Beyond The Stage April 2015
Rey Reel
From beyond the stage: Hello Readers! When we first started Beyond The Stage, I felt the rush of energy as we released our issue and sent it to our closest family and friends. Now, we’re releasing our fourth issue that has some of the biggest names in music in it and I still feel that rush of energy. The same feeling we all get when the lights go down and your favorite band takes the stage, we get every time we create a new issue. We’ve spent the last forty-five days scouring the music industry for some of the greatest artists and we’ve got them all in one place (for your convenience of course). Whether you like the behind the scenes aspect of Beyond The Stage or reading reviews about new music, we’re excited to introduce you to new music through each issue. This issue we’re extremely excited to bring you Alex & Sierra, Clean Bandit, Oh Honey and the incredible Rey Reel. If you’re looking for new music, be sure to check out the Reader Inspired Playlist and our album review section. This issue, we’ve also added a big part to BTS – the website. Our team has created a place for updated music news, playlists and features that is continuously updated. Www.beyondthestagemagazine.com is now live and we hope you’ll check it out. Who knows, there might be a few prizes there too. But don’t worry, Beyond The Stage will continue to create our publication with the readers in mind. From our team to you, Addie Whelan Layout Design + Issue Editor
STAFF: Editorial: Executive Editor Allison Lanza Layout Design & Issue Editor Addie Whelan Director of Content Gabi Talisman Photo Editor: Becca Mathias Contributors: Addie Whelan Allison Lanza Cassidy Basinski Charlotte Freitag Chelsea Gresh Delaney DeAngelis Gabi Talisman Hannah Jones Kathryn Bethard Lauren Klonowski Photographers: Allison Lanza Charlotte Freitag Delaney DeAngelis Gabi Talisman Hannah Jones
LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH: @BTSPress www.facebook.com/btsmag
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Want to be featured in BTS? Contact: gtalisman@beyondthestagemagazine.com 2 | Beyond The stage magazine
www.beyondthestagemagazine.com Cover Photo Credit: Pamela Littky
Contents: Beyond The STage ISSue 4
05 ------- Secondhand Serenade 08 ------- clean BandIT 12 ------- rIxTon aT MSg 15 ------- SaM MIller 20 ------- alex & SIerra 26 ------- alBuM revIewS 29 ------- oh honey 33 ------- rey reel 36 ------- lIke ThIS? check ouT ThaT
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Echosmith Chicago, IL - March 2015 Photo By: Allison Lanza
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SECONDHAND SERENADE Photos and Words By Hannah Jones
@SecondhandJohn
@SecondhandJohn
These days, more and more artists are choosing to self-release their own albums rather than dealing with labels, and that is exactly what Secondhand Serenade did with their release of “Undefeated” last fall. We sat down with front man and singer-songwriter John Vesely to talk about his music, life, and an incredible decade long journey through social media. Vesely formed Secondhand Serenade in California in 2004 and released his first album, “Awake” in 2005. He was definitely ahead of the social media game, using MySpace as an ultimate platform for up-and-coming musicians. Fans could “friend” his account, see his updates, and listen to his music all in one place, something revolutionary at the time. Within a year, his songs had millions of plays on the site and for months, he was considered the No. 1 independent artist. Beyond The Stage Magazine | 5
Soon he was selling thousands of albums on his own, leading to a record deal with Glassnote Records. “If you have good music it can virally spread,” he said. With the decline of MySpace, Vesely disagreed that it is getting more difficult for musicians to get their music out there, “YouTube has been another vehicle that has been extremely valuable…and it’s an amazing way to get found and known.” Notably, his biggest release to date has been the 2008 album A Twist In My Story, featuring the single “Fall For You” that he mentions not even seeing as a single for a short time. Fortunately it was chosen, because ten months after its release, the song was still on the charts as one of the most popular songs in the country. It has debatably become his most known and loved song by fans, venues filling with gasps, cameras, and passionate sing-a-longs as he performs it live. The song has withstood the test of time, being just as meaningful for many fans so many years after it was written “It’s 6 | Beyond The Stage Magazine
pretty amazing how it kind of crossed over, people who like all kinds of music found something in that song,” said Vesely. Vesely claims that while he loves touring and recording, it has been nice to be able to live a normal life while still creating music for his fans. Especially with the separation from a label, Vesely has been able to find a balance between leading a “normal” life and being a musician. He has even been collaborating on a few projects with his girlfriend, Veronica Ballestrini. He explained, “It’s really very, very exciting. It’s amazing to be in love with somebody and be able to do what you love with that somebody.” In the future, he wants to continue making the best music he can for his fans, whether that is a part of Secondhand Serenade or other projects, and plans to be in the studio recording this summer. “I love music, and I love writing and performing and recording, and it’s just a blessing to be able to do that.”
