This month we bring you reviews on All Time Low, Vonnegutt, and Automatic Loveletter
School's out for *points microphone into stands*....oh come on guys! You can do better than that.
Ok now that my rock star moment is over, let's get to what really matters. Everybody should be out of school now...unless you are one of those annoying....I mean AWESOME kids who goes to summer school. What does that mean you ask? You have more time to read Lemonade, not to mention you can text, tweet, facebook, tublr it to your friends as well. Unless of course you prefer snail mail and in that case you are my hero.
This month is pretty damn awesome. We are now past the one year Anniversary and we have our game faces on......oh yeah you know it. We have some amazing talent this month if you like that kind of thing. The very lovely Kina Grannis graces our cover, one of the coolest new hip-hop groups around (Vonnegutt) has an interview with us, we have our Top Five Summer Songs of 2011 for you as well and last, but not least, our superstar intern Eb brings you some music from across the pond. The UK's hottest new band, Viva Brother.
I am typing this a day before Canada Day and a few days before Fourth of July, since I have family and friends (some of my favorite people in the world) in Canada, I would like to wish them all a very Happy Canada Day and would like to wish all my fellow American readers a Happy Fourth of July. I say next year a bunch of us should get together for a super-holiday, the Canada and USA mashup, fireworks, ketchup chips, ice hockey, burgers, baseball and music. I know, I know, genius right?
Enjoy this month's issue everybody and remember to check out all the artists featured. Also we are always looking for sponsors and advertisers, so hit us up!
-Brandon
Once upon a time, there was a band called Brother. They hailed from Australia and wowed people all over the world with their creative combination of didjeridoo and bagpipes. Then one day they (and especially their lawyers) noticed a budding British-Pop Revival band who also decided to name their band Brother, which didn't make the original band named Brother very happy. So the lawyers swooped in like birds of prey and made the newer, British Brother change their name to Viva Brother. It was frontman, Lee Newell, from Viva Brother whom I had a chance to talk to and now I will relay his message to you: they are in it to win it, and will not go home until they've gotten everyone's attention.
It was refreshing to talk to Newell for many reasons; the main one being that he is proud of himself and not afraid to show it. He and his band mates (Sam Jackson, Josh Ward, and Frank Colucci) quit their jobs, lived on a shoe-string budget, and made a lot of noise. They knew they were good and devoted their time to becoming "the biggest band in the world", as Newell says.
And check out how far they've made it in two years: they've signed a label, have been touring all around Europe AND the U.S., and you might have even been lucky enough to have seen them perform on Letterman! All because they decided to "write songs that they thought the biggest band in the world would write". These guys have real guts and perhaps what it takes to make a big splash in our contemporary guitar-band music. When I listen to their songs (especially Darling Buds of May) I get a nostalgic sense of early punk and Brit-rock. One of their biggest influences is Morrissey, whom they will be touring with in the near future. Think rough and lovable vocals mixed with a sexy British accent, add some rock and roll guitar and relatable lyrics. They play around with surprising melodies that stick surprisingly fast. There's nothing more exciting than an energetic, ambitious, and sassy new band thats looking to reignite the lost art of good yet catchy songs.
Eb: What do you like best about performing?
Newell: We do like to travel because the nature of our lives before the band was we were very much situated in one area, so we are given the opportunity to travel and to play songs that we enjoy playing for people who want to hear them, and it's like a dream come true. We are going to do everything in our power to keep this going and we're going to work hard. You know, to come to the U.S. and play on Letterman and stuff was unbelievable and we are going over there again to do Kimmel. So it's pretty ridiculous how much our lives have changed and we're grateful but I feel like we deserve it.
Eb: Well, yeah! So how was your time in the U.S.? Did you enjoy it?
Newell: Yeah, we absolutely loved it and we are coming over a lot! I think we are coming over another five or six times this year... We like it a lot. The people are nice, the service is fucking good and the food is good compared to home as well.
Eb: Will you be coming to Seattle anytime soon?
Newell: Yes, I believe we are coming in July.
Eb: Awesome, you are going to love Seattle. Although that is my completely biased opinion.
Newell: That's cool, I like that. That's another thing about Americans, they all love where they come from. While here in the UK everyone hates where they come from.
Eb: How do you feel about pop music?
Newell: I don't love it. We came to bring guitar music back into the charts and make it a prominent thing because it has seemed to die down. You know the last great era for guitar music was the Brit-pop phase or something like that, so if we can bring something reminiscent of that, that would be amazing.
Eb: It seems like your goal as a band isn't all about the fame, so what else are you trying to do?
Newell: Well, we do want to be huge, we want to be successful, but we want to be huge because of our music, so we want to get kids playing guitar again or whatever so that there are more bands around... because everything else has just seemed so tacky. Right now though, we'd just like to see more fans......
