Interviews
The Ones You Forgot are a pop rock band from Brick, New Jersey that we happened to see live when we were at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ in late January. Right after their spectacular performance we knew we had to reach out to them to share their music and message with the world. The band is comprised of Jenna Bruno (Vocals), Matthew Thompson (Guitar), Ferdinand Benauro (Guitar), Justin Rodman (Drums), and Lance Nelson (Bass). We spoke to Jenna during her free time through this quarantine; it was a pleasure speaking with her and we cannot wait to see what the band accomplishes next! WCBG: Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about you? Jenna: Hi, I’m Jenna and I sing in a band [The One’s You Forgot]. Music has always been a huge part of my life for a very long time. I sand in chorus when I was 7 or 8 and I would go to shows when I got older. When I was younger, I had a big problem with stage fright. Then in High School I went to a lot of shows and followed my favorite bands. I met Matt and Ferd through mutual friends and we decided to jam. It started as a dream, as something unattainable and formed into what it is now. Art in general, though I’ve always gravitated towards music, I love creating things and working on projects from the ground up. It’s physically working with your hands and it uses the brain. Art is about connecting with people. Getting to do it myself is just awesome and whatever capacity I hit in life it’s always going to be there. WCBG: What musician inspires you to be a better musician? Jenna: An Artist that…when I was starting to pick up the guitar and take singing seriously…in middle school I was really into pop punk thing. Bands like All Time Low and Paramore. Bands with women in it made me want to dive into it in general. Now it has transitioned so much. One artist I particularly like, when I listen to his music it makes me want to practice more is Dallas Green well City and Colour. When I hear his songs, I’m like I need to go lock myself in my room and just get better. WCBG: What are you currently listening to? Jenna: Best Coast released a new album last month, Hayley Williams’ new music, The Word Alive’s new record, some new Boston Manor—they have four songs out so far and they’re awesome, I’m waiting for the album. Paris put out a new song that I was listening to. WCBG: You’re going on a road trip, what songs are in your playlist? Jenna: I was in the process of making this playlist and now that I’m locked inside my house, I’ll get to it, it was specific songs I had in mind for driving for a sunset. Wait maybe I did start it let me check Spotify. Okay, I did start it! There’s a lot of Turnover on it. I put one Mayday Parade song “Happy Endings Are Stories That Haven't Ended Yet.” Music that is calm and chill to relax to and emotional at the same time. If I added more to that playlist they would fall into that category. WCBG: Describe your sound in 3 words. Jenna: Poppy, upbeat but serious. We have pop hooks and a bouncy feel to move around but then the record takes a turn it and can get really dark really quick. WCBG: What is your writing process like? Jenna: It’s evolved a little over the course of the band. Ferd and I are the main songwriters. Ferd will structure out a song and put together the instrumentals and he’ll send it over to me and be like what do you think? Then we show it to the band and re-purpose and restructure it. After this I will add on lyrics and a melody. When I get to write and do my part the song changes a lot, it’s nice having the groundwork laid out for me for a mood and something to follow. Sometimes there’s something I really want to convey then the song does change. Some of the new songs, one in particular, it was the first time I presented a full song to the band. When I write on my own, I normally keep for myself. So, I wrote out basically the whole thing and played it for them on an acoustic [guitar]. It was a really cool experience because I had never done that. It’s really hard for me, probably the hardest part being in a band besides booking [is writing songs]. I write what I love and it’s painstaking, to have Ferd by my side makes it so much easier that we can combine our brains. The EP “Too Afraid to Say,” some of the songs on there Ferd had a basic idea and we just jammed and came up with something together. WCBG: What is your favorite part of a song you’ve written? Jenna: I can’t really specify it yet because the song isn’t out. We have some new ones done and in our possession. The melody and the chorus is so awesome, I always found it getting stuck in my head. The people we’ve showed it to so far, when they were singing the song that was a proud moment for me. The lyrics to that part of the chorus are great too. It’s so meaningful to me and it’s a classic The Ones You Forgot type of vibe. In general, Ferd’s guitar solo in ‘Here Forever’ will always be awesome! WCBG: What’s the scene like in Jersey? Jenna: When we started the band, we started playing shows in late 2014, and we released our first EP in 2015. We were completely new on the scene and we barely knew anyone. We started playing a lot of shows and going to shows and meeting so many people involved in the scenes (venues, photographers, etc.) Jersey is really cool; we live right by Asbury Park and that’s like the music city in Jersey. I love Asbury. Brick doesn’t really have a scene since there’s no venue in the town. I like [Asbury] because the community is so strong it’s a very artsy and creative kind of town. There’s so much support from everyone. There’s the Stone Pony, House of Independents, The Saint or The Music Foundation. It opens opportunities for musicians all sizes and allows for all experiences. It has changed a lot; a lot of the artists we played with then, their members are in new bands or those bands don’t exist. There are some venues we’ve played in that aren’t around anymore and new venues that popped up that we love. WCBG: Speaking of venues what is your favorite that you’ve performed in? Jenna: When we played Warped Tour last year we played on the beach and that was awesome! I’m going to say Starland Ballroom in Sayreville. I’ve been going there since I was 12 or 13 and it was a full circle moment to play there; it sounds awesome, there are big crowds; What a dream come true to play up there. I would also say House of Independents in Asbury. We’ve played there a few times; our EP release was held there in 2018. WCBG: What is your opinion of streaming services like Spotify? Jenna: It’s great and makes it accessible for anyone to listen to music and upload their music to it. With the streaming thing, obviously artist revenue is a lot lower, but I feel like it also makes it possible. There was a time when if you wanted to make it you had to have a label, a manger, and a booking agent. This gives so many artists the chance to be heard. It provides the opportunity to be like I wrote music and I’m going to put it out for the whole world to see. Money is made from touring and merch. The industry changes so much and artists have to adapt to it. Now that they’re in existence it is necessary to be on there, but in the end it’s your choice. Overall the concept behind streaming is really good but make sure to support the artists in other ways. WCBG: If you could change one thing about the music industry what would it be and why? Jenna: I guess like any industry there can be like underlying if there was a way to make it a little bit more about the art itself, which is funny because when you go into music and you want your career to be music you have to look at the business side. It sucks when artists really have potential and have been grinding really hard and the digital numbers don’t show it. A lot of people are missing out on great artists since they don’t have thousands of listeners on Spotify. There’s a stigma attached to if you have no numbers, that you aren’t good enough. If we could adjust that in some way that would be great! WCBG: What do you do when you’re not making music? Jenna: Anything in the visual arts like drawing. Currently I’m into collage art and I rip up old books and paste things. Also, like video games. I like to go walk on the beach, go hiking, any outdoor activity. Like kayaking, going to the park. I love the warm weather. WCBG: What are your goals for 2020? Jenna: For the band it would be to get new music out and get out on the road again. We have these songs that are ready, and I want the world to hear them so bad. I also want to record more in the studio so we can drop an EP. Personally…let me think what I said for New Year’s…to drink more water (which I’m failing at), to stay active and go outside more, and to be positive and try to be happy and be more optimistic and look on the bright side of things. Follow The Ones You Forgot on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook Check out their music here