The Metzingers Detroit, Michigan - March 2015 Photo By: Delaney DeAngelis
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CLEAN BANDIT Photos and Words By Gabi Talisman Clean Bandit’s “Rather Be” shook the airwaves in 2014 and their follow up “Real Love” has met ears all over the world with similar success. One of the major reasons for the success of the group is definitely how distinct their sound is compared to many other electronic groups of the 2000s. “We’re an instrumental group. And we’ve got a string section which is great to know. And the music is kind of, broadly speaking, like pop and electronic.” Neil Amin-Smith, the band’s violinist quickly explained when asked what the average listener should know about Clean Bandit. As an instrumental group, the band makes use of different singers on each song, an approach that may leave people apprehensive until they take the time to listen to their songs— songs that have an undeniable consistency between them, no matter who is taking the lead vocal on the track. “All kinds of different music really, we both trained in classical music really young.” Grace Chatto, Clean Bandit’s
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cellist told us excitedly when we asked about their musical influences. “Neil started playing violin when he was two, so we listened to a lot of classical music but we also loved pop, R&B, UK Garage and a lot of dance music as well. I went through a phase of loving rock music and Jack [Patterson] has a jazz background as well.” All of these influences can be clearly heard throughout the style Clean Bandit has truly made their own, both on tracks and, even more noticeably, during the group’s live performances. The crowd was electric with anticipation, but it was nothing compared to how alive they became when the band hit the stage. The crowd’s state was not without reason; Clean Bandit is easily one of the most impressive live bands of any genre out on tour today. Many radio acts have crowds who only know the words to one song, but Clean Bandit is definitely not in that category. With catchy lyrics and a crazy amount of energy onstage it was impossible for people to not sing
along, even if they were trying to catch their breath from dancing so hard. Chatto and Amin-Smith bring an element to the stage that your average dance group cannot even consider with their instruments, with Grace even leaving the cello occasionally for some vocal parts. “The sounds of the violin and cello are quite distinctive in the dance music and Jack’s production across the album is quite distinctive. When we play live, I think it’s a shock or a nice surprise for people coming to the show who have heard the music and more expect it to be more of a DJ act, when actually it’s a lot of live instruments— drums, keys, a saxophone, violin, cello and a lot of different singing.” Grace said enthusiastically, describing what makes the group’s live performance as interesting as it is. Formed in Cambridge, England, Clean Bandit consists of Chatto and Amin-Smith along with Luke and Jack Patterson. With the second bestselling song of 2014 in England (only just behind Pharell’s “Happy”) and fresh off of a Grammy win for Best Dance Recording, the group has made waves globally in a very short time period. “We went to the Warner after party and we DJed there which was a bit of fun. Then there were some people in the hotel room and we got to Mark Ronson’s. We stayed in his room until the fire marshal came,” Grace laughed, describing their night at the Grammys. “We got kicked out! Then we did the same with
Charli XCX’s group and then from there we ran into Sam Smith’s party and that was fantastic.” With so much recognition happening worldwide we had to ask: Where would Clean Bandit play if they could play anywhere? “It would be cool to play in Hyde Park just because I love Hyde Park.” Amin-Smith explained, adding “It’s such a beautiful place.” “Or we have a big concert in Carnegie Hall!” Chatto quickly countered with, “We did something in the UK with BBC Orchestra, where we made arrangements of all of our songs and we were backed by the orchestra and we played in the orchestra. It was amazing!” As huge fans of Clean Bandit’s live performance we would be entirely on board to see either one happen in the future. Wrapping up our time with the band before they got ready to play a jam packed show at Minneapolis’s famous First Avenue, it was easy to understand how this band makes such incredible music: they’re ridiculously in sync with each other. “Open air arenas in Asia!” Chatto told us, just as Amin-Smith said “Arenas!” when asked about where they would like to see Clean Bandit in 5 years. Fresh off of two weekends at Coachella and gearing up for festivals all over the world as we go to press, we definitely don’t see that as a reach: this dance-pop group with influences from all over the musical map is destined for even bigger things.
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Rixton New York, NY - March 2015 Photo By Charlotte Freitag
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RIXTON
Photos And Words By Charlotte Freitag Despite the arena’s massive 820,000 square foot scope, Madison Square Garden simply wasn’t large enough to contain Rixton’s tremendous charisma and stage presence during their March 20th set. Each band member brought a unique energy to their individual performance, resulting in a vibrant and memorable collective display. The group’s natural chemistry was apparent throughout the 45-minute set, as they playfully interacted with one another during each song. The band members demonstrated a deep level of concentration while performing, but did not allow their razor-sharp focus to interfere with the vivacious and spirited ambience they created with their music. Rixton’s set was charac12 | Beyond The Stage Magazine
terized by feelings of passion, power and an overall zest for life. The musicians thrived off of each other’s positive energy while on stage, attesting to their endearingly close-knit group dynamic. Frontman Jake Roche’s powerful voice resonated beautifully throughout the arena, filling the massive space with its unadulterated passion. He was a fiery ball of energy throughout his performance, happily dancing all over the stage and interacting with the crowd of adoring fans at his feet. His calculated confidence drew the audience in and kept them fully engaged for the entire duration of Rixton’s set. Lead guitarist Charley Bagnall impressed the audience with his masterful solos
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 3/20/15 and stunning backing vocals while keyboardist Danny Wilkin enraptured the audience not only with his dextrous playing, but also with his charming personality, which shone through while he was performing. Drummer Lewi Morgan acted as the backbone of the band, drumming with incredible ease and precision. The musicians played a tight set that was well-organized without feeling rigid and cohesive without becoming dull or uninteresting. The four-piece pop-rock band spent several weeks accompanying Ariana Grande on her extravagant The Honeymoon Tour in the early months of 2015, marking the British band’s first foray into arena touring. The band had played a multitude of small
general admission venues in 2014 following the release of their debut EP, Me and My Broken Heart, throughout North America and Europe, but had yet to show off their performance skills in a larger setting. During their opening set for Ariana Grande at Madison Square Garden, the band members proved that they can confidently and successfully put on a solid show in an arena setting. Although Rixton played in a large, impersonal space, the musicians were still able to make the concert feel special and intimate. The band won over the audience with their mesmerizing British charm and quirky antics, leaving concertgoers completely satisfied at the end of their set. Rixton’s incredible showmanship will certainly serve them well in the future. Beyond The Stage Magazine | 13