So there you have it; finally a fresh punk rock band that is not only looking to be rock stars but to also revive the world of guitar music and if you weren't already convinced that these guys are up for the job, then all you need to know is that it was the hotel's fault for furnishing the room, and then putting a pool right under the big window.
Oh sweet summer, we love you so much (and only get to see so much of you here in the Northwest). Just like any other time of the year you deserve a soundtrack and thank God yours doesn't involve carolers and jingle bells.
This is the time when everyone is organizing their camping trips, beach parties, bon fires and BBQs. We understand that nobody wants their party to be a drag, so we have our top five songs of this summer here to rescue you. We believe so much in our extensive knowledge of what is hip, cool and danceable that we are not just suggesting you add these songs to your play lists...we are ordering you to! Full of sing-a-long choruses and fun lyrics, here is our list.
5. Tonight, Tonight by Hot Chelle Rae
You may have heard this song a couple times already this summer, especially since the video for it gets a ton of play on MTV's Hits channel. You may have also noticed a familiar face in the video especially if you're a die hard "Gleek". Yes that's right the shaggy haired, blonde kid (Chord Overstreet) from the enormously popular FOX hit makes a cameo in the video for Tonight, Tonight and he just so happens to be the brother of the bands lead guitarist and backup vocalist Nash Overstreet.
R.K. Follese's sparkly clean vocals and lyrics like "Just don't stop, keep the beat pumpin. Keep the beat up, let's drop the beat down" are guaranteed to get your guests up off their patio furniture and dancing. This may be bubble gum rock, but it's bubble gum rock at its finest.
4. I Feel Like Dancing by All Time Low
Doesn't the name of the song pretty much do all the talking? Yeah that's right the highly energetic punk-pop band that we have to come to enjoy so much has started off the summer right with their first single off their brand new album, Dirty Work.
These guys know how to have fun and they also know how to help you have fun. Co-written with the legendary, Rivers Cuomo, I Feel Like Dancing is the perfect mix of party and humor with snarky lines like "Everybody getting kind of crunk, I think some dude just grabbed my junk, now I know how Ke$ha must be feeling". It seems like a no brainer that these guys, known for their fun attitudes would work with a guy who could supply them with the inspiration for lyrics such as that. Just listen to the chorus alone and you will completely agree with us that it deserves to be blaring out of your iHome this summer.
3. Up Up Up by Givers
Now for a song that even has some indie appeal. Out of Lafayette, Louisiana, these guys have suddenly blasted their way onto the airwaves and onto our hot list. Not only are we excited to have them on our Top Five Summer Songs of 2011, but we are also just happy we found these guys!
Fronted by lead guitarist Taylor Guarisco and adorable lead percussionist Tiffany Lamson (the duo also share vocal duties), you can hear the Cajun and Zydeco influences pounding through Up Up Up and we dare you not to clap along to this gem. Up Up Up will provide a great change of pace to your play list and keep your hipster friends for hating on your mainstream love.
2. Angels by Damato
You are sitting by the pool, single and alone. All of the gorgeous people with their bikini fit bodies and washboard abs are frolicking in the pool and making out in the hot tub, while you sit there with your Corona and lime, feeling sorry for yourself and lack of "action". Then out of the blue, there she comes, another lonely soul day dreaming of a summer fling, you can tell it on her face and even see the imaginary dream cloud above her head as she looks up towards the sky. You sit there hoping she will sit next to you and low and behold she does! Where were we again? Oh right, so which song do you want playing when this happens? Angels by Lemonade Magazine favorite, Damato of course! Yes we guarantee this will be the song of summer flings this year with lyrics like "I know Angels don't fall that often, maybe I'll catch you, catch you, catch you before you hit the ground" that are guaranteed to melt the heart of any girl, well most any girl.
Damato provides 2011 with a song that reminds many of us of the great heart melters of the 90's. Don't be caught playing anything else when your summer girl magically appears this year ok?
1. Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes featuring Adam Levine
The Kings of summer music, Adam Levine and Travie McCoy join up this year to bring you our number one song of the summer. This year is a little different than last year however, Travie joins back up with his old band Gym Class Heroes for this tune and Adam Levine takes it on solo without the rest of Maroon 5.
You can't ask for a better pairing. I mean if you would have asked us last year who we wanted so badly to collaborate it would have been either Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez or these two..ok maybe just these two, but we are glad the other kids are having fun (Go Bieber Go).
All jokes aside, our dreams came true and we are in love with this song. There is no doubt you will fall in love with it too.
