Beyond The Stage Magazine - November 2014 by Beyond the Stage Magazine

N ovember 2014

Kalin And MYleS Magic Man Kris Allen Boyce avenue

Table of Contents â&#x20AC;&#x153;Starving Artistsâ&#x20AC;? - page 05 -

Demi Lovato - Photo Diary - page 09 -

Magic Man - page 11 -

Boyce Avenue - page 16 -

Kalin & Myles - page 19 -

Honeymoon Tour - page 26 -

Album Reviews - page 28 -

Kris Allen - page 32 -

Take A Breath - page 38 -

Thanks - page 40 -

From Beyond the Stage:

STAFF: Editorial:

Dear Readers, Welcome to the very first issue of Beyond The Stage Magazine! To give you a bit of background, Beyond The Stage is a forty-five day cycle magazine created to take you behind the scenes and beyond the stage with some of your favorite musicians. But, as a team of avid music lovers, we know that the artist is only one part of the massive machine that is the music business, which is why we are dedicated to bringing you the behind the scenes action to you, through interviews with songwriters and producers, venue highlights and more. Our goal is to bring attention to the music industry as a whole. We promise to always keep things interesting. I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who helped to make this issue happen. To our amazing staff: you guys rose to the challenge and because of this we are able to put out something that I believe we are all very proud of. The labels that gave us a chance: Atlantic, Sony, Hollywood, Warner Brothers, Fearless and the independents too, without you, none of this would have been possible! On behalf of our staff, I invite you to explore the first ever issue of Beyond The Stage Magazine. Enjoy! Sincerely, Allison Lanza Exectutive Editor

Executive Editor Allison Lanza Feature Editor & Outlet Contact Gabi Talisman Photo Editor Becca Mathias Layout Design/Issue Editor Addie Whelan

Contributors: Antonia Cambell-Nelson Chelsea Gresh Charlotte Freitag Delaney DeAngelis Eden Jezierski Gretchen Thom Hannah Marie Kathryn Bethard Lauren Klonowski Liz Swezey Marianne Peralta

Photographers: Addie Whelan Allison Lanza Becca Mathias Gabi Talisman Hannah Marie Liz Swezey

Contact: Online at: beyondthestagepress.com Twitter: @BTSPress Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/btspress allison@beyondthestagepress.com

Want to be featured in BTS? Contact: gabi@beyondthestagepress.com

Top 5 Remixes of 2014 Written by Addie Whelan 1. Sex (Ryan Hemsworth Remix) - The 1975 After releasing an album that quickly skyrocketed to the top of everyone’s “25 Most Played Songs,” The 1975 released “Sex EP Remixes.” The album consists of 7 remixes including the standout by Ryan Hemsworth. Sex is set to an entirely new beat. Slowed down and played against an electronic beat, Hemsworth completely transformed one of The 1975’s biggest hits into an electronic masterpiece. Sex is redesigned into a slowed down, practically dirty version of the heavy rock ballad. Listen To - At night, in the car 2. We Move Like The Ocean (Sebastian Carter Remix) - Bad Suns Remember that song Saturday Night Live would parody almost consistently called “What is Love?” Think back to those days but add the newly popular rock band, Bad Suns. We Move Like The Ocean has the grove of “What Is Love,” but is combined with new lyrics and a much catchier beat. Just like Ryan Hemsworth, Carter completely redesigns the original hit into an electronic masterpiece. Not a single instrument is kept from the original song, and it completely changes the connotations Listen To - When you just need a good dance. 3. We Can’t Stop (The Jane Doze Bootleg) - Miley Cyrus Who said male DJs are better than female? The Jane Doze continue to impress their strong following of “The Herd” with their incredible Miley remix. Somewhat set to the same music, The Jane Doze completely break down Miley’s #1 Hit and add a heavier bass and an electronic, dance feel. Obviously one of the best remixes The Jane Doze has done, the evidence is clear on SoundCloud with a massive 600,000 plays. The completely remastered Miley Cyrus “I feel like a badass” song is slowed down and made into one of their best. Like The Jane Doze? They have 57 other remixes and mashups. Listen To - Getting ready to go out 4. On Top Of The World (RAC Remix) - Imagine Dragons With a whopping 1.5 million followers and almost 250 mixes, RAC is one of the leaders in remix creation on SoundCloud. Althought the word “remix” means to most that the beat is sped up, this is definitely one of the most “chill” remixes RAC has produced. Definitely a dance tune, the familiar “On Top Of The World” theme plays throughout the song along with electronic beats instead of the classic guitars and drums. Listen to - When you got a promotion at work 5. Could You Be Home (Ras Remix) - Heffron Drive If you, like most of the teenage population had a fangirl stage of your life, this voice might sound familiar to you. Kendall Schmidt (formerly of Big Time Rush)’s new album “Happy Mistakes” included “Could You Be Home” along with the remix. The remix completely changes the original, slow song into a bass heavy, electronic beat. Ras (Nicholas Furlong) has worked with some of the biggest names in the business (i.e. 5SOS or Avicii) but pulls off “Could You Be Home” as one of the biggest tracks on the album. Electronic with a smooth beat behind it, Ras clearly knows how to pull at a fangirl’s heartstring. Listen To - When you feel like being a total badass.

Trials and Tribulations of the Starving Artist Written by: Eden Jezierski Photos by: Liz Swezey We live in a world where we are simply emulsified by music. It is everywhere we turn, whether it is music blasting in a store at the mall or background music to a commercial on TV. What we do not exactly know is what the artist went through to get to that point. As a listener, it is not typical to understand the trials and tribulations that bands or musicians have to go through to get to where they are today. There are miracle stories where an unknown artist wins American Idol and becomes the next big thing or sometimes a musician has personal ties to a major label and the pathway toward success was already built for them. But then there is the more common story: the bands and musicians that struggle and work their asses off to just get noticed by a handful of kids. After picking the brains of Louie Malpeli and Okan Kazdal from New York band This Is All Now and Dana Michael, an upcoming country artist and former frontman of Stay Seventeen, an introduction to understanding the “starving artist” was born. How do up and coming artists keep their feet planted in such a changing and challenging industry? All three of the guys stated it perfectly: “by reinventing the wheel and persistence.” While there are many struggles that musicians must face when beginning their musical journey, there are a few that stand far above the rest. According to Dana, the biggest struggle is money. “Money is a big reason as to why bands fall apart the way they do. It sounds silly but the music industry has become very… times are changing.” The foundation of becoming a successful artist is starting with money in the first place. It is not just the artist that gets paid at the end of the day. Marketing companies, tour managers, and merchandise – this all comes out of the band’s pocket from the beginning. “Music is now becoming found everywhere.