Clean Bandit Minneapolis, MN - March 2015 Photo By: Gabi Talisman
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A Conversation with Sam Miller of Paradise Fears Photos By Gabi Talisman Words By Charlotte Freitag Sam Miller could have gone straight to Harvard University after graduating from his relatively small South Dakota high school in 2010, but his ambitions didn’t involve brick or ivy. Sam and the other four members of Paradise Fears, an impressive ten-instrument alternative rock band, respectfully deferred their college acceptances upon graduation and instead opted to work full-time jobs at grocery stores and local delis in order to fund the recording process for their debut album, Yours Truly. Their decision not to attend college paid off quite nicely, as the album sold an estimated 24,000 units and peaked at number nine on Billboard’s Uncharted Chart, far exceeding the group’s expectations. Following the well-received release of Yours Truly, The young musicians hit the alt-rock touring circuit and set out to have their voices heard beyond the
boundaries of their home state. Because of their dedication to artistic integrity, the band members initially decided not to seek assistance from managers or labels. As Paradise Fears cultivated their unique sound, creative control was of utmost importance to the musicians. The development of Paradise Fears’ sound and public image has been completely on the band’s own terms. Off the strength of their music and strong work ethic alone, the group has been able to amass millions of streams on Spotify and build a geographically diverse fanbase. While the band members take great pride in their DIY approach to releasing music, they recently decided that it was in their best interest to sign with DigSin, an indie label based in Nashville, Tennessee. Since the band is taking on increasingly ambitious tasks such Beyond The Stage Magazine | 15
as headlining their own sold-out national tour, securing support from a record label is the next logical step in their career trajectory. While Paradise Fears’ sound and band dynamic are evolving to match their growing popularity, the band’s mission remains the same: to make thoughtful, honest music and write “songs that matter.” We got to sit down with Sam Miller, the band’s lead singer, and talk about what’s in store for Paradise Fears’ thrilling future. BTS: How would you describe your music to readers who haven’t heard you? Sam: I call it lyrical alternative; it’s alternative rock music that finds its heart and soul from rock music. BTS: Has your sound changed over time and if so, how has it? Sam: It has changed pretty sporadically, because our band has been a band over the course of our members ages going from 18 to 23. It’s a pretty radical time for emotional, artistic and taste development. The bands we loved when we started this band are bands we still love, but don’t love in the same way anymore. A lot of the bands that put out records that I loved when I was 17 could put out the same record now and I just wouldn’t get into it, because that’s how tastes evolve. I think that for us, being genuine to the artistic process and making music we love has required us
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to evolve as our tastes are evolving. Our sound has certainly come from less aggressive to more alternative, but it’s got the same kind of feeling and the same kind of context all through out. BTS: Do you have a place where you feel most comfortable writing music? Sam: Yeah, probably my bed; I’ve always done it really well in my bed. Also, for whatever reason, I love like writing laying on the seats of vans. Our van is always kind of a tour thing, but I think it’s on tour that I get the most jolts of “Oh God! Go write this!” The van is like the only kind of out there spot I can go and write. It’s the spot that makes me most comfortable. BTS: Who is an artist you have listened to recently that people haven’t heard of yet? Sam: I work with a band called FLOR that is unbelievably good and very under wraps right now. They are doing well in the hype-machine soundcloud world. I also really like Phoebe Ryan, a singer-songwriter. She’s got a couple of songs out and I think her stuff so far has been really tight. BTS: What song of any genre do you wish you wrote? Sam: Drops of Jupiter by Train. It’s about his mom who passed away, and it’s just too good. Its poppy and its catchy;
it literally opens with a straight C chord, and everyone hears it and they’re like “ITS DROPS OF JUPITER!” and stops everything they’re doing to listen. BTS: Is there a TV show you would like your music to be featured on? Sam: Yeah lots of them, I would have loved to have gotten a How I Met Your Mother end of season episode wrap up moment or maybe some more of our intense music on a show like True Detective. I would like that a lot. BTS: What’s on the horizon for you guys? Sam: We have a record coming out; we have been working on this record for I would say about two years. We’ve been writing for it and it seriously took shape about six months ago. We have maybe one or two more songs that we’re finishing up and now we have a really long record that we’re really proud of. Now we can see what touring happens; our plan is most likely some headlining tour and some acoustic touring, which is kind of our routine. BTS: Finish this sentence. Before 2016 I would like to… Sam: Visit Sweden! I have not, I have been talking about visiting Sweden for years and I just haven’t made it happen yet. BTS: What’s the best advice you have ever received? Sam: Don’t worry. In general, in all of life, across the board, don’t worry.
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parachute minneapolis, mn - March. 2015 Photo By: Gabi Talisman
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ALEX & SIERRA
Photos And Words By Gabi Talisman
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Alex and Sierra, the duo that swept the hearts of Americans everywhere, are here to stay. When Beyond The Stage sat down with the pair, we were very familiar with their covers, including “Toxic” and “Say Something.” While the pair is clearly talented, we weren’t sure there was any more depth to them besides their performances on The XFactor. How wrong we were. “Oh man, I mean there is always something special about performing something I created— it’s like a really weird idea to think that I created it. Like, this song didn’t exist until we wrote it.” Sierra said quickly when we asked about the jump from covers to their original album, “It’s About Us” which was released early last year. Alex quickly added, “The covers are cool to perform too, because there’s less pressure. You can kind of have fun with them and we can do whatever we want. It’s like our interpretation of it, you know?” We do know! Becoming the first XFactor act to have their covers reach #1 on iTunes, Alex and Sierra certainly do know how to cover songs of all genres in new and inventive ways that people respond to, even if listeners don’t love the original song. While the pair has successfully made the transition from covers to their own material, they do keep in mind how they 22 | Beyond The Stage Magazine
got to where they are now. Alex told us “We can’t change them too much because we have to keep them true [to the original song],” with Sierra adding that “It’s where we started, we got started covering other people’s songs.” The duo figured out something that many other reality show contestants and winners alike have not when it comes to touring: original material is something people want, but they also want to see the performances from TV. The fans want to see the songs they voted for. Alex and Sierra kept a healthy balance of both original and cover songs in their set, woven to bring the energy of the crowd wherever they wanted it. Spoiler alert: it definitely worked! Even when audience members didn’t know the duo’s original material, they kept listening because they liked the song before it or knew that their favorite song was the cover after that one. Keeping a crowd engaged when you’re on tour with another act (in this case, singer Andy Grammer) who is also bringing in a good portion of the crowd is not easily done, even though the pair made it seem effortless. “This tour so far has been so exciting. One of our favorite things, about being on the road is the camaraderie. We’ve gotten lucky enough at least with the two tours that we’ve been on—everyone on the tour has been really welcoming and open and so fun. We get to explore the towns together and