Eugene, Oregon native Paul Wright has done mostly solo work and his music has ranged from pop to rock, from reggae to sun-bleached sounds that are tailor made for the beach. Whether singing about his favorite food or footwear, or crooning to his girl or to God, Wright is all about having the time of his life and making sure you do too. He currently plays guitar and does the vocals for the Reggae dance rock band, Rootdown, and we recently got to talk with him about the bands latest release, Tidal Wave.
Brian Palmer: So tell us about the new record.
Paul Wright: Tidal Wave has ten songs that we've been writing the past couple years, and about half of those we wrote through playing shows. We kind of tested out the music live and some of them were just on the spot live. We were doing a show and would just come up with them on the spot through improv. It really feels like its our first record in some ways because I think it's a very accurate representation of where were at as a band now. We've come a long way since our first few albums, just working hard and playing a lot of shows.
BP: You can hear the improvement on the album, how you all have matured as musicians and lyricists in the last couple years.
PW: Thanks! Yeah, with the songwriting I think that comes from understanding what each of us is good at and just focusing on our strengths. The chemistry that we have live comes out in our songwriting and I think that helps. Some of the songs, you know, I kind of came to the band with some ideas already written but there's a good portion of the songs where it was just all of us coming together with ideas and working hard to come up with the best music we can make.
BP: So with the growth and maturity that's readily apparent on this record-vocally you sound better than before, musically it's more polished and there's just a lot of variety on this CD...I'm curious, was this a goal for you guys from the start, to push your creative boundaries for this album and become better as a band?
PW: I think we definitely chose to work with the right producers, picked the right songs. We recorded a lot of other songs, but felt these were the best ones. If a song works live, like HB in particular, that was one of the best songs of that entire show, and we were like, "Yeah, we gotta record that. Let's keep this in our catalog." (Laughs.) just with how engaging it is live. So then it just became a matter of making sense of each part, each verse, figuring out what it was gonna be about. We were in Huntington Beach when we did that show, and we tried to change the song title from HB to something else, but it just didnt work, it didn't feel good. So we just stuck with HB.
BP: I've been trying to figure out why it would be called HB
PW: (Laughs.) Yeah, I thought about that. I was like, "That might not make sense to people", but it was just kind of one of those things where we thought about calling it something else-Keep on Dancing or Hey, Hey for instance, but we just decided, "Lets keep it HB" since that's where it started.
BP: You guys have done your share of serious songs and have mentioned your faith in God, but you also have written odes to flip flops and Burrito Boy (a Mexican food franchise in Central Oregon). You seem comfortable running the gamut between the silly and the sacred, so when you're going through your writing process how do you balance those two aspects of your collective personalities?
PW: (Laughs.) I've never heard that before, "the silly and the sacred". That's funny! I think we treat it like it's a conversation. As individuals, I think our faith is our foundation and it really helps us to live life with an optimistic view, but we're probably not going to go up to someone and bring up matters of faith unless someone else brings it up. We're probably more likely to just talk to someone, you know, about flip flops or burritos. Those things are a cool way to make conversation, and they're fun.
BP: Yeah they are!
PW: I think they're super fun and, I think a lot of times when people bring religion or the idea of something spiritual in music-with Christianity I think the perception is, "Oh, it's in a church and it's for the church." We're not opposed to playing in a church-we've done that and have really been supported by playing in a church, but we don't belong there, you know? We really don't. Thats not our place, necessarily, or our only place I should say. Our music is for everybody, so when it comes to songwriting we don't talk about having one song be about God and then two more be about the sun and the beach. They all just work together to share the perspective we have on our lives, and we're just kind of reflecting on that. Our music is hopefully like a sunrise for people, you know? Hopefully like a banner of hope and encouragement and joy. Especially our live show, we want to bring a spirit of joy. That's our goal: to encourage people and lift their spirits.
BP: No doubt. I've been to a couple of your shows and that's exactly what you guys do. My personal favorite on this album is Karl Malone in a Cowboy Hat (Paul laughs.) and I'm curious where the inspiration for that song came from.
PW: That song title we kind of came up with at the last minute. It's a lyric in the third verse: "Busting out a hat like Karl Malone" and that song really feels like a Napolean Dynamite song, you know a song where you can just geek out and people can be free from other people's perceptions and that's kind of how we chose the song title. Karl Malone didn't care what people were thinking. He'd just put on that cowboy hat of his after he was done playing a game of basketball, you know? (Laughs.) It's just so rare and funky and that's kind of what that song is like live. We usually have a dance contest when we play that song and we usually end up on our backs clapping with our feet at the bridge of that song.
BP: That's what I was going to talk about next, actually! You have the breakdowns, the dance contests and you keep playing your instruments while you're on your backs-you guys don't just stand there and play your instruments and then call it good. You really get into it. How much of that is off the cuff and how much is planned beforehand?