Pictured: Louie Malpeli (left) and Dana Michael (right). Not Pictured: Okan Kazdal.

It’s hard for bands to sell and make as much money off that to survive. So now there’s searching for other ways to make that money. Bands just crumble, they can’t get to the cities on time, they can’t get on tour to meet fans, can’t promote, can’t sell music. Money’s hard,” said Louie. In the past, artists had their music to guide their journey in the right direction. With the ever-existent threat of piracy, music is no longer the medium that makes the artist money. While the Internet can be such a positive source, it is also detrimental. Touring is another avenue that artists use to make their music known, but yet is another struggle. Dana reminisced on being in a band and trying to get those gigs to get his music known. For up and coming artists, it is a one-man push for that promotion. The artists themselves set up their gigs and they are the ones who have to go out and help sell their own tickets. “If you’re not selling the tickets, the 15 tickets you promised to sell, it’s coming out of your pocket. Because they need to pay the band that people do give a shit about. So it’s just impossible to get to the point. It’s so hard.” Having such a strong passion for music and for the fans, Louie, Okan and Dana have been working together to create KDM Music Group. The trio is now working on writing music for different avenues other than themselves, including jingles, other artists, anything they can to get their music known. “You need to reinvent the wheel and figure out new ways to do things at the 21st century level. All the songs you hear on the backgrounds of TV shows, commercials; all those things are done by somebody,” says Louie. While Louie and Okan cite This Is All Now as their main priority, channeling their musical talent in other directions is not a harmful option. While the listener does not always have a true understanding of what artists have to go through to gain popularity, some artists do not necessarily realize what they are getting themselves into either. It is better to learn and have the experiences of those struggles, rather than being told how things are going to be. Okan said, “if someone does ‘warn’ you, they’re jaded and they’re not in it for the right reasons. Do what you love or what’s the point?” Malpeli, Kazdal and Michael have been on this musical journey for a while now but have still kept a sense of positivity. All three artists have a growing fanbase and remain truly thankful for that. “The relationships, the friendships I’ve made, the lives I’ve touched, and the joy of creating music that other people love. It all keeps me going,” said Okan. It is admiral to see artists such as these guys that are struggling in this industry today keep pushing on. Louie, just as positive as his bandmate Okan, gave some great advice that all struggling artists can learn from. “It takes a lot to keep going and keep that dedication but you know, I think [perseverance] is the biggest thing for people to know.”

Charli XCX Chicago // Oct 13, 2014 Photo By: Allison Lanza

Iggy azalea minneapolis// Oct 17 2014 Photo By: gabi talisman 8

DEMI LOVATO feat. MKTO, Bea Miller, & Christina Perri Photo Diary by Becca Mathias

October 24, 2014 - Hershey, PA

A Conversation with Magic Man Words by Charlotte Freitag / Photography by Gabi Talisman After four years of crafting the perfect blend of synth-pop and alternative rock, Boston-based indie band Magic Man is finally getting a taste of the acclaim and popularity they’ve been working towards. The 5-piece ensemble found massive success with “Paris,” the lead single from their major label debut, Before the Waves. Peaking at #33 on Billboard’s Alternative chart, “Paris” garnered a significant amount of media attention and broadened the band’s audience. Since the release of the track in February, Magic Man has been ascending to indie stardom rapidly. The group headlined their very first tour this past summer, and was given the opportunity to perform alongside the likes of Panic! at the Disco. With their steadily-growing audience and ever-evolving sound, the future is looking ridiculously bright for the five young musicians of Magic Man. The band was originally formed by vocalist Alex Caplow and guitarist Sam Vanderhoop Lee in 2010, and their lineup expanded shortly after the release of their first project, Real Life Color. Keyboardist Justine Bowe, drummer Joey Sulkowski and bassist Gabe Goodman were added to the band, directing Magic Man’s sound into a new, more refined direction. We got a chance to sit down and chat with the up-and-coming band about their music. Read on for our interview with Magic Man.

@MagicMan

Magic Man 11

BTS: How did you guys form as a band? Sam: Alex and I started writing the first Magic Man songs the summer after our freshman year of college while we were traveling together and had some downtime. We just started writing some songs on my laptop with GarageBand, it was all very DIY. Eventually we realized that we were onto something special, and we came back to the States and finished what would become our first album, Real Life Color, which we released ourselves online for free. Since then, we’ve expanded our lineup; we’ve become a 5-piece band. Our sound has evolved, we’ve moved beyond the laptop. BTS: How did the music you listened to growing up affect the music that you make now? Sam: I think for me, some of the most influential music was what I first started listening to when I was playing in a band; a lot of The Killers, Arcade Fire, and The Postal Service. When we started writing music for our band, that stuff definitely came out strongly. Nowadays we try and listen to as much music as possible. It doesn’t matter if it’s a cheesy pop song or something more obscure, there’s always something you can learn from it. BTS: What does your music making process look like? Sam: Typically, Alex and I write a majority of the songs for the band. Usually one of us will start with the first little kernel of an idea, often a little vocal melody or a rhythm. Sometimes it’s very stripped down. We’ll pass it back and forth, each of us adding on one piece at a time. Honestly, it really depends on the song. We usually do the lyrics last. Once we have a rough demo, we bring it to the rest of the band to learn how to play it live and record it.

