing for me and I love it because you get to know who you’re working with, you get to know who you’re singing with. Cameo: Which makes the blend more natural at the end of the day. From when we started till now, we can fluctuate in the same points in songs. It just all comes naturally. We get each others style. Our voices just flow. Samantha: We intentionally took time to bond. We just took a hiatus from all this work and focus on bonding. When should we expect original music? Cameo: We’d like to say sooner than later. Samantha: There’s really no deadline. It is definitely something that constantly in the back of our minds. We had a rehearsal we we attempted to do that but it felt forced. Now, since doing our gig for Sunday Jump, we’re in higher demand than we expected. Now we’re leaning towards working on original music. There’s always the option of having artists that we like, that are underground, writing for us. Like a good friend of ours, Donovan Brown. He’s a great songwriter and we’d like to collaborate with his band, The Black Noise. We are definitely not opposed to starting out with his writing. We are always trying to collaborate with other artists or those who are also underground and trying to make a name for themselves. Denicar: It’s kind of like that deal, a lot of actors do it, where you make a friend in the beginning and you both vow to each other that whoever makes it first, will help the other. Especially in LA where’s it all competition. The moment you are there, I would remember those people that helped me, I’ve got to help them out too. Cameo: That’s how it’s done. You’ve got to work together. You need a team. You need a lot of people behind you. It’s so much smarter that way. Samantha: Through that we’ll find a rhythm of writing. Two of the three of us are writers but on different levels.

We just need to find our styles and mesh them. Cameo: It’s really intimate to write. I’ve also been the type of person to not be able to write when some else is in the room. It’s like being naked. Samantha: Well we’ve got a lot of material, it’s just transferring it into paper is a whole other beast. Condensing it. That’s the challenge. But we’ll get there. We’ve got a lot to say.

What sets you apart from every other artist in LA? Cameo: I feel like we have a very original sound. We are not doing something that you’ve heard before. Just in the fact that we are an a cappella group, and we do all these jazz and soul type music. You don’t hear a lot of that anymore. You hear a lot of garbage now. Denicar: I also think it’s because we’re not tied down. Some people only do Pop. Whereas we are three different

types of women. We’re all interested in different types of music and we bring that all together. We are all like “Oh, let’s do a cover like this” versus other groups where they follow what’s popular now. We’re not about that. We want to keep the integrity of music. I feel like that’s what separates us from other groups. We are really focused on keeping the integrity of the lyrics. Lyrics is very important to us. Every time we do an arrangement of the song, we actually break it down. We asked, What does this song mean to you, Where are you coming from, What’s your perspective of this song, Who are you speaking to. That definitely helps our connection come across when we sing together. So when people see us perform, we all know each other and understand where each person is coming from. I think the audience connects to that. And that is a rare thing for performers out there. A lot of groups have a hard time getting that on stage.

Samantha: I think our bond is what sets us apart because who we are as individuals is very distinct but it’s also this beautiful blend. It works so well. I don’t feel like that’s something that you can imitate or force. It’s so rare. You see so many bands turnover members or they are always changing their sound because they are losing people. We are really grounded. Cameo: I feel like the audience gets that too. That we have this almost unspoken chemistry. Samantha: We have a genuine respect and love for each other. Denicar: We can all be across the room from each other and we’re still connected. I think that brings people in together. Everyone starts to feel that connection from us. So yes, like Sam says, our connection is what makes us different from the others. Samantha: We’re hoping to be a group that people want to know beyond just our music. I think that likability is what sets any artist apart, and it’s very rare. For a while, we were trying to find an image or trying to find what’s our thing,

and you do have to, to an extent, but we are definitely going to air on the side of staying true to who we are. I think that’s what definitely makes us unique. What do you want people to take away from your music? Denicar: I want people to feel my heart. We are singing songs that we connect to and we want people to feel that when we perform. Even when I sing solo, I want them to feel what I am feeling. Samantha: We use music as a portal to pour out emotion. To be completely vulnerable and naked. For me, music has always been my refuge. Therefore, I want to provide that for other people. It’s like therapy. It’s just so raw. From one person to another, it’s like I want to have a conversation with you through your radio, without us having to be in the same room. There are artists I listen to and I am like, “Speak to me” and I talk to them and they talk to me. It’s so powerful. So I just want to make an impact in general because I know