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Not My Weekend is not your average alt band. With their catchy hooks and fun to listen to lyrics, you’ll be singing their songs for days. The band is comprised of Patrick Gilchrist, (vocals and guitar), Nick Hudson, (guitar), Noah Hammontree, (drums) and Ed Ma (bass guitar). We spoke to Patrick about all things band related and TikTok (which he explained to us how to use it). It was a pleasure talking with him and we hope y’all enjoy this interview!
WCBG: Please introduce yourself and tell us a fun fact about you! PG: Hi, I’m Patrick Gilchrist and I sing for Not My Weekend and I have an extra rib. WCBG: How did you guys became a band? PG: At this point everyone has changed in the band but me. Nick joined in his junior year of high school and has been there ever since, My freshman year of college I met Noah, he was in his senior year of high school and he was really interested in pop-punk so he joined the band on bass and then he learned how to play drums. I met Ed at a Real Friends show 2 years ago, he was a guitar tech for a band called Have Mercy. He played a short tour with us and has been in the band ever since. So, the band is made up of a high school friend, a college friend and a music friend. WCBG: What musicians influence you to become a better musician? PG: Myself specifically, Bowling for Soup got me into music. Musically I’m also influenced by All Time Low and the Jonas Brothers. WCBG: What is your writing process like? PG: It changes every time, there is no right answer. Most often I come up with a vocal melody and lyrics at the same time with chords that compliment well on an acoustic guitar. I build a good idea of the rest of the song on my computer and then show it to the other band members. If we all think we like it then we work on it further. WCBG: How did you pick your instrument specifically? PG: As I said earlier, Bowling for Soup is my biggest inspiration and I saw them in concert when 11. 2 months later I held my own garage sale and saved up enough money to get a starter kit from Sam’s Club for a guitar. WCBG: Do you have a favorite guitar? PG: It’s a Gibson SG, I’ve used it on every record—it’s my dream guitar and I love it to death. I was obsessed with it for a long time. It was used on Fall Out Boy’s first album as well as All Time Low’s first album. The guitar was discontinued in 1998 and I got it for my 18th birthday from my mom. WCBG: What is your favorite part of a song written that you’ve written? PG: The riff on “When You’re Around”, it grabs the listener’s attention. I was trying to sound like Tiny Moving Parts, and I ended up basing the entire tune around it. II like to think I write lyrics different than most people. They’re weird and cringy and I kinda want you to turn your heard. My favorite lyric would have to be: “You’d be number one in Myspace top eight I wanna see a red heart next to your Snapchat name Wanna write lyrics about you that hipsters think are lame” WCBG: What was the story behind your EP, “Yellow”? PG: We were on tour in 2017 playing songs and trying to figure out who we were. We met with Producer Neil Engle who did the drums for Dance Gavin Dance. We were obsessed with his mixes on the records. He helped me reign in my songwriting, I was getting too creative for my own good and he helped us hone in one what we were doing. I don’t want to be a band with an album that has the same sounding song 10 times in a row, so we picked the weirdest stuff. “When You’re Not Around,” drove the whole EP. “Yellow” is electronic and bizarre, “Fires” is a pop punk friendship vibe. “Love” I didn’t want to put out and Neil convinced me that it is because you so desperately don’t want to put it out it is that good. We ended up sitting on it for a year and I emailed it to people for a year. We Are Triumphant said they wanted to put it out, so I have to thank Greg Long for taking the time, I greatly appreciate it. We toured on it for another year. What [We Are Triumphant} does with Spotify and YouTube is beyond me so I give them a lot of credit. WCBG: If you could change one thing about the music industry what would it be and why? PG: I think that I would be to make venues more accessible. There is an organization in Portland we’ve worked with a lot called Half Access. Music venues are some of the worst places on the planet for accessibility and people with disabilities. There have been multiple times in our short tour history where my friends and I have carried people upstairs and wheelchairs and have tried to find areas of the room where they can successfully hear the band much less see them. That really bums me out and people don’t talk about this much. They’re really the only organization focusing on this. They work with about 60 music venues on the whole country where they work to improve use for wheelchair users and people that require other assistance and give them the ability to see their shows well. There are 1000's of venues in the country and we should make venues more accessible. Check out Half Access and all they great work they do here! WCBG: What is the weirdest or funniest question you’ve been asked in an interview? PG: Someone asked me what my porn star name would be. In 2010, Brian Stars asked every band he interviewed that. I think it was your first pet and the street you grew up on so mine was Alex Piney. WCBG: What is your favorite state that you’ve been to? PG: Our favorite place to play shows is Denver, CO. We love it to death, they’re the best! I was born in Houston and we’ve played some great shows there. I would have to say my favorite state would have to be California; I hope to move out to LA before I’m 26. New York is great too; I want to stay in an Airbnb and experience the city. WCBG: What’s the scene like in Colorado? PG: Everyone is so hyper supportive! Friends are made and had in the music scene here. I’ve never really seen something like that everywhere else. Normally kids bring friends from school to shows but here your friends are at the shows. They also go so hard at these shows. WCBG: What are you currently listening to? PG: It changes all the time. I’m currently on a big Allstar Weekend kick. I’m always listening to the Jonas Brothers. I’ve also had some Big Time Rush in my life recently. Also, Maggie Schneider, she’s amazing. We tentatively have a full US tour planned from June 4th to June 25th. It’ll be 19 days with four different opening acts. Maggie Schneider is one of them as well as Last Night Saved My Life. My favorite part of touring is the shows that half hour a day makes it worth it. It’s the best part of my year. When I talk about 2019, I talk about the Happy tour. It is a lot of long drives and you’re not home and it is one of the most exhausting things you can do but the adrenaline hits every night. WCBG: Do you have any preshow rituals? PG: The four of us collectively get anxious about set up. We’ve never had a good set up and a bad show. If something goes wrong in set up we can have a good show but we have only had a bad show when something went wrong during set