BTS: Where do you find inspiration for most of your lyrics? Alex: Mostly, ex-girlfriends and you know, feelings; sad feelings, happy feelings, those in-between feelings where you don’t really know what you’re feeling but you’re feeling a lot of things. You know, when you should be happy but there’s this profound sadness there. BTS: Do each of you have someone you would really love to collaborate with? Justine: Kate Goodman. Gabe: I just saw Flying Lotus two nights ago, and it made me want to be in his musical life somehow. It’ll probably never happen, but I was very inspired. Alex: I’ve always loved Mos Def, and I’ve always wanted to write a song for him to rap over. Justine: Missy Elliott! Sam: I always say Kanye West, because I feel like it would be an incredibly interesting and maybe uncomfortable experience. Also Luke Bryan, he definitely does a lot of good collaborations. Joey: Michael Jackson. I don’t even have to explain it. BTS: What are you guys the most proud of as a band? Sam: Joey’s new drum kit. Justine: Joey’s drum kit is sparkly like fresh snow. Alex: I would say I’m most proud of the members in this band, just as human beings. I’m proud that every single person in this band is an exceptional human. Not only talented and creative, but also exactly the right type of person you would want to encounter in life and be friends with. That’s a blessing that we take for granted. Sam: #1. Drum kit. Justine: (laughing) Including the drum kit. Sam: All 6 people in the band. Joey: It’s me, personified. BTS: Do you guys have any advice for aspiring musicians? Gabe: Don’t do it. Justine: If you’re going to do it, do it a thousand percent. Get your records together and play as many shows as you can. Gabe: Read a book about the music business. Sam: Don’t be scared to fail or have a bad day. Joey: Experience everything you can, say yes to every opportunity that you get. Alex: It’s really hard to do alone, like if you love writing songs and you have a vision, it’s a lot easier to have someone to bounce ideas off of that shares your vision. It’s a lot more fun to do it as a team. Joey: Much like in romance, if you find a connection that is real, don’t let it go.

Taking It To The Streets By Marianne Peralta We asked random people on the street or in the crowd about their taste in music from favorite type of music, favorite artist or band, what is currently on repeat for them, and their guilty pleasure song or artist? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always interesting to see what different people are into. This week I went to see Nick Jonas play at The Gramercy Theatre in NYC and asked a few Nick J fans about what kind of music theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re into!

Erica S. 20, Sayreville, NJ

Gina D. 17 Oceanside, NY

Michelle G. 21 Paramus, NJ

Favorite Genre - Pop Rock

Favorite Genre - Indie

Favorite Genre - Hip Hop

Favorite Artist - Nick Jonas

Favorite Artist - John Mayer

Favorite Artist - Jonas Brothers

On Repeat - Taylor Swift 1989

On Repeat - Dear Future HusbandMeghan Trainor

On Repeat- Jealous - Nick Jonas

Guilty Pleasure - What Makes You Beautiful- One Direction

Guilty Pleasure - Bad Blood- Taylor Swift

Guilty Pleasure- Barbie Girl Aqua

mayday parade pittsburgh// Oct, 2014 Photo By: hannah marie 15

Boyce Avenue Photos and Words by Allison Lanza Boyce Avenue has achieved the perfect balance between their Internet fame (the band is the most viewed independent band on YouTube) and putting on live shows all over the world, but it was not always this easy. “In the early days, it was a bit more tough, but we’ve got it down to a nice system now,” lead singer Alejandro Manzano says. “We have a team. We have a main video guy, we have our main audio guy [Adam Barber]… it helps to have them at our home-based studio so that we can record a certain amount [of videos], then we go on the road and they’re still editing.” Boyce Avenue consists of the Manzano brothers, Alejandro, Fabian and Daniel, who all play a multitude of instruments. The band formed in 2004 and began posting YouTube videos in 2007.

@ BoyceAvenue 16

youtube.com/boyceavenue

Their covers gained them a lot of attention and their fanbase grew to the point where, now, the band has a massive Internet presence, including over a billion YouTube views. “We were very fortunate in the regard that we would just put out music that, whether it was a cover or whether it was an original, we would just put out these videos that meant a lot to us, and these fans would watch them and they would spread them to their friends. It kind of just kept growing from there.” A quick search around the Boyce Avenue YouTube channel (http://youtube.com/boyceavenue) will show you that the band has collaborated with artists from the likes of Fifth Harmony to Megan & Liz, but their dream collaboration? “Somebody who’s hot right now that I think is really talented… I think Ariana Grande would be a fun collab to do,” offers Alejandro, also mentioning John Mayer and Justin Timberlake. “We think those are great artists.” Since beginning their journey, the Florida based band has played shows everywhere from Ireland to Australia. Boyce Avenue has toured the world, and while they may not have a whole lot of downtime in each city they visit, the guys always try to make time for one thing – the food. “We’re pretty huge into food… it’s like, every time we’re in Chicago, it’s tough to turn down a legit deep dish pizza. For different markets we’ll try other local cuisine,” Alejandro admits. “But we like to stay fit! So whenever there’s a gym, we’ll hit that up as brothers,” he adds. Although their fall tour is just about to wrap up, Boyce Avenue does not plan on slowing down anytime soon. Alejandro explains, “Our main focus now is on original material. We’ve been writing a lot of new original songs, so we’re hoping to have – it’s tough to set a timeline on art or something you’re creating – but hopefully mid-next year, we’d love to have a new full length album of original material and just keep everything going and keep posting videos and keep touring.”

You could win this polaroid! Follow us on Twitter @BTSPress for more information!

Photos and Words by Gabi Talisman

“My throat is bleeding but, like, in a good way!” “Best concert I’ve ever seen. Like ever.” “Why aren’t they famous?!” Little do the fans in the crowd know, Kalin White and Myles Parrish almost never made music together at all.