everyone’s going to say something different. People are going to get whatever they get from us. Denicar: Again, that brings it back to us really connecting to lyrics. If we’re all feeling the same way towards a song, we want you to connect. Cameo: When we perform, I always want the audience to feel like they have someone on their side. I want them to know that I’ve been through this or I’m going through this. If you are going through this too, then we are together in that sense. I love that connection. Samantha: Even opening up people minds to politics, body image, or whatever. Just to engage them and keep their attention. I think it’s a powerful thing to get them to hear us. I don’t ever want us to become background music. I think there is a lot of that out there now. What are you working on now? Samantha: We’re polishing our music and preparing for our upcoming shows, as well as working on new material. Be it original stuff or more covers. It definitely won’t be anything we don’t

want to do. Just building our reputation is a big deal for us. Cameo: We likes to take things step by step. To keep a good idea of the future in mind but having it happen naturally. Samantha: It can be trying sometimes. It’s a process being patient. Cameo: I feel like we pace ourselves well though. We’re kind of always on the same page. Samantha: Everybody’s equally committed. What do you each contribute to the group? Samantha: We’ve all adapted into these roles, like Cameo is the little one, and initially, Denicar and I feel like the mama birds. Cameo: Sometimes I get to be mama. When they are laughing about something that isn’t funny for hours! Samantha: We do share the roles but she’s definitely “littles”, that’s what we call her because she’s just the baby in the group. Old soul but still the baby. Denicar: She definitely keep the energy.

Samantha: It’ll be 2 o’clock in the morning and she’s still bouncing off the walls. She definitely keeps rehearsal going. Denicar has a very maternal vibe. She’s is like Mama D, what we sometimes like to call her. Cameo: She is our arranger. Samantha: She arranges the music. Cameo: She keeps us all on our pitch. Samantha: Cameo is really strong on percussion. And I’ve taken on the role of just keeping everybody on schedule. Managing the group. Cameo: She organizes everything. Samantha: I provide their rehearsal space and I just try to keep gigs in line. I am just naturally always moving. We all just fell into these roles. We are all equally silly. I think we all have a unique vibe and look and that’s all nice on a superficial level. But as far as personalities go, we’re all just down to earth. We’re not afraid to have fun. Cameo: I feel like we are very individual too. Though we compliment each other very well. We’re all going to have different conversations, we’re never gonna be the same, but I feel like it all meshes well.

Denicar: Just looking at our personalities alone. I am the serious one. Cameo brings the silliness out of me. Both of them do. We just all really compliment each other and it really helps balance it out. It really helps with the working environment. It’s a good balance of not getting lazy but going at a steady pace. After their interview, Bedlam and I arranged for their first photoshoot, with me, at the Arts District in LA. This place, being what I believe, is LA’s hidden jewel of the arts. There graffiti art on nearly every block of this small hidden section of LA. What a more perfect place to have a photoshoot for such a cultural and unique group of ladies. As I was about to snap a picture, a complete stranger jumped into the photograph, stood himself up on the wall with just his hands lifting him upside down. I quickly snapped the picture. This man, named Matthew Purpura, convinced Bedlam to give him a preview of their voices. With no hesitation, they sang. They got passersby attention. Some stood for a minute or two to listen to them sing. Bedlam will soon be catching more attention than they can handle. A cappella is a unique style to pursue on it’s own. Bedlam’s style is not just simply a cappella, it’s their a cappella. There is soul in every lyric. There is personality in all their voices. They are the hidden jewels of LA.