up. WCBG: You’re going on road trip, what songs must be in your playlist? PG: “Life is a Highway” Rascal Flatts “Rockstar” by Nickleback “One Week” by The Barenaked Ladies “Smoko” by The Chats WCBG: We have some spitfire questions, so whatever comes to mind first! Favorite Color? PG: Red WCBG: Favorite book? PG: Percy Jackson WCBG: Favorite Movie? PG: Avengers Endgame WCBG: Favorite TV Show? PG: Digimon Season 3 WCBG: What are your goals for 2020? PG: To sign with new booking which we’ve done. To release an LP and 2 to 3 singles, tour in the summer and fall, and to hopefully secure an opening spot. Our goal is 100 days of tour before the year’s over. Follow Not My Weekend on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter Get their Merch here! Check out Pat on TikTok There are so many sides to the music industry and the different components that help make a show go on. There are so many memories that are captured in one single second that people can have forever. It is important to not only support our musicians but also people who are vital to preserving these moments. We spoke with Jeremy Sobocan, a band photographer from Canada who shared his love of music and photography with us. Please support Jeremy and his photography by buying prints from his shop! It is important during these times of uncertainty we support every aspect of the industry. Click this link to see his beautiful pictures! WCBG: So how are things with everything going on right now? JS: Everything is taking a big halt right now and everyone is in the same boat. Tours are cancelled, shows are being cancelled. Being freelance right now kinda sucks. I know it’s not just free-lanced in the music industry. It sucks seeing things you had planned for two to three months from now disappear. After this, everyone is going to be missing shows and all the bands are, they’re going to want to be on the road. We are hoping it picks back up. WCBG: What made you interested in photography? JS: I’ve always had an interest in photography, not necessarily band photos. When we had family gatherings, I was always the one taking pictures. I was in a band about four to five years ago now and we toured with this other band, Rival Town, and they asked my band to jump on a couple of shows with them. I asked them if it was cool if I brought my camera and they were like yeah of course. It started then with the band pictures specifically and I didn’t really expect it to become anything from that. I did two to three tours [for photographs] with them before other bands started to reach out to me. I’ve developed this weird perspective with Rival Town, I’ve been with them with four to five years at least and I know what they want to see and what they don’t want to see. Now going into bigger shows and other bands I’ve taken that with me and its lead to cool perspectives and angles in my pictures. WCBG: if you could go anyplace in the world where would you go? JS: I was supposed to tour Japan at the beginning of April so I would say Japan and Thailand flip back and forth for me. I love the street-photography. The nightlife in Japan is beautiful, especially the colors. Thailand is old but not worn down. Different from Japan but the ancient buildings and interesting street photography options—there are so many around there. We have it here, but we see it every day. We were originally supposed to go to Japan around cherry blossom season. Obviously that was cancelled, safety first over everything. WCBG: What type of pictures do you prefer to take, portraits or landscape? JS: I like band shots where I don’t have to tell people how to stand. It’s your picture it’s how you want to look in it. When I do band promos it’s not necessarily what the band wants to look like. It’s your band and I don’t necessarily listen to your band or know what you sound like so why should I tell you how to stand? I love landscape and street photos, it’s beautiful as it is and it doesn’t have to change. Like I can’t move a mountain. WCBG: What do you look for when you edit photos? JS: It depends what the picture is of. Down in Brooklyn I took street photos of Rival Town walking around and I tended to white them out brought up the whites and highlights so you can make them out. In live shots I tend to bring out the color. When I photograph Rival Town or a smaller band, I use a flash since it’s in a bar or a room and there aren’t stage lights like a bigger show. I use color to make it look more alive, which is difficult because you are using flash. If I can find colors to pull out and make them pop more, then match the contrast…It’s kinda funny, normally when I sent the bands the photos none or maybe one will post my favorite picture. It’s weird that we all like different pictures. WCBG What are your hobbies? JS: Right now, sitting at home on my couch because I can’t go anywhere. I would love to drive around and go west to see the Rockies. I like to go on hikes, and I fish a lot, which is difficult to do when on tour. I love the outdoors. I also play hockey every once in a while. I also play instruments when I can since I miss playing music. Photography keeps me at shows, but I do miss being on stage. WCBG: What instrument(s) do you play? JS: I play drums and guitar and a little bit. WCBG: What is your favorite state that you’ve been to? JS: I would say Tennessee. I also really enjoyed the scenery driving through Kentucky. Nashville is a lot of fun to be in, it’s a really nice city overall. I’m not a big city person, even though I live in a bigger city, I don’t like big crowds of people. It wasn’t overly packed and outside the city there are soft mountains and hills and you can see the Mississippi running through. WCBG: What is your favorite venue that you’ve taken photos in? JS: It’s in Albany, NY— Jupiter Hall in a shopping mall. It had a nice stage set up and great lighting. WCBG: What is your opinion of releasing an artist’s unreleased music after they’ve passed away? JS: Growing up I was a huge Prince fan. If they didn’t want it released when they were alive then it shouldn’t be. I don’t know how artists wills work out with recordings, but I know you record way more than you ever put out. I’m going to say yeah it should be released if the family of the artist is okay with it. Obviously, fans love whoever that artist was and would love to hear new music. WCBG: We have some spitfire questions for you, so say the first thing that pops into your head! Favorite color? JS: Blue WCBG: Favorite Movie? JS: Lord of the Rings WCBG: Favorite Book? Harry Potter WCBG: You’re going on a road trip, what are 3 songs that must be in your playlist? “21 12” by Rush “Self Defeated” by Like Pacific “Lottery” by Romancer WCBG: What is your favorite album in your personal collection? JS: I have one of the original pressed 1875 Rush self-titled on vinyl. WCBG: What are you currently listening to? JS: A lot of heavier pop punk. In the beginning I listened to a lot of State Champs and some of the more poppy stuff, that light state. Now a lot of Beartooth, A Day to Remember, Ice Nine Kills. I’ve also been listening to a lot of local bands like Downstream which is grungy emo-rock, Romancer—they’re from Waterloo, of course Rival Town, Like Pacific, Seaway and Rarity. WCBG: What are your goals for 2020? JS: My goal is to tour outside of North America and to see the West Coast of North America. Hopefully by the end of decade or year I’ll make it outside of North America. Follow Jeremy on Instagram, Twitter, and his Website Check out his photographs here We spoke with Charlie Romo, a Wagner College and WCBG alum who is helping to bring back the music our grandparents listened to in a new innovative way. Despite being a young performer, Romo embodies the character and finesse of someone who has been performing for decades. Many of his performance standards come from the Great American Songbook. We loved talking to him about his performances and his love of music. WCBG: Please introduce yourself and tell us a fun fact about you! CR: Hello I’m Charles Poveromo, professionally known as Charlie Romo and my fun fact is that I’m a Wagner alum. WCBG: What did you major in when you were at Wagner? CR: I dual majored in Music and Childhood Education. WCBG: What was your favorite class that you took at Wagner? CR: One coming to mind right now, is probably my music classes. I would say all my music classes along with a history class I took with Professor Weintrob called “Immigrant New York City” – we went on a lot of trips to downtown Brooklyn and we went to the Tenement Museum, I learned a lot in this class. WCBG: Are you originally from Staten Island? CR: I actually am from Brooklyn and moved to Staten Island when I was 10 so Brooklyn and Staten Island are both my home. Staten Island has really taken me in as their hometown boy. WCBG: So, what is the local scene like living on Staten Island? CR: That depends on who you ask and what part of the Island. I went to Wagner, which is on the North Shore, so I got to know a lot of the restaurants and the bars here and started to get involved in that scene. The South Shore is a little bit more chill, with places like the Conference House. I live on the South Shore now so it’s nice in that regard. WCBG: How did you get involved in music? CR: I’ve been singing since I was a little kid, two-three years old watching The Wizard of Oz dressed as The Scarecrow in the house. I was inspired by a lot of music teachers as a young kid, from elementary to high school I had a lot of teachers believe in me that I could perform professionally which is what I’m doing now. That’s also why I decided to major in music and education while here at Wagner. Staten Island has a lot of great music teachers and is definitely a great place to hone your craft. WCBG: Can you please describe your sound for us in 3 words? CR: I refer to myself as a Contemporary Crooner. Timeless, Romantic, and Fun. WCBG: What is one thing you would change about the music industry as it is today? CR: One thing I like and appreciate about the industry, I feel like nowadays people are able to be themselves where that is praised and encouraged. Beforehand people were placed in this cookie cutter mold. People were boxed in and now people have the freedom to be who they are. I definitely think that—I wish there were different types of music besides the top 40 pop stuff that was heard by a wider audience so people can have a more well-rounded sense of music. The stuff people hear on the radio might limit them. Like in the mid-50s when rock and roll was popular and there was this formula and that’s what was selling. I hope it starts to change and ties in some of the stuff from the past to modernize it. WCBG: What is your favorite album in your personal collection? Since I am such a fan and I appreciate Bobby Darin’s music so much it would have to be one of his albums. He started out singing rock and roll then he went to jazz. I actually have a tribute show to him where I sing all of his songs. My favorite album of his would have to be Darin at the Copa, it’s a live album from the 1960’s. Actually, his drummer on the album, Ronnie Zito, actually plays for me and I got him to sign it. It’s a super special album. WCBG: If you could perform with anyone Dead or Alive who would it be and why? CR: That’s really tough…I feel like I answer that different every time. I would probably have to say Frank Sinatra. He’s the leader of the pack and a phenomenal performer. WCBG: What is your favorite venue that you’ve performed in? CR: I performed with a big band orchestra at Lincoln Center for a Christmas show. I was one of four acts and the headliners were the cast of Wicked. Other than that, in 2019 I performed the national anthem at 6 different baseball parks like Dodgers Stadium in LA. So, I would say Lincoln Center and the baseball stadiums. WCBG: What advice would you give anyone interested in joining the music business? Stay true to yourself and what you believe in. People will recognize and respect your talent. Do your homework on the business not just the music and have good people around you who believe in you and push you to become better. WCBG: What are you plans for the new decade of 2020? CR: It’s hopefully gonna be a big decade. I have a lot of plans. At my age, here in SI, I was recently named the best entertainer in SILive, which I am so grateful for. Going forward I hope my recognition on SI and beyond, which has been based on my live performances—it’s genuine real and right in front of you, I want to release a debut EP so I can put something online for the masses to listen to. You can follow Charlie Romo on Instagram and Facebook here! Milkk is more than your average pop group. The intricate weaving of different sounds combined with lyrics that make you feel something, sets them apart from other groups. Overall, their sound has continuously evolved to encompass emotions and thoughts that tell the listener a story. The focus the members have on creating an experience leads to a rollercoaster of emotions through their numerous tracks. The band is comprised of Pat Kiloran, Jack Vondrachek, and John Ogelby. We were fortunate enough to chat with Pat about the band and their upcoming record! Thanks so much for speaking with us! We are super hyped for this interview! Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a fun fact about you? Hi, I’m Pat Kiloran, I sing, write songs, and produce music for Milkk. Some fun facts about me are…I love all sorts of anime shows; I don’t remember the last time I drank real water, I’ve only been drinking sparkling water, I skipped 8th and 12th grade, so I went to college in 12th grade and I was the youngest in my class. What music are you currently listening to? We are in the process of writing another album, so I’ve been listening to a lot of our own music. I’ve been analyzing it and trying to see what we can do to make everything better [on the next one]. When I’m not doing that I’m listening to Kanye [West], Bon Iver…I like the new Harry Styles album a lot too. The song I have on repeat lately is by this J-pop trio called Perfume. It’s like the best video games and anime shows I like came together and made this track. I can feel it deep in my soul. When I’m not listening to that I’m typically listening to something hip hop or rap-ish or lately to more indie stuff. It depends on the mood. I think a wide variety of influence and understanding of musical culture can help you make something more special or unique which is something I strive after. With Milkk I want to blend genres and merge ideas and I think that listening to different music makes you well rounded and able to appreciate it and give a new perspective. Describe your sound in 3 words. That’s so hard to say because with every release since our first EP it’s been a progression. I’m going to give a brief 3-word phrase for each of the releases so far. Our first EP came out in 2018, “Sad Girl”, it’s a little bit rougher than now. I would say in three words it is sad, prom date. Our next EP came out in the summer of 2018, “If You’re Reading This, I Love You.” In terms of progression it’s a little less indie. When I talk to our drummer, I was obsessed with this sound when we were making the record, I would say it’s saw tooth synth. Our first album was released in 2019 and it’s called Headrush. It’s a diverse group of songs so it is hard to describe, I’ll talk about the feeling of it. My three words would have to be hardest two years. Last fall we released another EP, “God Loves You and So Do I.” It was trap-pop love songs. I was super into a lot of rap and trap when writing it and I wanted to bring those beats into a project while writing more pop songs on top of it. Currently we are working on a new record, which we will hopefully release later this year. I’d like to call it my magnum opus. It’s still super rough, but I want to see these songs and the narrative…this is a lofty project, there’s a lot of depth to it. I feel like we are finally hitting a point where these