“[Myles] saw a cover that I posted online and he tried to hit me up and I didn’t hit him back. It took me like 4 months to get back to him, until we crossed paths at a movie theatre. We were actually seeing “Never Say Never” and we were in separate groups. Then we ran into each other and I was like ‘yo, what’s up man!’ and the first thing he says is ‘you never hit me back!’” Kalin said when asked how the pair met. Luckily for the #KAMFAM (what the pair calls their ever-growing fan base), Kalin eventually hit Myles back and the duo was born. “We don’t try to like, aim for a genre, ‘this is what we have to make,’ we kind of just see what naturally tries to happen,” Kalin explained when asked about how they essentially made their own genre. “We like a challenge.” And they certainly do. With their latest release, “Chase Dreams,” the pair spans many genres, choosing to not be defined, and it certainly seems to be working. With throbbing bass that the Bay Area is known for, R&B influences and a little bit of everything else, the pair has garnered support from an incredibly large amount of fans in a very short period of time. The pair attributes much of their success to their biggest influences, both personally and in their musical lives. Myles explains, “my dad has made a huge impact on my life. I think there was a time absolutely where I was going the wrong way and I hated myself and he kind of really helped me to turn around. That definitely is [an influence] for my life. Musically, I feel like we were just so inspired by Justin [Bieber] and like everything that he is doing, as an artist coming up online and the social media so I think what he did really inspired us.” Kalin expressed similar thoughts, explaining “I would have to give musically, the R&B people that I grew up with, Usher was a big part of it. And for life, just in general, my mom. She had to play mom and dad for me, and I didn’t have a dad growing up much. Thankfully he’s around now, but yeah, I would have to say my mom.” Though the pair has done a lot in such a short period of time, they are quick to point directly to what they are most satisfied with. Myles beams and explains, “I think the thing we are most proud of is just like, the music that we are making is all right in my room. So I think that the writing, recording and producing that we’re all doing in my room is one of the things that we are most proud of. It’s cool to see where that could take us. We’re all about chasing dreams and we are able to make something with a little set up in my room and kind of take it to where we are today. It’s super inspiring to us and we’re just trying to show others that if you have a passion for it you can really make it happen.” Kalin added “what he’s saying, we’re having a little bit of voice in the social world, so it’s cool to be a positive influence as well that honestly puts big smiles on people’s faces. That’s one of the most important things.”

Using social media to connect with people all around the world, Kalin and Myles gained attention from major acts like Austin Mahone and Megan and Liz, opening shows and gaining fans. The pair soon grabbed the attention of iHeartRadio and VEVO’s campaigns for artists on the rise, making it into the top of the competitions with a much smaller fan base than the majority of their opponents. By chatting with fans constantly, spreading positive messages with fun music, and always being there for their fans, Kalin and Myles’ ascend has been steady. Though they are not defined by one genre, one of the things they can be defined as is being incredibly good at the art of live performance. Most music has electronic elements and some artists see this as an excuse to not work as hard for their fans that pay money to see them live. Not Kalin and Myles. Their solution to bass heavy, electronic sounds at a live show? A live DJ, namely Myles’ brother Jake. Affectionately known as Jakeey P to their fans, he brings a whole new element to a show that could easily be extremely awkward. With acoustic elements, hip-hop and electronic sections, the transitions never fell apart. The entire live show was smooth and the crowd was never bored. I did not see a single phone out during the show that was not taking pictures. There was not an “I’m bored” text to a friend from school or any aimless twitter scrolling, just one continuously jumping, ready to go crowd of screaming fans. In a year where only one album so far has gone platinum (Taylor Swift, also on Universal Music Group), fans that actually want to show up to shows are incredibly important. Raving fan reviews and affordable tickets have helped the pair sell out shows across the country, including their now legendary “Crazy for Christmas” show that has expanded to the Best Buy Theater in New York City. But with all of this success, when can they finally say, “I made it”? “We talked about the Oracle Arena [in Oakland, CA], which is back from where we are at, and I think that would be kind of great,” Myles immediately responded, with Kalin adding, “same. That’s where we grew up and we still go to basketball games there all the time. I saw my first concert there. It’s awesome.”

Kalin White and Myles Parrish have made huge strides in a short period of time and they know exactly where they want to go next. “At the moment we have our EP out called ‘Chase Dreams’ and we had a lot of fun making that. We still play all those songs in our set and after this tour ends, we just want to continue to make a lot of music. We want to get a project in there soon because we like new music. New music and tour is what we are bugging our managers about, it’s what we want to do.” Kalin explained, clearly ready to continue on their ascend. They knew almost as quickly where they want to be in 5 years, with both “Brazil on the beach” and “keep touring, playing bigger venues, and continuing the positive vibes and the smiles that we see in the crowd when we perform” being spat out quicker than a rap verse from their EP “Chase Dreams.” In the short few weeks since Beyond the Stage spoke to Kalin and Myles, they have announced their first ever UK show, sold out the original venue, and moved to a larger venue. These boys are definitely in it for the long run, and we cannot wait to see what is on the horizon for the talented duo.

@KalinandMyles @YourBoyMyles @KalinWhite 22

Touring Guide your guide to the best fall/winter shows Complied By Lauren Klonowski

Bleachers + Wild Cub + Vacationer Present - November 26th

Black Veil Brides + Falling In Reverse + Set It Off Present - December 15th

Alex Clare + Taylor Berrett Present - December 23rd

Phillip Phillips + Saints of Valory Present - December 24

The Word Alive + The Color Morale + Dead Rabbitts + Our Last Night + Miss Fortune Present - December 13th

The 1975 + CRUISR + Young Rising Sons Present - December 16th

Issues + I Killed The Prom Queen + Ghostowns + Marmozets + Nightmares Present - December 13th

RO W TH big time rush // maroon 5 // avril lavigne // 2 chainz // neon trees

S BA CK paramore // mkto // twentyonepilots // a day to remember // yellowcard

The Honeymoon Tour 2014 Photos and Words by Hannah Marie

Mayday Parade kicked off their fall tour at the Altar Bar in Pittsburgh, PA on October 14th, 2014. It was the first of many sold out dates on the run. The show started out with a very talented up-and-coming, young band. Recently signed to Rise Records, PVRIS hails from Massachusetts and is taking the alternative music scene by storm. Their set evoked a surprisingly lively response from the crowd, considering that they performed first. The highlight for many in attendance was being able to hear their most recent single, “My House,” which sounded even more amazing live than on the record. The band just released their debut album, White Noise on November 10th with a great reception from fans, critics, and fellow musicians. Big things, including a huge venue tour next year, are in store for PVRIS.