PW: It's pretty much all off the cuff at some point, and then if it works we just keep it in the set. Like the lying on our backs thing, that was just total improv one show and then we fine tuned it and that's kind of where some of the songwriting came from, just from moments of improv where we fine tuned it and that's just kind of what we do with our shows. We've played a lot of shows the last couple years and played like 50 colleges or so, so doing things like this helps to keep the set fresh, pushing the boundaries performance-wise, and finding what is the most entertaining and the most engaging way of playing these songs live. Sometimes that's on our backs!
BP: Now to piggyback off that slightly, is it your bassist, Jackson Michelson, who does all the sound effects and animal noises during your shows?
PW: (Laughs.) Yeah.
BP: How on earth did that get started?
PW: It's funny, we call him "Bass Ventura". Sometimes he just starts doing these noises and imitating animals and if people dig it then he keeps on going.
BP: So you've got your ode to Burrito Boy, and I'm curious if you guys like it so much that you never eat at any other Mexican places, or would you ever settle for any other place?
PW: Nah, we just prefer Burrito Boy is all. There are some other good places here in Eugene (Oregon), even Mucho Gusto. I like their fish tacos, but Burrito Boy, just having 24-hour access to Burrito Boy is pretty special (laughs).
BP: What does music mean to you?
PW: Aw man, its such a big part of my life. A good song-if Im in a bummer mood and I put the right song on it puts me in the right mind set. It's been like a soundtrack to my life, to be able to feel the expressions from other artists has really inspired my own expressions, and I'm wanting other people to be able to feel that as well: the power of emotion that comes through the right song, the right lyrics.
BP: So would you say that's a large part of the reason why you make music, then?
PW: Oh totally. I love writing, I love being creative, and it's amazing when someone comes up after a show and says, "Man, I've been living off of Good Day today. It's totally helped me out." That's just awesome. That's where it's at.
by Brandon Lemons
Do you miss some of the gritty personalities of hip hop? Do you miss the rock influences that used to be a large part of the genre, but lately have become almost non-existent? Do you find yourself going through old albums and records trying to find that sound you loved so much? Well there is no need for that..Vonnegutt is here. Fronted by Kyle Lucas, the band hails from Marietta, GA and has caught the ear of a guy you may have heard of a couple times, Big Boi anyone?
If that alone isn't enough to persuade you then our interview with Kyle will. Here is what he had to say to us....
You guys just came out with a new mix tape right?
Kyle: Yeah $Free.99, we've been working on it for a while, it's been awesome, the reception has been great.
There are a few special guests on it, what was the process of making it like?
Kyle: Since we are a hip-hop band and we root ourselves in hip-hop, we took the traditional hip-hop route that a lot of our piers have done when releasing a free mixtape they release it over other people's beats. They will hear Lil Wayne or Drake on the radio and rap over it, but we had the idea that since we are a band, to do it from a live band perspective. We thought it would be fun to get a bunch of our friends from bands and a bunch of our rapper friends and just make this huge collage of sounds. We wanted to make sure the ones we were covering had a Vonnegutt twist and add in our friends, we also had a few originals on there as well.
I noticed you just released the video for your cover of Green Day's When I Come Around featuring Cassadee Pope from Hey Monday. How did you guys end up working together?
Kyle: We met through her A&R at Columbia, Jay Harren, he signed Hey Monday to Columbia. I've know Jay since we started talking to major labels two years ago, so he was the first major label who spoke to us and we kept a good relationship with him, even thought we didn't sign. That kind of introduced us and Hey Monday. Cassadee did an incredible job, she's an incredible artist.
We interviewed Hey Monday last year at Warped Tour, so it's cool our readers will get to link that with you.
Kyle: Yeah it's really good cross promotion!
Speaking of Vans Warped Tour, you guys are joining the tour this year right?
Kyle: Yeah we are doing three weeks of West Coast dates, this is our first Warped Tour. We did one date two years ago in Atlanta, but this is going to be our first actual run with it.
I will definitely have to check you guys out if you are at the Gorge stop in Washington State.
Kyle: Yeah for sure we will be there!
It's a really beautiful stop and a great venue for any concert.
Kyle: Yeah I have spent some time in Seattle, I did a solo project with the producer, Captain Midnite out there back in October and then did another project in December that is set to release after Warped Tour. I love Washington.
Nice! Yeah if you have never been to the Gorge you will see a very different version of Washington, not the same as the rain soaked, evergreen Seattle most of us are used to, it's desert in the Gorge!
Kyle: :: laughs :: Yeah it is going to be a hot summer, I just know it!
I've noticed a few new names coming out of Georgia like Dirty Pollyanna and also a few artists in L.A. now who are originally from Roberta or Atlanta. You guys are from Marietta, what is the scene like there right now?