are great songs and great production. The goal is to always get better and better. We have been working on this idea and concept, brainstorming it for months and months. I always push for something new and am inspired by what’s in the moment. The point of being an artist in general is not committing to a brand but expressing yourself and showing that in the moment. It is valuable to not be afraid to express you need to express yourself. What is your favorite part of a song you’ve written? I really like the first track off Headrush, “90’s Baby.” It has this weird sounding introspective intro track poem sung over this warped beat that I really liked a lot. The song is a narrative explaining this intro to an album full of mental shifts. It is a biography of myself and the way I feel in different moments. At this point I was in a rough season of life, it was kinda bouncing around. The first lyric, “I’m just another 90’s baby/seems like my friends don’t like me lately” explained this anxiety element. It was based on real experience I had with someone. Another lyric in the song, “I’ve got nothing new to say/searched the whole Earth it’s been done yesterday” is so meaningful to me. Anything you make is probably influenced by something or someone else. It is about my desire to be fresh, creative, and new, and it can be like oh its already been done before. What is one thing you would change about the music industry as it is today? I think that the moment Capitalism stepped into the artistic boundary it ruined art. I think once art and music started to be made to cater to what people want to hear I think that ruined the creative process where people now go to write hits. Maybe you want to write a catchy single. Sometimes the artists that freely express themselves are the ones that stick with you 10 years later. Sometimes a song was made, and the lyrics were made to get attention and it served its purpose. Songs and albums that stick with me are ones that just purely are creation and products of the moment of that artist’s head-space. People started writing songs just to make music. You should have to create; it should be a need or necessity in your life. Whether you are a musician painter or writer you should make what you think is honest to you and that personality will come through. So do your thing, at the end of the day don’t worry about all the other bs that surrounds it. That’s what makes it fulfilling, the point of being an artist is to make the art. Come what may, come as it will, just enjoy the process. The value of what you make is not determined by its financial success or its reach. The value is what you put into it. The rest of the stuff is icing on the cake. What is your writing process like? For our earlier stuff I would write a rough track and produce it then bring it to the other guys. The new stuff is more collaborative. I still sit down and write but we are all sitting down together and making stuff in the moment and seeing what comes out. We still self-produce and self-mix. Sometimes we build a track and the vibe first, then write lyrics and melodies. Other times I have a chorus in my head and build a track around it. This latest record is more of a Frankenstein process. We have a bunch of other songs that we haven’t released, so I’ll plug a part of a song into a different song or add lyrics to another track. We are taking a lot more time on it. What do you do when you’re not writing music? I raise my children; I have two sons. My wife and I have been watching a Japanese reality show called Terrace House. It’s like Japan’s big brother but way less produced and I love it because there is so much less drama. I also watch anime. I want to enjoy the small things and small moments in life. We have some spitfire questions for you so say the first thing that comes into your head. What is your favorite movie? Ill say this for now, I don’t think this is my favorite, Room. I had a visceral reaction when I first saw it. It made me feel so many things. Favorite book? Old Man in the Sea by Hemingway Favorite TV show? The Office Favorite state that you’ve been to? California, just because there is so much to do landscape wise. Favorite food? Thai or Indian If you could go any place in the world where would you go? I’m planning a trip to Japan next year. If you could learn any instrument that you don’t know how to play what would it be? Violin or strings Finally, what are you goals for the new decade of 2020? I hope to keep making music and that the Milkk stuff will reach a much wider audience. I just want to keep making stuff that I’m proud of and keep getting better. I want to become a kinder and more patient person, treat people well, and enjoy time with others. You can follow Milkk on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook You can check out their music here Summer Wars is a four-piece pop-punk band that hails from Raleigh, North Carolina. Their music is wistful, nostalgic, and energetic—it speaks to listeners about different topics like relationships and the ups and downs of life. Their recent release, “Borrowed Time,” is an electrifying rollercoaster of so many different emotions. The band is comprised of Tripp Rowe (vocals/guitar), Noah Whiteman (guitar), Brett Caldwell (bass/vocals), and Will Davis (drums). Signed to Adventure Cat Records, Summer Wars will be taking the world by storm with their thoughtful lyrics and insightful tracks. We spoke with Tripp Rowe about what’s in store for the band in 2020 and beyond! Please introduce yourself and tell us a fun fact about you! I’m Tripp Rowe, I play guitar and sing in Summer Wars. I play a lot of video games in my free time—my favorite right now is Uncharted 4 for PS4 or Resident Evil. What are you currently listening to? The Band CAMINO. I like the pop-rock vibe. It’s different from what I normally listen to. The EP is produced so well, it’s an 8 song EP and every song deserves to be there. They could all be released as singles. I normally listen to pop-punk, I really enjoyed the latest stuff from Story So Far and the Dangerous Summer full length. Top 3 Songs for a Road trip?
This is where we normally live vicariously though everyone else, what’s the local scene like in North Carolina? The Raleigh pop-punk scene is interesting. It was thriving for a bit then it died off. That’s why I wanted to start a band, I wanted to help the music scene. It’s about bringing people back to thinking of Raleigh and North Carolina as a music scene for pop-punk or punk. Tons of great bands have popped up in recent years. Favorite venue you’ve played in? The Canal Club in Richmond. There are multiple levels and rooms. The staff there are super nice and accommodating, the definitely want to make sure the show goes smoothly. The sound quality there is also really good, the guy knows what he’s doing. Favorite state that you’ve been to? Washington, specifically Seattle. We had a day off before our show and we were able to walk around and hangout. The Pacific Northwest is so different [from the East Coast]. What is your opinion of streaming services like Spotify? I think about this a lot. Streaming was the answer to people pirating music it stopped people from illegally streaming music. The solution was streaming. They playlists are also great for discoverability. It’s hard to complain since it has helped us so much. How did you pick your respective instrument? Every band before Summer Wars I played the drums. My dad played the drums and I took lessons for years. I write songs on an acoustic guitar. I picked up the guitar in high school. It took a lot to get into that mindset. I wanted to start a band and mold a vision more so than when I was strictly a drummer. Songwriting was a more complete vision and it brought together that vision. I use guitar as a tool for songwriting and getting my thoughts out. What is your favorite lyric that you’ve written? It’s from the song “Something to Call My Own.” It’s about pushing out your happiness as far as you think you can and