stuff. You never know what’s going to happen on a tour, like sometimes people just don’t get along or you might not want to hang out with those people all the time, but we’ve gotten really lucky. Everyone gets along. It’s really weird that this many people would get along!” Sierra exclaimed enthusiastically when asked about the duo’s “Good Guys and a Girl Tour” which wrapped up earlier this month. Alex added, “It’s really cool though. Like I think that we all have something that we are sharing together. It was kind of the same with X-Factor. We’re very close with the people that were the other contestants. No one is going to experience what we’ve gone through on this tour the way that everyone here gets it, we have something to share with each other.” One of those shared things from the tour – pranks! “Andy [Grammer] likes to prank people so I think that everyone is like really on edge.” Alex told us almost immediately when we asked about funny moments on tour. “Like, always absolutely on edge. There’s always a prank coming.” Sierra said intensely, adding, “Andy was showering once and we took a tub of ice water and poured it over during his shower and filmed it. It was really great.” With such a community feel on tour, it becomes even more apparent that Alex and Sierra are the real deal. The duo has played some awesome venues on tour so far, but they definitely have a dream venue, spitting out “Red Rocks in Colorado” nearly in perfect unison as quickly as we asked. “We went to a radio station there once and this guy that we met said it’s the most beautiful sounding [venue] too. It’s not just that Red Rocks is really pretty but the sound is really amazing there, so we would both really like to play there.” Sierra added excitedly. We have a strong belief that they will get there. The duo released their first original album “It’s About Us” in October 2014 with a lineup of superstar producers and songwriters. Even with all of the help on the original album, it isn’t hard to see that the pair’s music is undoubtedly their own. We asked about their writing process for both on tour and at home, and surprisingly they the two barely differed. “When we were writing for this first album, it happened all organically. But there was definitely a sudden push of writing constantly all the time,” began Sierra. “It was an intense three months of writing,” Alex interjected. “It was like, from 3 to 6 we’re Beyond The Stage Magazine | 23
going to write a song and it was just like that and we would be hanging out with friends and we’d be like “what do you guys want to write about today.” If it didn’t work, it didn’t work. It happens less on tour, but it happens about the same way. We were sitting in the back lounge of our bus and we plugged into the speakers or whatever. Doug (Andy’s piano player) was like, jamming out on his guitar and Alex was playing the guitar and singing. It turned from like hanging out to something cool that we would want to record and write. It happens less frequently when we’re on tour because we are just tired of practicing what we’re going to be performing, but it happens the same way.” The way the pair feels about their music and each other is only matched by one other feeling: how they feel about their fans. Between watching extremely excited fans come out of their meet and greets squealing and how the pair interacts with fans from onstage, it is easy to see why they have such a devoted fan base— they truly care about each and every fan. “I think honestly we both just really like people. I love meeting new people, I love hearing stories from people. I like the thought—there’s a word for it, or a phrase I can’t think of it— but there’s a scientific term for how everyone you see, they’ve all lived a separate life and they all have a story. It’s really crazy for me to think and to see people, like driving down the street or walking to work, that they have a backstory. And I think getting to know people and hearing their stories is part of what I love.” Alex explained enthusiastically when we asked about how they’ve stayed so close with their fans. “It’s really neat that we’re able to meet people that want to meet us and
@AlexAndSierra
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have been supporting our music. I just think I really like to meet people and I really like to learn about those people and their stories. It’s easy and it’s not something to set up. It’s not ‘Oh we’re going to be people people.’” Sierra added, “I don’t think you can train someone to be a people person.” We agree with her. In an industry that often tells artists to be everything they aren’t, this pair is a breath of fresh air. Alex and Sierra care about their fans, they care about their music, and they care about each other in such a warm and collected way that they don’t need any manufacturing for people to like them. They said it best—they are people people. With a devoted fan base that calls them “mom and dad”, two successful tours behind them, and talent by the bucketful we had to ask: What’s next? Music? Touring? “I think we’re working on both, we’re going to be working on some new music, hopefully another tour, and like a couple one off college dates. A couple days after [the Good Guys and a Girl] tour ends, we’re playing in LA at a club called No Vacancy. Its like a speak easy and I’m so excited. I’ve gone there for fun but I’ve never gone there for music and now I get to play there. I’m so stoked.” Sierra said exuberantly with Alex adding quickly, “It’s going to be so fun.” After excitedly talking about No Vacancy for a few minutes, Alex had just one more thing to tell us. “The plan is always to get out on another tour, because that’s our favorite thing. [Touring] is the reward for all of the hard work that goes into the music. But in the meantime, until we get to our next tour, we’ll work on our next album or EP— we’re going to write.”
@AlexAndSierra
Halsey Chicago, IL - March 2015 Photo By: Allison Lanza
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Coming Up For Air Kodaline RCA Records
Almost years after releasing the award winning In A Perfect World, Kodaline is back at it again. Coming Up For Air, the second studio album from the vocally driven band has once again topped charts. Debuting on BBC’s Radio 1, the band released “Honest,” the album’s first track that now has reached the American charts, too. Most bands are known for the sophomore slump, but in this case Kodaline did not disappoint. After “All I Want,” the band’s most popular song, critics said that the band wouldn’t reach the charts again. Now, after releasing Coming Up For Air, the band is embarking on a sold out tour in both the U.K. and U.S. to support the new album. The most notable track aside from “Honest” is “Autopilot,” where singer Steve Garrigan showcases his vocal abilities and the band’s lyrical talents. Kodaline continues to impress fans with their second album and has won fans over with their romantic ballads. The One is that romantic ballad. Working alongside heartthrob Harry Styles, the band used his creative influences to win the hearts of almost anyone that likes music. Kodaline once again proved that they wouldn’t disappoint with Coming Up For Air and their tour will even further prove that. Coming Up For Air does not include a “skip this” track and there isn’t much chance there ever will be on a Kodaline album. 5/5 - Addie Whelan Download: “Autopilot,” “Honest,” and “The One.”