Kyle: It's cool, I just watched our friend B.o.B. blow up this year. We've done some shows with B.o.B., we are "Favorite Gentleman" too, like Manchester Orchestra and all of them, we're part of that community. Constellations are another incredible act out of here. It's very multi-genre, we all seem to be influenced by hip-hop now that I think about it. We all dabble in different sounds, but growing up here, it is hard not to be influenced by bands like Outkast, because that's just the culture out here. As far as the scene, I think we all help each other out, I have only been met with a lot of support from bands like Manchester Orchestra, Constellations, B.o.B., like all the people that are breaking out on a national scale you know? I think everyone supports us and we support them too, so it's awesome.
Tell us a little more about Purple Ribbon and Favorite Gentleman
Kyle: Purple Ribbon is the label we are signed to, it's Big Boi's label, he had a bunch of artists like Bubba Sparxxx and Killer Mike, but now it's us (Cutty Cartel, who sings the hook on Shutterbug, he's from the group Jim Crow), and also Janelle Monae, she's on Purple Ribbon as well. Favorite Gentleman is more of a community of artists in Atlanta. They are acts affiliated with Manchester Orchestra. Jeremiah Edmond who used to play drums for Manchester Orchestra actually quit playing drums to run the label. It's really cool, it's almost like a Rat Pack in the rock world.
What made you decide you were going to get into hip-hop?
Kyle: Well I grew up in Marietta and it's like a suburb of Atlanta, about 20 minutes north. I remember growing up with my friends, skateboarding and you could listen to both rock and hip-hop without being considered a poser, there were no "cliques" or whatever. I thought it was cool, because I grew up listening to Blink-182, Sublime and Less Than Jake and Dr. Dre and all of my friends know the words to Outkast like it's the frickin Bible, like it's the gospel truth. As far as recording, I started recording in my parents house when I was 15, I purchased my own computer software and a mic and stuff. I was really into a lot of Northern hip-hop like Cormega, Jay-Z and Nature. I remember recording every day and thinking I could really do this as a career. Acts like Chino XL, Royce da 59, I really liked super lyrical MCs. Of course I loved all the Dungeon Family, all of those rappers.
Who are you the most impressed with these days?
Kyle: I am always impressed with Gym Class Heroes, they kind of opened the doors for Vonnegutt. We always tend to get pitted against them. I actually had a chat with Matt from Gym Class Heroes right before we went on tour about a month ago and I am always just super excited for them, I think they are super talented. As for other acts, I love Lupe's new album, Chitty Bang just dropped a really cool mixtape. Who else?...oh 2am Club, I really like them, I feel they have this Maroon 5 pop vibe, but Tyler can rap too. We were lucky enough to go on tour with them as well. The one album that has blown me away lately, is this singer called The Weekend, he's really, really dope, that's what me and my girlfriend have been listening to non stop. He's got the Drake-like beats, but he sings about drugs and sex, so it's not your typical radio R&B, so definitely The Weekend makes me want to do some cool music like that.
You seem like a guy who likes the fact that artists help each other out and the camaraderie aspects of the business, so what do you feel about people constantly trying to start fire fights between bands, like they have tried to do with you and Gym Class Heroes?
Kyle: It's completely annoying for me, it seems like ever since we started Vonnegutt. There aren't many bands that have legitimate rappers, so you have the Limp Bizkit thing and the Nu Metal thing where you have distorted guitars and heavy riffs and a singer kind of trying to rap and scream at the same time. If it's not that, you basically have Gym Class Heroes, The Roots and maybe old Linkin Park, but they're not even like that now. We are like a genre-less genre, you can't really pinpoint us, so I guess other than The Roots and Gym Class Heroes, you can find anything else like us.
It's annoying, a lot of journalists have tried to twist my words around, that's the first thing they ask "Are you trying to be Gym Class Heroes?", when I'm just completely inspired by people like them. We haven't met any opposition from artists, whether they like our music or not, they appreciate the hustle. I have a solo career along with all the stuff Vonnegutt releases, you can't really knock that, whether you like the music or not you know?
I think some people just really hate the fact that Big Boi signed us, they look at Outkast as Gods an they ARE Gods, but they just hate the fact that Big Boi likes us, I don't know
:: laughs :: I don't know why it makes them so mad! I suppose you noticed the response on twitter lately right?
Yeah, yeah exactly.
Kyle: ...about the track with Cassadee, people took it all wrong. We weren't trying to make it better than Green Day's version, it's a mixtape, so first of all, people criticizing it are I guess the fans that are from a different genre, like the pop-punk world or the rock world, where they just don't understand it, here in the hip-hop world we do this stuff all the time. It's not like were calling it our song, so its incredible that people found it so blasphemous, I'm cool with people hating it. I talked to Cassadee about it, we had fun doing it, we shot the video in like an hour while she was in Atlanta, there was nothing to it, it was like two shots, it wasn't that big of a deal, but people just really took it the wrong way. On the other hand, everyone's talking about it, so that's a good thing regardless of whether you hate it or you love it.