For more on Bedlam Lullaby, visit their facebook at www.facebook.com/bedlamlullaby

Troy Romzek

It happened during the final song in Alicia G’s set when the guitarist, Troy Romzek, suddenly steps back, looses his balance, and lands on an amp. Then he proceeded to knock down the amp, he fell on his ass, got to his knees, and maneuvered to the front of the stage, all while still playing guitar. The man did not miss a chord throughout the entire debacle and winked at the astounded audience when it was over. “When you get on stage you forget everything you learned and just play the music,” Romzek said. “I am big believer in playing from the heart not the mind.” Romzek is a self taught musician with an attractive charisma. While a member of Alicia G’s band he is also an independent artist who writes and records his own music. During our time together he described his goal for his music. What does your music have to say? I think I am very self aware as an artist and I know what I want to say. The funny thing is that lyrically my music doesn't say a lot. I am young guy and I haven’t lived as much life as most people have so my lyrical content cannot be that deep, but the essence of what it is about is what I like to focus on. Yes, everyone wants to go to a show, and everyone wants to be entertained, but at the end of day rock n’ roll is life. I know everyone has heard that, but what does that really mean? To my knowledge, life is about love.

Written by Sevanny Campos Edited by Adam Campbell

I am religious, and in loving God, with the religion that I have, it has taught me to love everyone. Life is about love and loving everyone, because we are all in this world together and trying to get through it. So with my art I am trying to bring people together and share love with one another. You are self taught, and you play bass as well as guitar, but why did you choose music? My dad took me to my first concert when I was ten years old. I went to see Bruce Springsteen. I was a geeky kid with a bowl cut and we ended up in the pit at the Forum. I’m not a very tall guy, I’m like five foot nothing, and at 10 years old I was really small and everyone kept carrying me on their

shoulders. This was during his Rising tour, and I got really excited because I knew a lot of the songs and half way through the show everyone was tired of holding me up and I was trying to jump up to see the show. Then this cat turns to my dad and says ‘Your son is missing the show. Why don’t you put him onstage.’ Turns out the guy was a part of security and a friend of Springsteen. They set me on stage and at one point Springsteen comes over and gives me a high five and a hug and then gets down on his knees and sings “My Hometown” to me. I remember in that moment I thought ‘this is what I’m going to do with my life.’ What is the ideal situation to write a song? I write three songs a day. Thats just a steady thing I do, most of them suck.. Ninety percent of them suck but I always try to stay writing. I’ve realized that the best songs I have written are when I am very emotional. During an extremely emotional time, tapping into that is the way to write

a really good song. All the songs I share generally come from when I was feeling something. I am a really emotional person, my feelings are all over the place and it can be really hard to control sometimes. When I am at the peak of my emotions, that is when I have the best stuff to write. You said you are religious, that isn't very popula amongst musicians. In fact some consider religion as an obstacle. Has religion affected your creativity? I did say I was religious and I know I say the word “blessed” a lot and things like that but I always watch what I say. I never want to feel like I am throwing religion in peoples faces, personally I dislike that. It's great if a person is religious. I just think everyone is trying to get closer to God. For me religion has never hindered my creativity or my personal life, if anything it has made it better. I am a Christian and I do feel as though people over-analyze the Bible, and judge me, saying "you hate gays, you hate this, you hate that" and I'm

not about that. I feel like the gospels taught us about new life, all Jesus was teach was to love one another. And that boils down to what I want to do with my art. Christianity has enhanced my art because it has taught me the meaning of life, which is about relationships and love. It's about wanting to share those relationships. Being a Christian has opened my eyes and given me hope and faith. I am not a good Christian by any stretch of the imagination, but I believe Christianity is about love. What do you love about music? What I love about music is that it has the power to make you feel. I am a very emotional guy, depression runs in my family, so my emotions are very extremes. Music helps me control my emotions and help me filter them and use my emotions in my songwriting, and I love that about music. If I can evoke emotion through my music, then my job as a musician is complete.

For more on Troy Romzek, follow his facebook at www.facebook.com/ troy.romzek

Review

Samantha Pearl

Written by Sevanny Campos On a warm Saturday morning, I sat down with musician Samantha Pearl, who recently finished a tour on the East Coast. She returned to North Hollywood after an adventure of a trip. The singer looked inspired, refreshed and happy. “My trip was amazing. My first stop was in New Orleans, where I played a bunch of shows and met amazing artists,” Pearl said, “I played on the streets and learned a lot and wrote a lot.” Pearl left the Promenade in May to pursue her dream of traveling. During her travels Pearl sang on Bourbon Street, the subways of New York, and in front of the White House. She gained quite a following on the East coast and determined that the next path in her career was to make a name for herself there.