@ThisIsPVRIS Next up, was punk- rock band Major League. When viewing the tour package, many were not sure how Major League would fit in with the other bands on this tour, but their set resulted in an engaged crowd. Their set was very enjoyable and sparked my interest in their latest release, “There’s Nothing Wrong With Me.”

@majorleaguenj

Next up was Australian pop-rock band Tonight Alive. They always put on such an energetic show and really get the crowd involved. While most of their setlist came from their last studio album, “The Other Side,” they made sure to play some older fan-favorites as well, including their song, “The Edge,” which was featured on the most recent “Spiderman” soundtrack. Having been on over 10 tours in North America alone, fans expect even more great things from this band in the future.

@TonightAlive The last band of the night was the very popular headliner, Mayday Parade. This was their first tour since playing to huge crowds every day of this year’s Vans Warped Tour. They opened the show with the upbeat “Jersey” and closed with “Jamie All Over,” both songs from their 2007 album “A Lesson In Romantics.” Hands down, the best part of the night was when a piano was brought out for lead singer, Derek Sanders, to perform their song “Miserable At Best.” The feeling you get when the entire room is singing the same, beautiful words in unison is easily one of the most emotional things any fan of this band can experience. It was impressive to see such quality acts on the first show of the tour. The Honeymoon Tour was definitely a highlight of fall 2014 for anyone who attended. @Mayday_Parade

Album Reviews

Artist: Transit Album: Joyride Rise

For a first time listener, Joyride sounds like a mish-mash of country, pop, and alternative rock with banjos and catchy Top 40-esque choruses. Hidden behind these unsightly aspects, the essence of Transit and alternative rock is slightly present through the upbeat drums and under-production. The only thing missing is anything that could separate this album from the repetitive garage band EP that you can buy for $1 at Warped Tour. Frankly, this album sounds like a bad combination of Yellowcard and The Maine, just barely keeping itself from drifting onto the horizon of mainstream radio music. There is nothing necessarily wrong with mainstream exposure, but Transit is not a band that seemed like it would attempt to go in that direction, a fact that made this album a bit of a surprise for many listeners. There is something admirable in bands attempting to break the barrier into new genres, and Joyride seemed to be Transit’s attempt to step into the indie rock genre, however they clearly missed the edge and stumbled down a steep cliff further and further away from the great band they once were. The talent of the musicians is ever-present, but the album collectively lacks depth of any kind. Possibly the worst song on the album, “Saturday Sunday,” sounds like it was stolen straight from Taylor Swift. The band does manage to throw in some decent jams like “Sweet Resistance” and “Rest to Get Better,” which retain that classic Transit sound. All of the songs are fun and uplifting, but this might not necessarily be a good thing if all creativity and intensity are tossed aside. Joyride is not an abhorrent LP, it’s just nothing special. If you are looking for an album to absentmindedly listen to while driving or doing the dishes, this is it. For those looking for music with more meaning, you won’t find that in Joyride. 3/5 - Gretchen Thom

Download: Sweet Resistance and Rest to Get Better

Artist: Urban Cone Album: Our Youth Universal

Following their Our Youth EP, released in 2012, Urban Cone’s full length album by the same title was released and received with flying colors in May 2013. Since then, their fans have been waiting for more new music, which was finally given in early October. “Sadness Disease” is the newest track from the Stockholm indie pop group and definitely does not disappoint. Keeping up with their electro roots and aesthetic, the song is centered around a fast tempo and features ambient synths and woodblocks. Self-described by singer and keyboardist Rasmus Flyckt as having “serious music that’s made for dancing,” “Sadness Disease” is exactly that. The lyrics are a bit depressing, but they are presented in an upbeat way thus making the song a feel good track. Consisting of members Emil Gustafsson (vocals, bass), Rasmus Flyckt (vocals, keyboard), Magnus Folkö (drums), Tim Formgren (guitar), and Jacob William Sjöberg (keyboard), the group first came together while the guys were still in high school in 2010. Their sound is very electro-pop with a feel good vibe and hopeful lyrics. Tracks like “Urban Photograph” and “Kings & Queens” leave the listener wanting to get up and dance, while slower songs like “Burned” deliver a deeper, sultry vibe that leaves the listener wanting more. “The Prom” takes the listener up a mellow, slower road, while “Let’s Go to France” goes back down the upbeat path, with catchy beats and lyrics such as “We should go to Paris, we should go and dance. Cause no one really likes us, we should go to France.” With a sound that encompasses something different and new that was previously lacking throughout popular music, Urban Cone delivers with a song for everyone. In January 2013, after their music was being widely talked about throughout various blogs and music platforms, the group played five shows throughout the U.S. After hearing their new music and watching countless live videos on YouTube, Americans can only hope that Urban Cone makes the trek back overseas and delivers that flawless live aesthetic here again soon. With a second full-length album expected in early 2015, they may just get their wish. 5/5 - Kathryn Bethard

Download: Sadness Disease, Urban Photograph, Déjà Vu

Artist: Taylor Swift Album: 1989 Big Machine

A lot can change in the span of two years… including how you look, where you live, the people you decide to surround yourself with, even the way you look at the world and the things that inspire you. All of this changed for Taylor Swift, as made evident on “1989”, her first documented purely pop album and fifth overall studio release. The singer is no longer the devastated, heartbroken girl we all bared witness to on her last album, but instead, an almost 25-year old working solely on herself and her overall happiness. Here, we hear Taylor officially parting ways with the country stylings we have become accustomed to hearing from her to bigger and better things with the help of Max Martin & Yohan Shellback. The two have taken on executive producing roles alongside the singer and are responsible for over half the songs on “1989”, including the infectious earworm of a lead single, “Shake It Off.” Although it may seem like the Max Martin show, there were many other talented masterminds behind this innovative body of work, including OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, who co-wrote/produced the opener, a song that incorporates the two things that so heavily influenced this album to begin with: the eighties and New York City. There’s also Jack Antonoff (of fun. & Bleachers) fame (“Out of the Woods”, “I Wish You Would”), and Imogen Heap who collaborated with Taylor on the closing track, “Clean,” a true highlight and a breath of fresh air. While the lyrics would have you believe it is about a past relationship, it sounds more like she is coming to terms with who she is and where she is in her career and life. Besides being the year that Taylor Swift was born, “1989” is also looking like a complete rebirth for the popstar, full of limitless potential… Just like the 80s. 5/5 - Antonia Campbell-Nelson