Yeah it was funny to me to see the haters, because I grew up a big Green Day fan, so I really thought it was cool you had Cassadee do it and put the spin of having a girl sing it on there.
Kyle: Yeah and people were like "well what's up with the rapper?", well that's Vonnegutt! I mean, if you are going to cover something, make it your own, don't copy it exactly you know?
So what comes after Warped Tour for you guys?
We just signed a distribution deal for our album finally. That was the one major thing that was holding us in limbo. We kept saying no to the major labels that tried to sign us this year and we're still signed to Purple Ribbon as an imprint, but we had to decide whether it was Purple Ribbon/Atlantic or Purple Ribbon/Interscope, and we finally decided to sign with Average Joes, which was sort of compromise, since it's major/indie and that's what we wanted. The album has been done for a while, so distribution was the only thing holding us back, the album is called Falling Up The Stairs and it's like our baby, so I am super, super happy it's being released. It should be out mid-summer. I also have that solo project with Captain Midnite called The Sky Is Falling and Im Fine coming out, we just shot the videos for that. We (Kyle Lucas and Captain Midnite) will also be performing at Lollapalooza this year, which is cool since Vonnegutt performed there last year. We have an idea of what are fall tour is going to be like, but we just want to wait until all the paperwork is done.
It all started when Kina was just a little girl singing to her stuffed animals in her bedroom. Her shy demeanor didn't make the jump to the stage quite as easy as it is for most, but lucky for everyone she did end up there. The California native has had her work featured on ABC's General Hospital, as well as MTV's College Life, not to mention she has a large video library of both original music and covers that you can find on you tube (be sure to check out her cover of Adele's Rolling In The Deep).
We managed to catch up with Kina just after her latest West Coast tour...
You just got off a small tour right?
Kina: Yeah in April I did an East Coast tour and then the last one I just finished in May was Vancouver down to San Diego, so the West Coast stuff. It was really fun.
Awesome, how did you like Vancouver? I live near there and it's one of my favorite cities.
Kina: I love Vancouver, I definitely want to spend more and more time there.
Now you're gearing up for a European tour in the fall, is this your first time touring Europe?
Kina: Yes it will be my first time to Europe ever, so I am really, really excited. I've been connecting with these people for three years now and wanting to meet them, so it will be really cool to see all these people who have been so supportive in person.
What city are you looking forward to the most?
Kina: I am just looking forward to all of it. A lot of people are getting me excited about Paris and such, but I think I am just excited to see everything.
Your album Stairwells has been out for almost a year and a half now, how have you felt about the reaction to it?
Kina: I am definitely happy with the reaction, it was a year in the making and it was my first real in studio album, so I was learning a lot working closely with producers and I learned so much about trying to capture the right character of a song. Not just producing it for the sake of producing it. I am definitely happy with how it came out and the general reception has been pretty good. A lot of people had already known the songs on it, since I had put them online already and these were basically embellished versions of them.
You've been played on shows like General Hospital on College Life, what was your reaction to hearing your song on TV?
Kina: It's a funny thing really, watching a show and then hearing my voice come on suddenly makes the show seem like a fake show :: laughs ::, it's like "This isn't real!", like ok that's weird, but it's totally cool and surreal for that to happen.
As you said earlier, you've written a lot of songs over the years before finally releasing them in their studio forms. Which one stands out as the one you are most proud of?
Kina: That's tough, I really don't think there's one, because they all connect with me in such different ways. They will all have that feeling afterward that is like "Aw this is exactly what I needed" . Then there is always the question on whether people will like it, but all in all they are all important to me.
You were a pretty shy kid, so what was it like getting into this business where being shy isn't really an option?
Kina: It was difficult, I was strangely torn, because there was this huge part of me that wanted to share my music and wanted to perform and then there was my being shy, so I would play a show and be so nervous and the show would be kind of awkward, then I would get off stage and go cry in a corner. The more I did it though, the more I realized that people weren't hating it and the people came to support me, not to judge me. Slowly, but surely I got used to it, I still get nervous, but I think my wanting to share my music overcame my shyness. I'm still a shy person, but I want to share my music more I guess.
Besides music, what was your childhood like?
Kina: I have two sisters, so I spent a lot of time with them, we all get along really well, they're my best friends. We sang a lot together and growing up I did a lot of different sports in high school, I was a runner and really into academics, so a pretty standard childhood.
You do a lot of covers online, which artists have inspired you the most?