Strangers To Ourselves Modest Mouse Epic Records
After eight long years, a highly anticipated album from Modest Mouse was finally released. Strangers to Ourselves hit stores last month with Epic Records. Comprised of fifteen tracks, the album takes the listener on a familiar journey with a sound that fans of their previous music grew to love. Opening with title track “Strangers to Ourselves,” the listener is taken down a nostalgic road with this opening ballad that begins with a smooth cello and steady bass drum that gradually adds in the mark tree that gives the track the bell sound. Following that, a violin and guitar take over and the listener is given a calming, quiet track as the record gets going. Skip forward a few tracks and the listener is brought to “The Ground Walks with Time in a Box,” a completely different sounding track that is upbeat and nothing short of catchy. “Coy-
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American Candy The Maine Big Picnic Records
American Candy was released on March 31, 2015 as The Maine’s fifth full-length album, which is packed with an amazing indie-pop sound. Although similar in sound to one of their previous albums, “Black and White,” this album has proved that the band has matured since then. American Candy has a lighter vibe than its predecessor, “Forever Halloween” and has a little something for everyone. From “24 Floors,” a song that hits home for the kids struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, to “My Hair”, with a stick-it-to-the-man attitude, it incorporates bit a humor telling you to do what you want and to be yourself. Along with those songs, The Maine put out two singles, “English Girls” and “Miles Away,” which had everyone pumped for the release and set the tone for the rest of the album. Lead singer John O’Callaghan has a way with words and the lyrics on this album are very relatable to our generation. Along with the singles, “Diet Soda Society” and “Am I Pretty?” are energetic songs that will make listeners want to put on their dancing shoes. American Candy is an incredible record that both previous fans of The Maine and new fans listening to this band for the first time alike will definitely enjoy. The Maine closed out this album with a song called “Another Night On Mars” which is a feel-good song about friendship, explaining that anywhere can feel like home when you have your good friends by your side. It is a perfect way to end the album. The Maine is doing a full U.S. tour with Real Friends, Knuckle Puck and The Technicolors to support American Candy, so be sure to catch that when it comes through your town! 4.5/5 Chelsea Gresh Download: “Am I Pretty?” “Diet Soda, Society,” “My Hair”
otes” is a track with again, a different sound, and this one is more emotional with lines such as “And we’re in love with all of it, and we say ‘What can we say?’” “Be Brave” immediately draws the listener in with gripping guitar riffs and drums right off the bat. The chorus brings in deep, sinister sounding vocals that keep the listener engaged which is further done with a whispering vocal that backs the track and ends making the listener want more. Strangers to Ourselves is an album that after eight years was nothing short of worth waiting for. 4.5/5 - Kathryn Bethard Download: “Strangers to Ourselves,” “Coyotes,” “Lampshades on Fire”
album reviews
Adventure Madeon Columbia Records
He has created a reputation by remixing tracks by household name artists including The Killers and Ellie Goulding, but now Hugo Pierre Leclercq has created his own music. Under the penname Madeon, his debut album The Adventure has quickly started to climb the charts. The single off of the album, “Pay No Mind” features Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit and raced to the top of BBC Radio 1’s February charts. While “Pay No Mind” is very much Angelakos’ style, Madeon says that Passion Pit was a key influence in the creation of the album and it shows. Mark Foster (Foster The People) also features both lyrically and vocally on the track “Nonsense,” which is completely different than anything Foster has done in the past. The dance beat creates something electric underneath Foster’s voice. And just when you thought it wasn’t good enough, Madeon features Dan Smith of Bastille, another band who has been actively climbing the Billboard 200. While normally electronic dance music is mainly targeted to the club scene, The Adventure has sparked interest of Top 10 listeners around the world. The album showcases several of the biggest voices in music and Madeon is just starting out. If you’re looking for something to get you excited for your night, The Adventure is it. Madeon has created something completely original and new and included some of the biggest names in music— his debut album has clearly demonstrated that. 4/5 - Addie Whelan Download: “La Lune,” “Nonsense,” “Pay No Mind”
New Glow Matt & Kim Harvest Records It has been over two years without a new Matt and Kim album, but the pop-punk duo is back – with an emphasis on the pop. Their fifth studio album, New Glow, has the mix of indie and pop that fans have come to know and love with some substantial new influences of hip hop and EDM thrown into the mix. Matt and Kim have come a long way since their first album nine years ago, but have remained steady in their well-known sound. They have always been at the forefront of indie dance music with their keyboard and drum heavy tracks that are guaranteed to get you up on your feet, and New Glow is no different. Songs like “Hey Now,” with its horn-fueled melody and handclaps, will have you dancing just like Matt and Kim do in the charming music video they made for it. “Make A Mess” has a theme of being young and carefree with an instrumental hook that sounds straight out of an old video game in the best way possible. The couple strip down much of the synth-heaviness of this new album in
album reviews
Handwritten Shawn Mendes Island Records
On April 14, 2015, Shawn Mendes released his debut album, Handwritten. Mendes rose to popularity by posting covers on Vine and has since grown a dedicated fan base. Mendes’ album is a solid debut album. While it is nothing too out of the ordinary, Handwritten is well crafted nonetheless. The album is acoustic guitar driven, with a few other instruments thrown in on the tracks. Mendes’ vocals are strong—often with a hint of soul. While the album is acoustically driven, there are definitely influences of pop, soul, and R & B in his music. There’s definitely a pattern in his songs and some tracks blend together a bit. It would have been nice to hear a song or two that was little more out of the box or out of Mendes’ comfort zone. With that being said, it was a well planned out album. Everything about the songs on the album is great; the lyrics are written well and the instrumentals go well with the lyrics. It’s not all the time that acoustic songs are catchy and upbeat and this is definitely something that sets Mendes apart from lot of bands and artists. While one might think the opening track “Life of the Party,” would be a very upbeat song, it is the complete opposite. It’s an interesting combination of lyrics talking about being the life of the party and slow piano instrumentals. “Stiches” is one of the catchiest songs and is perfect for radio play. “Something Big” is another catchy song; it’s a great song to get pumped up to. “Air,” is a duet with singer Astrid, whose vocals pair really well with Mendes. Mendes is young, still only 16. He has a long time to grow, but Handwritten is a well-done album for someone so young and just getting started in the music business. 3/5 - Delaney DeAngelis Download: “Stiches,” “Kid in Love,” “Something Big”