Download: Style, Wildest Dreams, Blank Space, Clean, Bad Blood

Artist: Betty Who Album: Take Me When You Go RCA

Artist: Sykes Album: Gold Dust Unsigned

Catchy hooks and 80s pop synth sounds are what Betty Who is all about. With her debut album, “Take Me When You Go,” she implements these elements into well-written, story-telling songs. The album opens with “Just Like Me” a dreamlike track that pulls at the heartstrings and instantly hooks the listener. This song really showcases all the musical influences that can be heard throughout the entirety of the record. There are a few tracks on the album that fade into one another because they are so similar, such as “Better” and “A Night to Remember.” They both have what can be recognized as the Betty Who sound, but they lack some of the unique elements featured on songs such as the lead single “Runaways.” “High Society” and “Somebody Loves You” are the root of the 80s tracks and arguably the anthems on the album. Both songs were previously recorded for “The Movement” EP, released in 2012. The album closes with “California Rain,” a raw, emotional song that really differs from the rest of the record. It is stripped from all the extra electronica sounds. With just a piano and her vocals, Betty Who shows off her raw vocal abilities. Overall, “Take Me When You Go” is a great party record and will be sure to have you dancing in your car and singing in your shower within the first few listens. 3/5 - Lauren Klonowski

Download: Glory Days, Alone Again, Dreaming About You

To put it simply, SYKES’ EP “Gold Dust” is hauntingly beautiful. The London based band put out the foursong EP in October. The indie pop melodies mixed with singer Julia’s voice provide a calming atmosphere for listeners. The melodies get stuck inside your head and you will find yourself humming the lyrics or tapping your fingers on the table to the melody. The extended play starts with the title track “Gold Dust,” a track with a catchy beat and lyrics that definitely have the elements necessary to break into pop radio. The EP then moves into “Anybody Out There,” a song with a more mellow sound. Third is “I’d Do It Again,” and the collection ends with “Away She Goes.” The only downside to “Gold Dust” is that the songs have a seemingly similar sound. Each song has its subtle differences; some are more upbeat while some are mellower. In general, the tone of the instruments and vocals all seem to blur together into one song. Though this can be considered a negative, it does not deter from enjoying “Gold Dust.” From the extended play, listeners can tell that this new band will continue to grow. These four songs definitely show that SYKES has true talent that will only continue to improve through the years. 4/5 - Delaney DeAngelis

Download: Gold Dust, Anybody Out There

Artist: Halsey Album: Room 93 Capitol

The release of “Room 93” marks the first extended play by alternative pop artist Ashley Frangipane, known by her stage name, Halsey. The twenty year old, New Jersey based songstress began her career by posting acoustic originals and covers on YouTube, but her career really gained momentum after the independent release of her official first single, “Ghost.” Thanks to spins on SiriusXM Hits 1, Halsey earned recognition from major labels and eventually signed with Astralwerks and Capitol Records to release her first EP. The result is a short, five-song collection that is catchy, hauntingly beautiful, and keeps listeners anxious for more. The extended play kicks off with a reimagined version of early fan-favorite “Is There Somewhere?” followed by a re-mastered version of her popular first single. The second single from “Room 93,” titled “Hurricane” was premiered on Vogue.com, and attracted avid readers to the dark and completely infectious vibe at which Halsey excels. The EP ends with power ballad “Trouble,” which showcases Halsey’s extensive vocal abilities as she croons the sultry, dangerous lyrics “I bet you kiss your knuckles right before they touch my cheek.” Short and concise, “Room 93” is just long enough to pull in new listeners, convert them into Halsey fans, and create anticipation for her debut album that cannot be released soon enough. 4/5 - Allison Lanza

Download: Hurricane, Trouble

Artist: Tinashe Album: Aquarius RCA

R&B newcomer Tinashe makes quite an entrance with her scintillating major-label debut, “Aquarius.” Following the rampant success of her infectious first single “2 On,” anticipation for Tinashe’s first major release had been running high for months. Slinky, sensual and smooth, “Aquarius” is everything early listeners had been expecting from the 21-year-old songstress. The album is reminiscent of Tinashe’s independent mixtape releases; a marriage between the edginess of alternative soul music and the shimmery appeal of commercial R&B. “Aquarius” is not Earth-shatteringly incredible, but still an impressive debut nonetheless. Tinashe explores a broad array of styles on “Aquarius,” showcasing her vocal and stylistic versatility. The album features an eclectic mix of collaborators, ranging from popular rappers such as A$AP Rocky to instantly recognizable instrumentalists like Devonté Hynes of Blood Orange. While “Aquarius” includes both radio-ready tracks like “Feels Like Vegas” and experimental slow-burners like “Bated Breath,” the album runs with a remarkable amount of sleekness and cohesion. Elements from 90s R&B are present throughout the project, adding a layer of nostalgia and familiarity for the listener. The tracks are unified by the overarching smooth, lusty sound of the album. Sultry, bold and magnetic, Tinashe exhibits her infinite potential to become an R&B superstar on “Aquarius.” Singing with utmost sass and conviction, she is able to own each track, outshining her high-profile collaborators. Tinashe exudes a mesmerizing confidence and energy that sets her apart from her alt-R&B peers such as Jhene Aiko and BANKS. With her slinky major-label debut, Tinashe has proven that she has vocal prowess and charisma to thrive in the current climate of R&B. 4/5 - Charlotte Freitag