“I really educated myself on this trip and I felt like I accomplished the goals that I had for myself on the trip. I wanted to grow in writing and explore something that I felt could be the next step in my music.” While speaking to her, I noticed how at peace she was in her decision to leave LA. In the short months of her stay in Virginia, Pearl had laid the foundation for a new album and made a life for herself in Richmond. “I have a new music project I am starting in Richmond. I am going to be working on my own music as well as traveling in the East Coast as well as working with another performer by the name of Dave Watkins. We are going to be working on a new project together.

He plays dulcitar and I am going to sing and play guitar.” It is no surprise that the artist had plans ready to expand her craft and explore new avenues in music. While artists crowd around the lights of the Sunset Strip and Venice beach, Pearl has chosen to take the path less travelled and join a growing music culture in Richmond. She leaves a lasting impression everywhere she visits. “I have written tons of new songs. They were inspired by experiences that I went through on my trip and things that I am stripping and letting go of,” Pearl said. “I am totally inspired by being one step closer to being across the seas, which is where I want to perform too.”

Pearl returned to California to tie up loose ends, say goodbye, and film a music video for her song “Reasons Why I Love You,” a song that she wrote two years earlier. “I feel like this is the song that reflects the energy I am giving out right now and I feel like in my video it portrays that,” Pearl said. “There is a lot of healing going on. It’s a good way of saying goodbye and moving toward the next step in my life.” In our first interview with Pearl, she said her goal was to perfect her craft. Since then, her travels have changed her as an artist. When I saw the artist, I saw someone who had a envigorated love for her craft and a new vision. Samantha Pearl will go far in her career. She is far too talented and determined to go unnoticed. However, while she is giving herself and exposing her heart through her music, she also gains knowledge and experience with every person and place she encounters. That is how she will further perfect her expressive and beautiful craft. “I want to live my life with meaning. I wouldn’t do things in a careless way. My music shows that I am evolving as musician and eventually people will see that through the progression of growth in my videos. I feel like I am going to be more progressive in my music by being in the East Coast. I am completely happy.”

For more on Samantha Pearl, visit her facebook at www.facebook.com/MsSamanthaPearl

Jasper William

Written by Sevanny Campos When asked to describe himself, Jasper William said three things: 36, dude, and artist. “Artist” was the only word he elaborated on. William is a do-it-yourself musician, meaning he sang, wrote, and played everything in his recording and produced them in the comfort of his home. He releases music solely online and, while unconventional, he is one of the most talented musicians I have ever come across. Originally from New York, WIlliam is incredibly opinionated. He uses his medium of art to challenge social issue and politicians. “I'm very concerned with equality and it seems there is an increasing amount of people who ignore that. Those people being the people in power,” WIlliam said. “People often criticize me for liking politics. I hate it but other people end up suffering because of our politicians’ decisions.” For William, there is no other way of playing music. Initially he was drawn to the guitar by a family member. His cousin was a guitar player and he was entranced by the sound of the instrument. WIlliam did not respond well to taking lessons at a young age. “My parents sent me to lessons and I hated it. I was forced to go there and it was very formal. It was not like listening to my cousin play or the music I listened to.” After some time he stopped playing guitar. Disheartened by the lessons and formality of his lessons, playing guitar became work for him. It wasn't until he listened to Guns n’ Roses that he fell in love with music a second time. 12 year old WIlliam picked up the guitar again and just began to play. “I found that I could just do it. It wasn’t work anymore. I could play anything I heard.” he said. However, he did not attempt to sing until much later. He avoided the vocals until someone pushed him to consider singing. Like everything in life, there is a point where a person becomes completely derailed. WIlliam fell into drugs for sometime, hindering everything in life, not just his music. Coming out of the habit, WIlliam returned to music. “It wasn't until a rap producer expressed interest in my work that I recorded anything. He asked me ‘show me your work’ and I went home and recorded something on a tape. I ended up not signing with him but that was the first time I had ever recorded anything.” William said. “Since I record my own stuff I have very high expectations for myself.” Prior to the interview, we heard recordings of his music. Each song is completely different from the other. They also have a message to convey. While he speaks of social issues in several songs, WIlliam also sings about the successes and failures of relationships. William has strong vocals and a good range in his voice. He has the desire to spark change and awareness with just his vocals and his guitar.