“World Is Ending,” focusing on the keyboard tune, romantic lyrics, and raw vocals that are consistent throughout all of their albums. While the majority of this album is steady in Matt and Kim’s typical sound, every song has a flashier pop influence with trap, dubstep, and hip-hop beats, and some songs have it much more than others. “Stirred Up” and “Hoodie On” sound like they belong on a completely different album than New Glow. The first has an overly auto-tuned hook and an excessively synthetic beat and the second has lyrics that cross the line from Matt and Kim’s fun and feel-good lyrics into being ridiculous. It sounds like the type of song that is churned out by artists for the sole purpose of getting on the Top 40 instead of being anything meaningful. While some songs may miss the mark, New Glow is absolutely worth giving a listen, especially if you’re looking for something exciting and upbeat to kick off your summer. 4/5 - Cassidy Basinski Download: “Hey Now,” “Make A Mess,” and “Not Alone”
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FROOT Marina & The Diamonds Atlantic Records
Electra Heart is gone and has been replaced by Marina Diamandis. On Marina and the Diamonds’ third album, FROOT, the singer-songwriter has really come into her own with both an attitude and 12 songs that are all about growth. In FROOT, Marina shows a maturity that was absent in her earlier music. The album has her usual groovy, 80s inspired pop songs – but they have a rawness and passion to them that is brand new. Marina has left behind her glittery and overly produced previous two albums in favor of a more honest album with just one producer, and it was the best move she could have made. While Electra Heart was a work of fiction, FROOT is a nonfictional look into Marina’s soul. Not only does she show immense growth as an artist on this album, her songs show her growth she has made as a person. The album kicks off with “Happy,” a piano ballad about finding her own happiness, letting listeners know that this album is going to have a more serious tone to it than previous ones. The album picks up during the title track, a song that puts her funky disco influence on display. “Blue” is one of the best songs on the album, giving an unabashedly honest look into a breakup with an upbeat 80s melody. “Can’t Pin Me Down” is another gem on the album with a percussion-heavy beat and lyrics that speak of a contradictory nature that every girl can identify with. Although every song on this album is clean and catchy, focusing on Marina’s strong vocals and meaningful lyrics, she almost plays it too safe. “Solitaire” has a muted sound, as if the song is playing from a different room, and “Weeds,” a forgettable song whose chorus grows annoying, both would have benefited from a little more imaginative producing. Even with its low points, FROOT is Marina’s best album to date. The authenticity of her lyrics and the richness of her melodies result in an album that feels both effortless and well executed at the same time. This album is one that can be played on repeat without ever growing old. 4.5/5 - Cassidy Basinski
I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside Earl Sweatshirt Future Records Earl Sweatshirt hates everything, but he also kind of doesn’t. He has grown tired of the world around him, but not necessarily of the people in it. His distaste for attention has peaked, but he is still willing to share the darkest aspects of his psyche with anyone who’s willing to listen. While touring in 2014, Earl fell into a dangerous, druggedout haze. He was losing weight at an uncontrollable pace and described himself as “physically and mentally at the end of [his] rope.” Unwilling to revert back to his old destructive habits, he decided to delegate all his energy to writing, producing, and recording his third LP in isolation. I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside, the oddball rapper’s aptly titled new album, is the product of his nine months in self-imposed exile. The 10-track LP provides a clear image of Earl’s jagged frame of mind, as it is home to some of the most poignant and confessional verses he has ever written. His writing alternates between bold introspection and icy detachment, often changing in style mid-song. With I Don’t Like Shit, Earl has grown more concise and focused in his lyricism. The meandering verses of his previous releases have been replaced by streamlined ones that rarely stray from the topic at hand. While bars roll off his tongue at a much slower pace than they used to, his devastatingly quick wit remains fully intact. With the exception of Odd Future affiliate Left Brain’s “Off Top,” the entirety of I Don’t Like Shit is produced exclusively by Earl. Individual elements of each soundscape are loosely strung together, conveying a sense of dissonance that matches his state of mind. I Don’t Like Shit is certainly the most organic and fluid body of work the young rapper has ever put out, as it paints a strikingly accurate portrait of Earl’s complex character. Now that Earl no longer faces pressure to prove himself to the hip hop community, he is able make music that sounds unequivocally like himself. 4.5/5 - Charlotte Freitag Download: “Mantra,” “Grief,” & “DNA (feat. Na’Kel)
Download: “Froot,” “Blue,” and “Can’t Pin Me Down”
Future Hearts All Time Low Hopeless Records With Future Hearts, All Time Low has found a way to stay true to their signature pop-rock sound that fans love but to also add a mainstream twist. Take the third track, “Kids in the Dark” for example. This song is has the angst of a pop punk song with a pop beat to back it up. It’s sure to be a fan favorite and was a great choice for a single. Future Hearts features two collaborations: “Tidal Waves” with Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 and “Bail Me Out” with Joel Madden of the Madden Brothers. With these two names being huge within the genre they collaborators for All Time Low, although both of these songs don’t reach
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their full potential. “Tidal Waves” is a ballad that has good lyrical content, but is easily overlooked in the track listing. “Bail Me Out” isn’t very memorable, either, both in the lyrics and the music. “Something’s Gotta Give” and “Old Scars/Future Hearts” are the anthems of the album. They showcase the best of the band’s work with the new mainstream twist. “Runaways” is an anthem as well, more so in the lyrics. One line in particular really hits the pop punk style of writing on the head: “leave this town/they’ll have to find another heart to break.” Overall, “Future Hearts” is a really well written album that is going to be a huge hit with fans and is going to recruit new ones all at the same time. 4/5 - Lauren Klonowski Download: “Kicking & Screaming,” “Kids in the Dark,” and “Something’s Gotta Give”
album reviews
OH HONEY
Photos By Gabi Talisman | Words By Allison Lanza