Kina: For right now, there is a three way tie. One is Imogen Heap, she's just a genius when it comes to song writing. Another is Sigur Ros, obviously I haven't covered them, because it's like a fake language and I feel strange singing it, but that music just kills me I love it so much and the third one would be Bon Iver. I really, really love his stuff.
Whats your favorite cover to sing live?
Kina: Well it varies, because I have done so many online and I love doing all of them, but live I only do the ones that kind of confuse people ::laughs:: , so lately the two I have been having fun with are Oops I Did It Again by Britney Spears and Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio.
So what's going on this summer before the big Europe tour?
Kina: I am hoping to get back to the creative part this summer, I've been so caught up in releasing Stairwells and touring, that I really haven't spent time with my guitar and written in a really long time. I plan on setting aside a few weeks this summer to seclude myself off from the rest of the world and just write, experiment and start thinking about the next album.
Which of the artists that surround you are you most proud of right now?
Kina: Right now I am really proud of two bands that I know who are taking off, Local Natives are doing so well and I love them as people too. Also Lady Danville, they are good friends of mine and I just think they are great people making great music.
Summer is here! Summer could mean many things to different people like vacation, road trips and of course lots of trips to the beach but what should you wear? Let's take a look at the summer trends for 2011. The current vintage 70's obsession of fringes, big round sunglasses and American flag print are still at large and will most definitely slip into the summer months to come, but that doesn't mean you can use your own unique style to mix and match creating a variety of looks to last you all summer long! Keep in mind that style comes from within, so feel free to take my advice but remember that everyone is different and has to find their own way to let their fashionista out!
April showers bring May flowers! Floral print is everywhere and I have to admit, the floral prints are my favourite current trend. From long dresses, skirts, bras, shorts, swimsuits to flowly boho shirts floral covers everything. The reason it's my favourite trend is because there's more than one style of flowers! From Roses to Daisies to pink, purple and red you will be able to find floral print anywhere you shop. Another thing to remember about the floral print is accessories. Adding some flowers in
in your hair via headbands, hair clips or at random will enhance the floral look, but be sure not to overdo it. To counteract the floral print try adding some neutral browns and tan accessories to make more of a bohemian look.
Speaking of summer accessories it's common knowledge that feathers are bursting through the scene in many forms of hair accessories, clothing and general decorations to add that perfect touch. I love the feather headbands and hair clips but feather extensions? Not a fan. Feather hair extensions come in different styles and colours but the ones I've seen for "extensions" are these small stringy feathers that varies from red to green to pink. At first they're hard to see depending on the colour of the persons hair but after I notice them I think
they look tacky. Feathers don't go with every outfit nor do the colours I've seen people wearing. They are very subtle feathers, to make a louder statement use feather hair clips. It not only seems simpler but with the removable feather piece you can change colours, styles of feathers and mix and match feathers to your different outfits. So why pay to have feathers inserted in your hair when you can use removable ones that you can move around and change to keep your hair accessories matching your outfits!
For those "It's so hot I'm dying" days hipster shorts are making their appearance on the scene in every style from denim to floral prints. Since hipster shorts are high-waisted pairing these with shorter tops such as crop tops in order to stay cool but not show too much skin. Otherwise tucking in a simple solid colour shirt or even one with a design will help the hipster short stand out yet keep your style rocking! Keep in mind that hipster shorts hug your waist and during those extremely hot days not only make your shorts larger in size due to sweat but are possibly uncomfortable if you'll be in the heat for long periods of time. Perhaps a "flowy" ti-dye skirt would be more comfortable and you don't even have to change shirts! Not to mention you could rock the skirt as a cover up for the beach!
Lace is another trend that's popping up on the scene. I love some of the lace trends but not all of them. Reasons why? The heat. Since I'm from California, it's been getting increasingly hotter and the thought of lace clinging to my body just sounds uncomfortable. Perhaps keeping the lace in skirts and away from your neck and upper body will help with staying cool.
With the hipsters following the hippy trends we are definitely in for a bohemian-styled summer! Hemp, Hippie, Colourful, Feathery, Natural, Organic & of course Vegan/Cruelty free clothing but please, lets leave the gladiator sandals in the past.
Is it getting hot? Don't you want it just a little hotter? Wouldn't some hot music help turn your triple digit weather into a sweat fest? You know that dirty, sexy, sweltering hot weather mixed with that music that really gets things going?
I have no clue what I am talking about and have probably offended a good number of people who will say that has nothing to do with our reviews this month, but who cares? I don't. However I do care very strongly for our reviews and I hope you do too. Almost as much as those sweat fest days.
As far as mixtapes go, it doesn't get much more fun than this one. Talk about taking Generation X back to it's roots and twisting it up with a 2011 vibe (I still have no clue how to word the decade we are in right now), Kyle Lucas and the gang do it to perfection here.