“I want people to focus on my music if it can cause people to reflect upon themselves.”

For more on Jasper William, visit his bandcamp at www.jasperwilliam.bandcamp.com

Girl on Fire

Written by Sevanny Campos | Edited by Adam Campbell It’s not very often that a band sounds almost perfect at the Whisky A Go Go. Normally the singer’s mic output is too low or the guitar is too distorted. That was not the case with Seattle natives Girl on Fire. The band had audio playing throughout their set which created a completely different atmosphere than the band before them. Then the vocals of singer Austin Held were heard loud and clear within the walls of the music club. The guitars played by Nick McMahon and Nick Wiggins were incendiary. The large crowd at the Whisky completely came alive by the time Girl on Fire finished the first song in their long set.

It was one of the most memorable live performance I ever experienced. They agreed to speak to us at Hermosa Beach the next day. How did you get together? Harry and I have known each other for a long time, so do Austin and Nick. Harry, Nick and I worked in a retail store back at home. Then we got Josh, had another guitarist who left. Then we picked up Nick Wiggins not too long ago. Nick threw a dodgeball at Austin’s face and that was an instant friendship that goes a long way back.

How did you get your sound? A mixture of musical influences growing up. Sitting in a room for a year and a half messing with different sounds. What are you writing about now? Mostly about the process of being in a band and doing this for several years. The experiences of traveling, relationships, influenced by what we’re surrounded by. We all grew up listening to rock of the 90’s so we’re all influenced by that and it influences our writing.

learning curve after we parted ways with our label but we’ve definitely grown a lot from it. We’ve become a way better band since then. What is the difference between having the backing of a label and doing it on your own? Honestly? [laughs] Well, there are definitely benefits, but being on a label is business, you lose control. It’s like anything you love. You want to make a career out of it and you want to do it everyday. On a record label it’s business and it is very apparent. But we did have a lot of fun last year, but we had to make a decision and we’re making it work. With a label they can help pay for expenses here and there, but it does come out of a budget that you must recoup. One thing that’s true about working with a label is that nobody else is going to love this as much as we do. How did you get approached by them? Nick Wiggins’s old band introduced them and they went down for a showcase. They were the main label that was interested in us. We were talking to a couple other people but they were saying the most important things at the time so it just worked out. Where have you toured? Played all over America, every major and minor city. We haven’t played Boston or Miami, but we’ve been everywhere else. Canada is always really fun. We played Canada for the very first time in Vancouver. It’s so close to Seattle, but crossing the border just makes it seem so foreign.

Do all of you take part in song writing process? For the most part, jotting ideas down and sending them along and putting them together. Sometimes Austin does all the writing, sometimes it’s all of us jamming together and putting things together. It’s always different. We sometimes will throw out an idea and share it with the band. It’s the best way to go, to avoid getting stuck in the same rhythm.

Is this full time? This week’s been full time. I think we all do the band full time, but we have part time jobs that we need to help support it. Supplement it. Next year will be a lot better, this year is our leap year [laughs]. We try to stay as busy as possible. Our record “Not Broken” came out last September and all we did after that was tour around and it was friggin’ awesome. That’s what we want to be doing, but we’ve been working on ourselves ever since. It’s been a

Tell me about your album. Well, its got twelve songs on it, that’s what makes it an album [laughs]. It’s Pantera meets polka, or Foo Fighters meets Linkin Park. When did you realize you can do this for the rest of your life? I don’t think we’ve realized that yet [laughs]. Hopefully soon. I guess at some point you just get in a van and start going and just never let it stop. Whether it’s in this band or not I think we’re always going to do something musically for the rest of our lives. Definitely. Everyone should do what they are most happy about.