Are you familiar with the dating app Tinder?” Laughed Mitchy Collins, one half of Brooklyn based folk-pop duo Oh Honey upon being asked how the pair met. “Just kidding.” When Collins came up for the idea for this new musical endeavor, he knew that he needed a female vocalist to blend with his voice, and a friend recommended Danni Bouchard. “[My friend] sent me some voice recordings of her and we got in the studio. Her voice was lovely and she was really good with the keys, and now we’re here,” he explained. Coming together to form Oh Honey was not all that difficult for the pair, as both Collins and Bouchard had experience songwriting and collaborating with various groups. “I personally am a songwriter, always [writing] with different people… it’s kind of like picking up where I left off,” explained Collins. Bouchard added “I had friends that I collaborated with in high school and
in college— kind of duo situations as well. It felt natural doing it for so long. It just kind of made sense.” The duo began working together in April 2013 and released their first EP, With Love in November of that same year. Right after signing with Fueled By Ramen in conjunction with Atlantic Records in February 2014, their single “Be Okay” was covered on Glee and started gaining airplay. The song continued to climb the charts after being featured in various television commercials, including the ABC show Selfie and the restaurant Chili’s. Most recently, Oh Honey released the Wish You Were Here EP and embarked on their first ever headlining tour with special guests Public and Nick Santino. The setlist for the tour included all four tracks from the band’s new extended play, which is something that the pair was really excited about. “It’s cool because we’ve been playing the same songs live for the past year. We Beyond The Stage Magazine | 29
were touring pretty consistently. This tour has been really fun because we get to play all four of them every night, which is awesome,” explained Bouchard. “I have a lot of fun playing ‘Sugar, You’ because it’s so high energy and we stuck it right in the middle of the set. That one is really, really fun.” Collins described one intimate moment of the band’s set: “I really love playing ‘A Thousand Times’ because we go down in the middle of the crowd with no mics.” The band is influenced by a wide range of artists from Ingrid Michaelson to Fleetwood Mac to Bruce Springsteen. Another influence on Oh Honey’s distinct sound is Bon Iver, who also happens to be Bouchard’s dream collaboration. “I’d love to write a song with Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), he’s my favorite. I think it would be so amazing. I always listen to his music, especially when we’re on our late night drives. To make some beautiful acoustic ballad with him, that would be awesome.” Oh Honey’s music has a certain dreamlike quality that would make the perfect addition to a movie soundtrack. “I would love for one of our songs to be in The Perks of Being A Wallflower. Obviously it’s already a movie, but if we could go back in time to turn that into a movie. Or if they turned Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs into a movie, that would be really cool,” revealed Collins. Bouchard added, “I feel like we could somehow fit “It Can’t Rain Forever” into Looking For Alaska.” With the amount of exposure “Be Okay” got thanks to commercials and Glee future, a movie soundtrack spot might not be all that far fetched for the pair. Up next for Oh Honey is to continue to work on new music and tour as much as they can. “We’re going to go to the moon. We just charted a space shuttle,” joked Collins. In June the pair heads back out on the road to support one of their musical influences, Ingrid Michaelson, with stops in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama and Texas. “I’m so excited, I’m so obsessed with her,” gushed Bouchard. From there, Oh Honey will continue to write and work on new music. “But, yeah, more touring and more music and more touring,” summarized Collins with a smile. 30 | Beyond The Stage Magazine
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Bleachers chicago, IL - March 2015 Photo By: allison lanza
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Rey Reel
Photos & Words By Charlotte Freitag It’s a balmy Tuesday morning in Los Angeles and Rey Reel, the mastermind beatsmith behind Beyonce’s “***Flawless” and Drake’s “Trophies,” is gearing up for another hectic day of creating music with some of the industry’s heavyweights. He pulls up to a nondescript warehouse-style studio in true producer fashion, heavy synth bass and 808 drums bleeding from his trunk. Upon arriving, he immediately proceeds to take his dog, a remarkably mellow and well-behaved pitbull, out of the passenger seat and pets her affectionately on the head. Although the backlot studio doesn’t look particularly interesting from the outside, the interior is decked out with top-of-the-line equipment and effortlessly cool furniture. Rey is still acclimating himself to the space; he just moved into it a few weeks prior. “I can’t wait to start running sessions here,” he says excitedly as he begins to set up his laptop. “The studio will be ready and functioning in a week.” The purchase and setup of Rey’s personal studio mark the beginning of a new chapter in the 26-year-old Sacramento-native’s career. With three Grammy nominations for his work on Beyonce’s eponymous 2013 album as validation, Rey’s beats have become incredibly sought-after. His recent musical triumphs have built and effectively sustained a massive amount of buzz surrounding his work. He’s currently juggling the creation of his own album with a handful of collaborative side-projects, and his excitement about the new music is palpable. Rey couldn’t reveal which artists he would be hitting the studio with, but his sheepish smile when presented with the question would indicate that his current collaborators are household names. We got a chance to chat with the up-and-coming producer about his rise to mainstream prominence and his ridiculously bright future. BTS: What sparked your interest in music production? Rey: At first, I was just messing around with music programs. It was a lot of fun, but it wasn’t something I wanted to pursue. I actually wanted to play basketball or be a lawyer, but music just came naturally to me. Back in the Myspace days, I would put beats online and get thousands and thousands of plays. From there, I just took it and ran with it. I think that because it was fun, I stuck with it. It wasn’t something I was forcing myself to do. BTS: You’ve worked with some incredibly high-profile artists, how did you get to this level? Beyond The Stage Magazine | 33
Rey: God, of course. The first record that really put me on the map was will.i.am’s “Scream and Shout” with Britney Spears. It was the remix with Waka Flocka Flame, Diddy, Lil Wayne and Hit-Boy. Hit-Boy had plugged me with that because we grew up together; I’ve known him since I was twelve. He lived in Atlanta for a little bit and when he later came back, he wanted to work with me. We didn’t get placements together for the longest time, but we finally sparked one with this record. That’s what really kicked it off and created buzz for me. Hit-Boy always took me with him when he got to work with artists and we became a team. BTS: Out of all the artists you’ve produced for, who has been your favorite to work with? Rey: I always say M.I.A. because she’s such a free-spirited person and she doesn’t really care about what other people have to say about her. It’s super dope because she’ll always 34 | Beyond The Stage Magazine