putting yourself in the right mindset at the time. “I'll blame it on the skies not being clear What’s your writing process like? It’s mostly about impactful lyric writing and emotionally coming across when a song and lyric is on the acoustic guitar. When I think it’s good, we demo it and pre-pro. Then we morph it into a full band song and add as many layers as we can. We always record at Always Be Genius Studio in Chicago where we record the polished song. What message do you hope comes across in your music? I want people to realize they’re not the only one that is feeling the way they do. I’ve felt that way [too]. I want people to hear what we make immediately to help but the cycle takes so long. What is your favorite song to play live? “Better Days” it’s more of a mid-tempo song for pop-punk. It’s groovier and has some off-beat funky parts. It probably won’t be on the setlist much longer because of the new stuff we have planned—it was fun while it lasted. What are your plans for 2020? To get another release out there, either an EP or a full-length—it’ll probably be out by summertime. We want to nail down where we want to take it. You can follow Summer Wars at Instagram, Twitter & Facebook Check out their music here Call Me Karizma is a hip-hop artist who hails from Minnesota. His music is inspiring and is a constant reminder that we are never alone in the world. The numerous components to his tracks, whether it be lyrics or backing beats, portray this longing to find one’s place in the world. The composition and juxtaposition utilized in his writing process create an emotional impact that leaves the listener wanting more. The aftertaste of Call Me Karizma’s music leads the listener to think and is an incentive to always come back to listen to more. It was a pleasure speaking to Riz about his musical influences as well as learning about him as a person. Definitely check out the full interview, and don’t forget to buy tickets to tour! Click this link for tickets! Thank you so much for speaking with us today, we really appreciate it! Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a fun fact about you? Hi, I’m Call Me Karizma and a fun fact about me is ever since I was five years old, I was in wrestling and to this day it is still one of my favorite sports of all time. What music are you currently listening to? The album I am playing the most right now is Eminem’s new album, MUSIC TO BE MURDERƎD BY. He’s my favorite artist of all time and this is one of my favorite projects he has put out since like 2003. I’ve also been listening to my music a lot since I am working on a project and I’m trying to see what works together. What is your favorite album in your personal collection? For sure, Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem, 2000. The greatest hip-hop album of all time. So, I’m going to tell you a little story, I was playing your music in my dorm room—and my roommate and I have very different tastes in music, she loved your song “Serotonin.” It’s actually in her running playlist. That’s amazing! It’s just kinda weird that some songs—like it’s in her running playlist, and the song’s kinda depressing and you wouldn’t expect that. It’s just weird that some people put songs in different playlists or listen to it for different reasons. It’s pretty cool because I didn’t make it for anyone to like… work out to. Speaking of “Serotonin,” what was the message behind the song? Anxiety and stuff. I was…you see these memes of people posting like “low serotonin” and it’s not a joke. And then I see things on Instagram and Twitter where people are like “searching for my serotonin” and using my song; it’s funny but, it’s a song about dealing with my anxiety. What is your favorite lyric that you’ve ever written? The song, I don’t even know if it’s up online anymore—it’s from 2014 or 2015. It’s called “Coolest Kid” and it was like, I’m the coolest kid because I’m myself. The lyric from it is “It’s okay to be sad but it isn’t okay to give up.” I have it tattooed on my body and I can’t tell you how many of my fans have it tattooed as well. It’s okay to be emotional, it’s okay to be sad, it’s okay to have a bad day; it’s not okay to give up. Tomorrow will come regardless so I think it’s important to keep pushing on. I think that’s a huge message people should take into consideration as well. What is your writing process like? Lately, I’ve been trying to switch it up. 9 out of 10 times, I’ll start with just guitar, like a four-bar loop, and write an entire song to it. I usually start with the chorus to try to figure out the main idea of the song. And then I keep it playing until I write the entire song. I’ll produce it out after that. I usually write the entire song before I add drums or bass. I love the feeling of writing on the guitar. If you could write a good song on just the piano or just the acoustic guitar then you can produce it out to make it sound like you want. I think some songs, if you strip it all back and it’s still a good song, then you have something special. Can you please describe your sound for us in three words? Raw, honest, and blunt. You’re going to be going on tour soon, can you tell us a little bit about tour? It’s been a while since I’ve toured myself as a headline tour in the US. 2017 was my last legit headline tour, where I wasn’t opening for someone. I put out a lot of music last year, and it did well. I took some time off, made some changes in my life, went back home to Minnesota—I got out of LA and it felt great, I needed it for myself. I’m excited to finally get back on the road, tickets are selling, and people are showing up to these shows, two and a half/three years later. It’s amazing to finally be back and doing it. What’s the local scene like in Minnesota? There are different scenes here; like you’re either in or you’re out. If you’re in, they love you forever. We have an amazing music scene here. They get behind you! What’s your favorite state that you’ve been to? I like New York City, but I’ve never got to explore anywhere else in New York; I’ve heard it’s beautiful with trees…more so upstate New York. I would love to actually go there. California’s a cool state, but I would never live there. I like the Pacific Northwest, in the summer because it’s not too hot and it’s beautiful and you can go by the ocean. I think I’ll always live in Minnesota. I guess I would say my state is my favorite because it’s where I feel welcome and home. What has been your biggest challenge so far? My biggest challenge, it sounds so cliché, is myself. I went on my first tour when I was 19 and I made everything about trying to be a rock star. I left college, I was on the road playing in front of hundreds of people and opening up for big artists. That’s not who I am anymore, and I’ve had to live with the ramifications of that. I started to see how it effected my family and my girlfriend—it’s not just about making music anymore, it’s about being a better person. We have some spitfire questions prepared so say the first thing that comes to mind! Favorite color? Blue If you could go anyplace in the world where would you go? Tokyo If you could collaborate with anyone dead or alive who would it be? Kurt Cobain Top 3 Songs for a road trip? “Who Knew” by Eminem “Makes Sense” by Skizzy Mars And some country song Favorite TV Show? The Office Goals for 2020? My goal is to continue bettering myself because the better you are as a person the better you can be for other people. Music goals are to continue growing slowly but surely. As long as you keep growing forward and up, it doesn’t matter how fast it is. What is one thing you would like to tell your fans? You are special and unique in your own way and you should continue being yourself. That’s the only way you’re going to have real friends and real progress is if you’re yourself. Follow Call Me Karizma on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter Check out his music here Hot Chelle Rae is a band we listened to growing up, producing hits like “Tonight Tonight,” and “Honestly;” finally their hiatus is over. We were thrilled to learn that Hot Chelle Rae is back and better than ever working on releasing their EP, “Tangerine.” The songs already released show the direction the band is headed in and we are so excited for what’s to come. The new EP lends itself to be an outlet for the time that has amassed and how the band has grown into their own producing some amazing bops. The band is comprised of Ryan Follesé (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Nash Overstreet (lead guitar, backing vocals), and Jamie Follesé (drums). WCBG was so lucky to have had the opportunity to speak with Nash Overstreet about the EP and of course tour! You can click the link below to buy tickets! Thank you so much for speaking with us we are so excited for this interview! Can you tell us who you are and a fun fact about you? I’m Nash Overstreet and oddly enough I’m really good at basketball. What would you be doing if you weren’t a musician? That’s always been such a weird question for me. I was surrounded by music growing up, my dad was a songwriter and my mom was a hairstylist—the people she worked with were also musicians. It’s hard for me to imagine something else. It’s all I’ve ever known. It would definitely be something creative, whether that means a hairdresser or a clothing designer. It would still be in the same realm and world as music. Tell us about how you picked your instrument? I play guitar in the band and when we are on stage. In the studio I mess around with whatever. It could be a piano part I come up with, or something on guitar or bass. My first instrument ever was the drums. A lot of the production I do for other people and the band’s music, I’m very drum minded. [Guitar] fell into being my main thing because when I auditioned for this band, I think it was for some Disney show, they had five drummers auditioning. They asked if I knew any guitar players since they needed one and I said I’ll just be the guitar player. What’s your favorite guitar? That’s a hard question, I have so many. My favorite guitar is a custom shop Guild Electric; they don’t make it anymore. It’s my baby—it’s the best playing, best looking, and it’s super unique. In grade school I would fall asleep holding the guitar when I was practicing or messing around until I was passed out. Sometimes it would end up on the floor and I’d be like “oh, my bad, let’s make sure it’s not broken.” What artists inspire you? I started picking stuff up from artists who inspired me when I was younger, like when John Mayer came out I learned a ton of acoustic guitar. The same thing for Lenny Kravitz’s electric stuff. We’ve been focusing on production when listening to tracks lately and we really loved the sound on “I Hate LA”. I’ve been producing since I was 15 and I’ve been doing it professionally for about 6 years or so. Can you tell us the story behind “I Hate LA”? It started as a spitball session and Ryan came up with the idea of the first couple of lines. It was about the ups and downs of a relationship and the effect it has on a town, city or place. Bad stuff was happening in life that makes the place take on that. Everything ended up getting fixed in the relationship and it is all good now and it had that timeline in the song. This only sucks because everything reminds me of you and oh you moved—I’m kinda loving it. What’s your writing process like? It’s varied on projects since it is the three of us coming back together. Originally Ryan and I did a lot of the writing. Jamie wrote on Ryan’s country solo record when we were on a break with the band. A friend of ours from Nashville, my parents and his parents were friends, and the four of us worked on “I Hate LA.” Everyday it was exciting since it was always something different. What is your favorite part of a song that you’ve written? It can be a lyric, a guitar riff, a drum cadence, etc. The 808 part for “I Hate LA.” It’s kind of weird and has these pitches. It hits really hard. I love making space in my music so you can hear everything that’s in a track. If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, or would it be and why? H.E.R. I’m obsessed with her music. I watched her performance on the Tribute to Prince for the Grammy’s, her performance was amazing. She also killed it at the BET awards. It’s amazing, she plays the piano, guitar, and sings. She’s a star from head to toe. What music are you currently listening? A lot of podcasts. I also like to see what the newest release is to stay as aware as possible. There’s so much music coming out that it’s overwhelming in a great way. What is your favorite album in your personal collection? Gavin DeGraw’s stripped version of Chariot. It helped me come into my own musically. It was done in one take and some of the coolest vocal recordings are on that record. We know that tour is coming up, can you tell us about it? We are doing 26 or 27 shows, we will be on the road for six weeks and it’ll start and end on the west coast. Our VIP program is pretty cool—There will be lanyards with a custom backstage pass and posters and of course meet and greets. Part of the VIP package is to get to the venue early and sit in on sound check. It’s about the closeness and the interaction we get to have with our fans. Being back on the road and back on the bus is something I’m looking forward to. There is definitely something special about sitting in on a sound check! Yes, there are so many magic moments that happen behind the curtain and we wanted to give that with VIP. What is your favorite venue that you’ve played in? Festival Hall in Melbourne, Australia. It rumbled. The people at the venue stomp on the floor and the whole place shakes. It was a super hype crowd to interact with. What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened on tour? So, we did a 7AM show on someone’s front lawn in Australia. They won a radio contest and we were performing, there was a petting zoo, and they brought in a taco truck. It was the weirdest thing to happen at 7AM. What are your plans for the new decade of 2020? Our number one priority is to drop new music. Tour starts March 12th so go buy tickets! We will be releasing four new songs before tour. We wrote so many songs and we are looking forward to dropping them, it’s going to be a whirlwind of fun! Follow Hot Chelle Rae on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter Check out their music here Buy tickets for tour here Incase We Crash is an independent band that hails from Toronto, Canada. Comprised of Simon Austin (Vocals/ Guitar/ Bass), Tyler Twigger (Drums), and Alex Koval (Guitar) the band has recently released their new song, “Garden.” The trio releases passionate, intimate and energetic songs that focus on growth. You might have heard the band when they opened for bands like Waterparks and Creeper—they have made a name for themselves in the pop-punk scene. We spoke with Simon & Alex about the band’s plans for 2020 and so much more! WCBG: Introduce yourselves for us and tell us a fun fact about you. Simon: Hi, I’m Simon, I sing and play guitar. A fun fact about me…I’m obsessed with Ramen, not the store-bought stuff, the really good stuff. I like to go to nice restaurants to get some quality ramen. Alex: Hi, I’m Alex, I play guitar. I was born in Europe and I am obsessed with different types of tea. WCBG: If you could be any utensil in the kitchen, what would you be? Simon: A spork, it’s multi-purpose Alex: A tablespoon WCBG: What music have you been listening to lately? Alex: Four Year Strong, I’ve always been into their music and their new releases are really good. I’m looking forward to their album drop. Simon: I listen to a lot of older stuff from like the past ten years. I’m kind of bad at keeping up to date with music. I’ve been listening to The 1975 and the Neighborhood, and some more poppy stuff. WCBG: If you could collaborate with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Simon: I have a personal bias; I idolize Matt Healy