Rapping over covers that include Blink 182's Dammit, Weezer's Put Me Back Together, and Green Day's When I Come Around, this is no doubt the mixtape I will have playing over and over again in my car this summer. Along with those rock covers, Vonnegutt also tackles some of the biggest names in hip-hop right now, such as Kanye West and Drake.
The thing I like the best about this mixtape is that my usual pick with mixtapes is the lack of flow, they always seem chopped up and disjointed, but that is not even close to the case with $Free.99. The tracks and rhymes just keep flowing out beautifully and you literally never want to pop it our of your CD player. Did I happen to mention it is free!? Just go to www.vonnegutt.com to download your own copy.
Some of my favorite moments include their take on Kanye West's Runaway, Gone, and the outstandingly produced Bright Eyes with Captain Midnite. This is a no brainer guys, download it now!
-Brandon Lemons
Sometimes you just need to get down with your bad self and groove like there's no tomorrow. If that's the kind of party you're looking for, then Tidal Wave will give you a good dose of that. The ten tracks on this album are a fun combination of rock, dance and reggae that will have you pumping your fists, jumping up and down and doing your best Napolean Dynamite impersonation before you even know what's hit you and you'll probably love every second of it.
HB has an almost Caribbean-style rhythm and beat that are infectious and impossible not to dance to. Ditto the reggae dance rock of Karl Malone in a Cowboy Hat-if you can't get your groove on to this one then you're probably dead. If you're actually checking into the content though, there's even more fun to be had, with everyone from Mr. T, Hanson and Macaulay Culkin getting name dropped in addition to the celebrities and characters listed earlier. While there are no odes to flip flops or Mexican food as on their previous releases, they close the album on a high note with a somewhat silly track devoted to everybody's favorite part of the week...the weekend.
Singer Paul Wright sings and raps his way through lyrics that touch on everything from the sacred to the silly, and all with the right amount of gravity or levity each situation requires. Considering how generally positive and upbeat the material on the album is-even when the middle songs get a bit heavy on the serious content, the band scores major points for making sure the songs don't come off as hammy or sophomoric either. Like a day at a sun-bleached Santa Cruz beach, Tidal Wave is something youll want to enjoy over and over. -Brian Palmer
When you take the CD out of the case for Dirty Work, you are greeted by front man Alex Gaskarth doing his best David Hasselhoff impersonation and no I don't mean running down the beach in orange shorts ready to give some hot girl CPR. I mean the David Hasselhoff that went viral on youtube...I think you all catch my drift.
That's kind of what we come to expect from All Time Low, these guys are all about fun and they are quickly becoming the masters of it. In a day in age where we have lost bands like Fall Out Boy and bands like Weezer are being called classics (what the fuck happened to my youth?), we need bands like All Time Low to carry the torch.
Dirty Work is definitely a good start in the major label world for the boys from Baltimore, it features hilarious lyrics (some with a little help from forementioned Weezer legend Rivers Cuomo) as well as the "break up, she's too good for me, I love her though, but she's going to end up with a douche bag" lyrics that-face it we all love (don't deny it we know you do).
The debut single I Feel Like Dancing is fun as hell and so is That Girl where Gaskarth sings "That girl, that gir,l she's such a bitch, but I tell myself I can handle it". Two of my favorite tracks off the album are the Fall Out Boy-esque Return The Favor and the very enjoyable, stripped down A Daydream Away.
I feel like I never have anything to pick apart with Juliet Simms or anything closely or vaguely associated with Automatic Loveletter, so I will start off with the only pick I have with this album....nine songs is not enough!
Oh man, I mean this fully acoustic album is pure gold, it could go on twenty songs and I am sure it would just keep getting better and better and better. Black Ink Revenge samples lyrics from a previous track of hers (My Goodbye), I am not sure what the story is there, but it works really well, so I am not complaining. From there the album just continues to bloom with different sounds and Juliet's way with words. Trade Places could be my favorite track on the album, it features a calm, dreamy sound that somehow also manages to be powerfull as hell (how does she do that?). However if you are like me, you will then hear Cruel Cruel which follows it and think to yourself "oh wait I think this is my favorite actually", it's a beautiful piano ballad that shows off Juliet's more soulful side and is guaranteed to give you chills. Convinced yet?
I was and still am a huge fan of Dashboard Confessional and I don't think Juliet would be to bothered by me considering her both an updated and female version of them. She has now shown her strengh in going unplugged in the same ways Dashboard has and her unbelievable way with words and beautifully, raw, emotional voice make it an easy comparisson to Chris Carrabba's career. The Kids Will Take Their Monsters On is flat out amazing. I can't wait to see what is next.
Hey look folks, I am doing a book review! Yep, I finally learned how to read.