run with what she cares about and what she’s passionate about. I feel like a lot of us don’t live that way; we care too much about other people’s opinions. She’s also really fun musically; we always get to experiment with a bunch of different sounds. BTS: Who would you most like to work with in the future? Rey: There are so many names that come to mind! I want to work with Carly Rae Jepsen, Taylor Swift, Ciara; I love working with female artists. As far as rappers go, I’d love to work with Jay Z, Nas, 2 Chainz and Waka Flocka. I would also love to do a record with Ester Dean. BTS: Would you say your sound is more hip hop-oriented or pop-oriented? Rey: I’m more of the experimental type; I don’t like to tie
BTS: Do you ever get involved in the songwriting process yourself ? Rey: I used to. Artists will sometimes come to me for opinions, but I’m not as hands-on with the writing as I used to be. BTS: Lately there’s been a really big shift in the music industry towards the do-it-yourself style of releasing music. What’s your stance on that? Do you think it’s easier for artists to succeed when they’re signed or unsigned? Rey: If I were an artist who could fund their own project, I would definitely go ahead and do that without reaching out to a major label, because they are catering more to sales than to the public in general and the aesthetic I would want to create with my music. If I’m an artist on my own with $100,000, I would take about $30,000 to go on tour and build a fanbase. It would be a difficult and long process for sure, but that’s better than going to a label where they’ll front you the money and lay out the groundwork for you, but later end up shelving your project. The worst scenario would be if you were to end up in a contract with a label for 3 years or maybe even more and they won’t put out any of your music. You’d end up at a standstill because legally, you’re bonded to the label. I’d rather go broke, do my own thing, and then find a distribution deal, but it really depends on who you are as an artist. BTS: What have you been working on recently? Rey: I’m currently working on my own project, and there are going to be a few guest artists on it. I can’t tell you who will be on it specifically just yet, but some are major and some are unsigned. The project is going to be eight songs and a two-part video. Each video will have four songs in it, and the transitions are really dope. I’m hoping to release it by birthday, which is September 13th. myself down to just one genre. I want to try everything. I’m actually just now starting to listen to some country music so I can cater to that kind of artist. It may not end up being my thing, but I want to try it first and see how it goes. I tend to favor pop, only because I like to mash hiphop drums with pop sounds. BTS: How do you build your tracks? Rey: There are three scenarios of how I’ll end up putting a record together. Sometimes the artist and the writer will come in to my studio and we’ll do something brand new and fresh from scratch. Sometimes they’ll bring a capella tracks to me and I’ll help them create the right sound to fit the tracks. Occasionally, I’ll just play them beat ideas and we’ll take it from there. I like to cater to how the artist and the writer are feeling in the moment.
BTS: What do you think is next in terms of artists incorporating different types of media into their albums? Rey: I don’t know, but I can tell you that I have something up my sleeve that I’m going to accompany my project with that a lot of people will like. I love that artists are doing public droppings, like when Kendrick released his “King Kunta” video on the monitors in New York. That unexpected stuff is so dope! That’s a world takeover right there. BTS: What are your goals for the future? Rey: I want to retire at 45 with over twenty million dollars. I’m also starting up on an acting gig, and I’d love to be respected in that profession as well. I haven’t set any specific goals because I’d rather go day-by-day and see how everything works out. Beyond The Stage Magazine | 35
THIS?
Looking for new music? By Delaney DeAngelis
Like Of Monsters & Men? Like Ed Sheeran? Check out Sykes. Check out Rival Summers. While Sykes doesn’t feature a male singer, they sound very similar to Of Monsters & Men. The female singers have a similar vocal tone; the best way to describe it is dreamlike. Sykes creates indie music with very catchy lyrics. The London based trio is a relatively new band, and would make a great opening band for Of Monsters & Men. They don’t have a lot of music out yet, but what they do have is quality.
In the last few years, Ed Sheeran has skyrocketed into popularity and has become a household name. A band similar to Ed Sheeran is Michigan-based Rival Summers. Singer/guitarist Leo Bautista started out as a solo act in 2008. Now, Rival Summers is a full band making similar music to Ed Sheeran that is acoustic guitar and piano based. Rival Summers makes really positive music about love, life experiences and lessons that put the listener in a good mood. Any fan of Ed Sheeran will love Rival Summers’ music.
Check out: “Gold Dust” and “Best Things”
Check out: “Goodbye,” “Toby” and “Up Until Now”
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✓THAT OUT! We’ve got you covered.
Like A Rocket to the Like The Neighbourhood? Moon? Check out Sir Sly. Check out Austin Gibbs. Both A Rocket to the Moon and Austin Gibbs have some involvement with 8123, The Maine’s record label. A Rocket to the Moon is no longer an active band but was loved by many. Their music, especially their second album, Wild & Free, is a lot like the music created by singer Austin Gibbs. They both have country influences, but there is just something about the music that isn’t quite country. Gibbs’ music is a rock and roll take on country music, and his lyrics are anything but stereotypical country lyrics. Austin Gibbs’ music is fun and cheeky, and is great music to listen to on a road trip or a summer playlist.
There’s no doubt Sir Sly is influenced by The Neighbourhood. Both bands produce music that can only be described as eerie rock music. This is definitely not to say that Sir Sly is a copy of The Neighbourhood. Sir Sly is very unique in their own way. Initially, Sir Sly was an anonymous band and was thought to be a side-project of Foster the People. The band later revealed themselves as a new band in the scene. Sir Sly offers catchy lyrics and melodies that still have a mysterious tone to them.
Check out: “I Like the Ones” and “La La La”
Check out: “Gold” and “Ghost”
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mat Kearney Minneapolis, MN - March 2015 Photo By: Gabi Talisman
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Playlist: Reader Favorites: We asked our readers for their favorite songs. here are just a feW. catch the full list on our spotify @btspress 1. Let the Road – Rixton 2. tomoRRow – a SiLent FiLm 3. FRoot – maRina & the diamondS 4. KathLeen - CatFiSh & the BottLeman 5. Big Bad woLF– eLLiot moSS 6. giBBeRiSh (Feat. hoodie aLLen) – max SChneideR 7. Up2U – waLK the moon 8. giRL CRUSh - LittLe Big town 9. taKe me to ChURCh – hozieR 10. hURRiCane – haLSey 11. dangeRoUS – Big data 12. i wanna get BetteR – BLeaCheRS 13. taLKing iS haRd – waLK the moon 14. FLiCKeR, Fade – taKing BaCK SUnday 15. FoRCeS (Feat. aiRLing) – JapaneSe waLLpapeR
Passion Pit - Photo By Addie Whelan
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Young Rising Sons Chicago, IL - March 2015 Photo By: Allison Lanza