Download: Bet (feat Devonté Hynes), Cold Sweat, How Many Times (Feat. Future)

Artist: Set It Off Album: Duality Equal Version

Set It Off, an orchestral-rock band from Florida, recently released their second full-length album, “Duality.” The group consists of singer Cody Carson, guitarists Dan Clermont and Zach DeWall, bassist Austin Kerr, and drummer Maxx Danziger. Carson has a background in classical music, which you can hear come through in every song through their unique use of string instruments. “Duality” starts off with a very powerful declaration from someone who has been wronged by a significant other, which seems to be a reoccurring theme throughout the album. Featuring lyrics like, “okay we get it you’re both a happy couple, why else go through the trouble of posting it ten times a day,” this album has a much more aggressive, still relatable feel. With around twenty tours under their belt, Set It Off has definitely made their impression in the scene. This has led to collaborations with other musicians, including William Beckett (ex-The Academy Is) on “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” and Jason Lancaster (ex-Go Radio) on “Tomorrow.” Overall, Set It Off definitely took their already distinctive and alluring style to the next level with this album. 4/5 - Hannah Marie

Download: Why Worry, Tomorrow, Miss Mysterious

mkto hershey, pa// Oct. 2014 Photos By: becca mathias

Kris Allen Live Photos and Words By Allison Lanza Portrait By Addie Whelan

Kris Allen’s life was quite the roller coaster ride in 2013. The singer experienced the highest of highs, including the birth of his son, Oliver, and the lowest of lows when he got into a scary car accident and shattered his wrist. Although these events differ quite dramatically, both influenced Kris’s music and life in general. When Beyond the Stage sat down with Kris backstage at the Chicago stop on his tour with Boyce Avenue, he showed us the extremely limited range of mobility that is left in his wrist after the bad car accident that left he and his at-the-time pregnant wife Katy bumped and bruised. “I literally cannot move my wrist more than this right here. I never will be, and that’s okay. It could have been a lot worse,” he says. Although Kris says he does not love talking about the accident, he admits that he was able to channel the emotions he was experiencing into his music; thus the song “In Time” was born. Not only did the accident result in a new and inspiring track, but the crash left Kris in a cast for the making of his new record, making the entire process a bit more difficult. “When I was writing songs for this record, I had a cast on, so all I had was my fingers. So if you listen to the record, a lot of it is kind of finger picking and a little more melodic playing and not a ton of strumming or anything like that,” he explains. “[The music] became a little more intimate and I think people have dug it so far.” Another huge influence in Kris’s life is his son Oliver. “Everything starts to make sense… someone told me, you’re going to have a kid and it’s going to make you a better songwriter and a better everything.” Kris says that his son has a huge impact on his daily life. “Everything I do, I’m like “is he going to think this is cool?” I want him to think that.” Kris’s latest release, “Horizons,” was his third album and first independent release on his own label, DogBear Records. “[On “Horizons”] I had the same producer for every song on the record for the whole thing…. I met a guy, Charlie Peacock. He had done some really cool stuff,

and he kind of jumped on board. He did The Civil Wars, Switchfoot, some Brett Dinnen, Ben Rector stuff, and he just seemed like a perfect fit,” Kris says, explaining the difference between this album and his previous records. One unique aspect of “Horizons” is that a portion of the sales of the album benefits the Music Empowers Foundation, an organization Kris has been involved with since American Idol. “I’ve been working with Andy [Davis, of Music Empowers Foundation] for five years. When I came off of Idol, we had a sit down dinner and he asked me, “What is the one thing you care about most as far as giving back?” I got to play music when I was in school. I was in orchestras my whole life, and I wanted to give back to that. I saw it in my town—music in schools is kind of being axed. So [Andy] started Music Empowers. Everything he does, I always kind of jump on board with, and for this record, I thought, I make music because I love it and because I was given the opportunity early on to make music, so what better way to give back than to Music Empowers?” Not only does Kris love to give back to causes he believes in, but he also tries to involve his fans in his career as much as he possibly can. While Kris is on tour, he selects a fan at each show to help out at the merch table. Fans fill out an application on Kris’s website and the lucky fan who gets chosen gets to help sell merchandise and meet Kris, too. “There are a lot of fans that just want to be fans. But then there are also fans that want to help. They kind of want to be a part of it. So it’s just a nice way for them to feel like they’re a part of it. And they are – they become a part of it for a day. They get to see the husltle and bustle of the merch table, which is a lot of fun. We do some really cool stuff at the merch table and they can kind of become the cheerleader. It’s pretty fun for them.” Kris Allen’s down-to-earth persona, hands-on fan involvement, and desire to give back are refreshing and inspiring. Be sure to pick up a copy of “Horizons” on Amazon or iTunes and learn more about the Music Empowers Foundation by visiting their website at www.musicempowersfoundation.com.

@krisAllen

Behind The Scenes With Our Featured Artists Photos By Gabi Talisman

AJR Gramercy Theatre

October 26, 2014

Photos By: Liz Swezey

walk the moon minneapolis// Oct 17 2014 Photo By: gabi talisman

From Left to Right: Mike O’Malley, Cody Villalpando, Jesse Rossi, Alex Christy

Take A Breath Words by: Chelsea Gresh Photos by: Hannah Marie The lights are dimmed in a packed venue on the South Side of Pittsburgh for Take a Breath’s first headlining show. Everyone in the room was excited to watch their hometown boys take the stage and blow any show they had played before out of the water. The band emerged, dressed to the nines as the Beatles to fit the show’s Halloween theme. Jesse Rossi, vocalist and guitar player of Take a Breath told us it was insane. “Usually, when we’re opening, there are a few people who know us and are into it, but I think I underestimated how different the energy would be when it was our show. No one was holding back; the room was electric,” he says. “I guess it being sold out a week in advance kind of added to the anticipation. I loved it. It was the coolest show I’ve ever played,” he said, looking back. Take a Breath is made up of four members: Rossi, Cody Villalpando (bass), Alex Christy (guitar) and Mike O’Malley (drums). They formed a little over a year ago and have been taking teenage girls’ hearts and the Internet by storm ever since. Influenced by Green Day, Fall Out Boy and All Time Low, they have a great sound for both older and younger fans.