from The 1975 Alex: Mark Hoppus from Blink-182 WCBG: How did you guys pick your respective instruments? Simon: I came up with this concept when I was in high school. I wanted to play guitar, so I learned that, and I wanted to sing so I did that as well. Alex: My dad had an old acoustic guitar and he would play songs. I got into rock music as well as alt and I asked my dad to teach me. Music genres hold hands across oceans, it’s more clustered than the decade prior WCBG: What is your opinion of streaming services like Spotify? Simon: It’s opened up a world of opportunity. There aren’t a lot of superstars or money in album making anymore. It allows smaller acts to have moderate success since they can put something into the world. Alex: Before you had to get on the radio or MTV. Spotify allows for no gatekeeping. WCBG: What is one thing you would change about the music industry as it is today? Incase We Crash: I would say to increase the support systems for independent artists, being on a label is outdated. You’re better off with more creative control yourself. WCBG: What is your favorite concert that you’ve been to? Simon: The 1875 at Budweiser Gardens in Toronto. That was a top tier performance. Alex: The Wonder Years, Greatest Generation Tour. It was when Modern Baseball and Real Friends were just coming up. WCBG: What’s the music scene like in Toronto? Simon: It is always shifting, there are so many young locals coming up. There is a high volumes of talents bands. I’m biased but I don’t think a lot of other places have this high concentration of bands who are this motivated. Alex: The west coast of Canada is a lot less saturated than here. WCBG: What is your favorite album in your personal collection? Simon: Billy Talent II. The theme artwork is crazy, and the songs are so well detailed. Alex: Chuck by Sum 41. It was the first real concert I went to when they came to my hometown. WCBG: Top 3 Albums for a road trip? Alex: Southern Air by Yellowcard, Homesick by A Day to Remember, and Take Off Your Pants and Jacket by Blink-128. Simon: Cartel’s self-titled, The 1975’ self-titled, and something by tricot. WCBG: What’s your writing process like? Simon: It’s shifted over the years. I start with a demo template or sometimes a guitar riff and then I build it up. Sometimes it’s a vocal/melody idea or a phone demo. Alex: I bounce back to Simon with feedback. Simon: We do a lot of reusing, readjusting, and rejigging. WCBG: What’s your favorite part of a song that you’ve written? Simon: It’s definitely not out yet. Out of the stuff that’s released, I’m most proud of the 2nd verse of “Garden.” And if love is like a rose, then I’m still bleeding From every single thorn left in my heart WCBG: What was the story behind “Garden”? Incase We Crash: It was written in September of 2017 and recorded in May 2018. We wanted to write a song where the melody ascends at the end of the line and that’s what we did with “Garden.” WCBG: What was your favorite music video concept that you did? Incase We Crash: The most fun to shoot was for our song “12 Degrees.” We went to a carnival in Toronto, set a budget, and played a bunch of games. Simon was the only one who won anything. For our new song we want to envision things and definitely produce more music videos in the future. WCBG: We have some spitfire questions, so say the first thing that comes to mind. Favorite color? Alex & Simon: Green WCBG: Favorite movie? Simon: School of Rock Alex: Harry Potter WCBG: Favorite book? Alex: Lord of the Rings Simon: I don’t read… WCBG: If you could visit anyplace in the world where would you go? Simon: Australia Alex: Japan WCBG: Our last question for you is, what are your goals for 2020? Incase We Crash: Theoretically, we want to release a new EP, a bunch of music videos, tour Canada & the US and grow our following! Follow the band on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook Check out their music here Dylan Owen is a rap artist from upstate New York, the songs Dylan puts out are not only personal but also form this connection between the listener and him. The stories he tells express the ups and downs of life and the whirlwind of emotions that come along with growing up and seeing the world. As a fellow New Yorker, it was important to reach out to an artist who is impacting the lives of many and experiencing the world one step at a time. Please introduce yourself and tell us a fun fact about you. I’m Dylan Owen, an artist from New York. For a little while I lived in a town with 400 people in it, it was Circleville, NY. What’s the local scene like there? There wasn’t a lot of hip-hop music there. There wasn’t much of a scene in general. I would play open mics and travel around; cafes, coffee shops, etc. It encouraged me to dig for stuff on the internet that I wanted to be included on. This was like the MySpace era. Local scenes are important, and they still form but the internet also plays a role. It let me pave my own path. What would you be doing if you weren’t a musician? I’d probably be writing in a more formal way. I’d try to be an author; I’ve always loved English and writing. What is your favorite lyric you’ve ever written? It’s on my song “The Book Report.” “‘Cause we’ve all got higher hills to climb regardless of our depths.” I use it on a lot of my merch since the lyric is so meaningful. What’s your writing process like? I’m normally alone in my bedroom with a keyboard or an acoustic guitar to make my demos. Key lines and lyrics may have been previously written. When an idea sticks there are a lot of steps. I love to write deeply personal music, music has to start in a deeply personal place. What are you currently listening to? Bright Eyes, Phoebe Bridges, a lot of under-ground hip-hop. I really like the rapper, Eyedea. I grew up listening to the Beastie Boys, Eminem. The common thread is good writing. Describe your sound in three words. Auto-biographical, heart-felt and emotional. It’s my real-life stories so I try not to hold back my emotion. Tell us about your new song, “We Were Only Kids Then.” It’s not about looking back, it’s about being an adult and taking on new identities. It’s about not forgetting where you came from and being wide-eyed and innocent. There are new identities around us, and I wanted to write this song in the moment. Normally it takes me months to write a song. What is your favorite song to perform live? Definitely “Ghosts.” Live it has so much energy. We have someone who plays the synth parts on violin. Plus, there is a chant part in person that wasn’t on the original recording. I like intimate recordings since it is a personal experience to record a song. [This song] is about the group experience. What is your favorite venue? Arlene’s Grocery in NYC. I was here for my album launch. I love the people at the venue, they were so kind, and they got us a cake before the show to celebrate. My favorite show would have had to have been at Ithaca State Theatre. I opened for Mac Miller when he was starting to blow up on a national level. The fire alarm went off and they had to shut down the show halfway through. What’s your favorite state you’ve been to? Colorado, it’s a beautiful place and has such a different vibe than the east coast. What is one thing you would change about the music industry as it is today? I wish there were no barriers and that it was possible to listen without a big company behind it. The power of the company to promote is huge. It is getting better. Okay we have some spitfire questions for you! What is your favorite book? The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton or Siddhartha by Hermann Hess Three songs to play in the car? “Something Vague” by Bright Eyes “Welcome Home” by Radical Face “Respiration” by Blackstar Favorite Color? Blue Favorite Food? Chicken Parm Plans for 2020? To release way more music and go on tour! Follow Dylan on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook Check out his music here! |
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