One should always just follow their passion and that’s what’s easiest in life. What do you want people to take away from your shows? We just want people to have a good time, to take them away from their shitty situations, go into their zones, go on a journey, be entertained. That’s what the band and the audience both want in common. We want to escape and we want people to come with us. I’m on stage and I’m doing what I love and it’s an experience. What’s next? World domination! I guess a regroup to figure out what’s best for us as a band. We are free to do what we want as a band. We’re always writing, always coming up with new music. We will go on tour next year. I feel like we are just really proud and we love what we do.

For more on Girl on Fire, visit them at www.girlonfiremusic.com 55

Breaking Tempo Written by Sevanny Campos

There are few bands who have as much talent and potential as Breaking Tempo. On August 24 the band released their first full length album “Beginning to End” and held a release party for 100 of their closest fans in North Hollywood. However, it wasn’t the number of people that made them special, rather it was the excitement and eagerness to see them play. True to the name of the album, Breaking Tempo played their entire album as well as treating fans to new songs. Surrounded by fans, Breaking Tempo ended their set in the middle of the dance floor, playing an acoustic

version of “Swan Song.” “We will never be done recording and writing music, but we finally put together an album as a four piece. We re-recorded and enhanced and reenvisioned some of our songs,” Singer Robby Bruce said. Throughout the performance fans crowded the stage and sang to “Break Down,” the first and most recognizable song on their album. Members of the audience fed off their energy, the performance was lively, carefree and fun.

Breaking Tempo is an alternative pop/ rock band from a suburb an hour north of Los Angeles. “It’s easy to define our music as alternative,” Austin Herzig, drummer, said. “But I think of it as a melting pot of genres. Our biggest influences are Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, and 21 Pilots. We all draw from our musical tastes. It all comes together nicely to create our sound.” Initially formed as a three piece, singer Robby Bruce, guitarist Justin Tinucci and bassist Austin Anderson started playing together after Bruce wrote the song “Break Down.” The group added

Bruce’s voice echos Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy. His voice is as confident as his looks and he fully engages and connects with his fans. “There isn't one thing only one person brings to the band,” Anderson said. “We try to make it as much as a group effort as we can.” While speaking to the band, Anderson was the most energetic out of the four, a tactic that he carries with him on stage. He is constantly moving around and wears a different crazed expression with every song. It’s easy to see that he has fun onstage. The youngest member, Justin Tinucci, portrays the look of a rockstar with a “cool” haircut and punk inspired clothing and plays guitar like a seasoned veteran. While the other three members of the band run throughout the stage, Austin Herzig is behind the drum set. Combined, the four of them use their different influences to creating a refreshing and beautiful sound with lyrics that relate to their young audience. “Music is a universal language. If someone is listening to a song that really gets to them, it passes through these layers of friendship and allows them to connect like a best friend without having to prove anything to them,” Tinucci said. “Music allows people to connect to each other on a deeper level. We want people to connect to each other with our music.”

drummer Austin Herzig after some time together. “What had originally happened was I was hanging out with Justin and I was trying to write new stuff and see if I could start a band,” Bruce said. “We ended up writing our first song. Justin had a really cool chord progression and I put the words together in about two days, which ended up being Break Down, our first original song.”

Breaking Tempo functions as a unit when collaborating to write songs together and enhancing the others’ sound. In a live setting each member is distinct and plays a crucial role to the development of the band. During our interview, Bruce naturally took over and was the spokesman for the group. At the release party, the singer appeared confident onstage.

The band chose to avoid the popular Pay for Play route. Instead, they built an audience in one of the hardest crowds to please: high schools. The choice has rather successful. Playing at high schools around Southern California propelled them to play in music festivals throughout the summer. “We are going on a high school tour in the Fall to promote our album. We will be touring most of California and possibly extending it to a national tour in the Spring,” Bruce said.

For more on Breaking Tempo, visit them at www.breakingtempo.com

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Natalie Krakirian