Take A Breath

@TakeABreathBand

Take A Breath

This past summer they followed a few dates of the Vans Warped Tour to promote themselves and get out to places other than just Pittsburgh. “Following Warped was an awesome experience,” says Rossi, “unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of.” It was a hot summer but that did not stop these boys. “We hustled everyone. We would get there before doors in the morning and stay well after the show ended most nights. It was amazing to see how many kids bought our CD that had never met us, or heard of us before.” Selling at least a hundred CDs a day and gaining even more followers on their social media sites, their hard work definitely had a positive outcome and helped them grow.

Just before heading out for their Warped Tour adventure, the band released an EP titled “Stories.” They produced and mixed the record on their own with the help of Rossi’s dad, who is an audio engineer. “This EP wouldn’t have happened without him,” says Rossi. Since they worked on their own, they were able to work at their own pace to get the best result they could possibly create. The EP is currently available on iTunes. With 2014 coming to an end, the boys plan on doing a short holiday tour toward the end of December. After that, they plan on going into the studio in the beginning of 2015 to start recording a new record that will come out in the early summer. With a few shows here and there in the beginning half of the year, they have got some big plans up their sleeves for the later half. Make sure to follow Take a Breath on Twitter at @TakeABreathBand to keep up with all of their latest musical endeavors.

The Best Band You Hav Who is Thanks? Thanks is a young, up and coming, indie rock band from Miami, Florida. The band consists of producer and guitarist Danny Garcia, keyboardist Brett Gilbert, bassist Jakki Davison, drummer Marc Fiol, and lead singer Andy Hernandez. Thanks started back in the fall of 2011 with Danny Garcia, Brett Gilbert, and Andy Hernandez but the band didn’t take its current form until January 2014 when Jakki joined the group.

How can people find your music? Our Album is up on Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/thanksofficial) & Bandcamp (https:// bandthanks.bandcamp.com/releases) and we give out physical CD’s for free.

Can you tell us about your most recent releases?

@ThanksOfficial ThanksOfficial

Our first album, self-titled Thanks, is a culmination of our best works to date. We have songs written from 2012 all the way to 2014. We wanted to take the indie rock sound and experiment with production, influence it with Jazz, and just experiment with the sound as a whole. We decided the album should be given out for free so we give out CD’s and have it online for free download. We decided we want as many people to listen to our music as possible. The release night we broke 1,100 plays in 24 hours which was a huge accomplishment for us and since the album released we have gained over 1,000 Facebook likes so the album has brought a lot of attention to us surprisingly. We’re really happy that people seem to be enjoying it.

ven’t Heard Of: Thanks Describe Your Music Making Process One of us comes up with an idea and we come together and build on it. We jam over the riff and all add our own parts and give each other advice on what fits and what doesn’t. Then we record a demo and give it to Andy, our singer, so he listens to it and writes the lyrics. The lyrics usually follow a story or some kind of narrative that Andy writes, for example we have a song “Anne” about a guy who lives in an apartment and gets haunted by a ghost. On the first album, it was a bunch of songs we had written since freshman year and we kind of honed in on all of them and put them together in the album. We write songs really naturally, we just want to play music that we enjoy playing, we don’t necessarily have other people in mind when writing it.

Who are your musical insterests? Our debut album has taken a while to write and record, so it’s seen all the different changes we went through musically. We started writing it sophomore year and its finally culminating this year, senior year, so we all have gone through a lot of musical changes. There isn’t one artist or genre that we’re trying to emulate. It would definitely fall under the indie rock genre though. Local Natives, Tame Impala, Portugal. The Man, Grizzly Bear, Beach House are some artists we admire and are influenced by.

Where are you looking to take your music next? Well as we type this we’re taking a break from writing the first song on our next album (hopefully), so that’s what we’re looking forward to. We’re looking to start recording in december and have it out by sometime this summer. Musically, it seems to be leaning more towards to the experimental and jazz rock feel that I guess is turning into our trademark sound.

Holiday Gift Buying Guide Written By Allison Lanza Turquoise Crosley Cruiser Record Player - Vinyl is making a comeback and this Crosley player is arguably the trendiest around. The Crosley Cruiser features a built in speaker and spins three different speeds: 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM. $79.95, amazon.com

Magic Man “Before The Waves“ Vinyl - A record is necessary to go alongside your record player, and featured band, Magic Man recently released their new album, “Before The Waves” on vinyl. $22.93, amazon.com

The 1975 Tank Top - This unisex tank top design is the perfect gift for fans of The 1975 and general music lovers alike. Paired with a flannel or leather jacket, this cool tank top can be worn through the winter. $30.00, the1975.com/store-us

Spotify Premium Subscription - A must for any music lover, Spotify gives premium users access to a huge catalog. A premium subscription gets rid of advertisements and allows for mobile Spotify access. $10.00 per month, spotify.com

Beats Pill - This speaker set is a wireless, Bluetooth speaker that can be easily transported. It comes in your choice of black, red, white, grey, pink and gold. $199.95, beatsbydre.com

Staff Picks Complied By Beyond The Stage Staff

1. Tidal Wave – Snowmine 2. Carry Your Throne – Jon Bellion 3. Nara – alt-J 4. One Track Mind – Heffron Drive 5. One Day – Kodaline 6. Paris – Magic Man 7. Cool Kids – Echosmith 8. Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon 9. Teacher – Nick Jonas 10. Love Robbery – Kalin and Myles 11. Sleeping You Away (Taylor) – Take a Breath 12. Hurricane – Halsey 13. bad_news – Bastille 14. Never Catch Me (feat. Kendrick Lamar) – Flying Lotus 15. The Palisides (feat. Christian Rich) – Childish Gambino