'HAZE' / NATALY DAWN: ALBUM REVIEW

October 29, 2016

BY SAMMI HSU

Nataly Dawn is a force to be reckoned with. Best known as one half of indie duo Pomplamoose, Dawn released her first solo record How I Know Her in early 2013 and is now back at it with the release of her sophomore album Haze. The album seems to place emphasis on past lovers -- the kind that isn’t limited to just romantic love. Dawn does an absolutely beautiful job of combining her quirky take on indie folk and pop with the dominating theme of lost love.

Haze kicks off with “I Could Lose” and of course, the title track “Haze.” “I Could Lose” is a standout on the record; it’s incredibly raw and authentic, where Dawn sings about how “I could lose everything / and I probably will.” Both tracks have a folk vibe reminiscent of Daughter, and a melancholic hint of Sufjan Stevens-esque instrumentals.

My personal favorite song off of the record, “Orchid,” follows and acts as the album’s transition from indie folk to indie pop, stylistically alluding to Regina Spektor and Karen O. The indie pop vibes don’t stop there; in fact, it’s what helps paves the path for Haze’s overall coherency. It’s what allows the album to step out of the box as something more than another mediocre indie folk record, and it shows heavily in “The Audience,” “For The Record,” “Call Your Love,” and “Waiting Room.”

Dawn slows things down with a few more hints of melancholy in “Maybe If” and “Old Friend.” Both tracks explore a different side of love in intricate ways. “Maybe If” is an ode to a shattered relationship between Dawn and her father, as the final verse sings, “A daughter always makes amends to earn her father’s love / but I don’t think so.” On the other hand, “Old Friend” is a desolate goodbye to a fading friendship.

The album ends the same as it began; with an authentically raw indie folk song that places emphasis on solely string instrumentals and Dawn’s voice. The closing track “Amen” discusses an inadequate relationship, where the final verse preaches, “You’re easier to love from afar / I erased all the parts / that don’t add up to be who you are.”

At first glance, Haze seems like another coffeehouse indie record perfect for a rainy day. However, digging deeper, it has a life completely of it’s own; something we rarely see in music nowadays. Each song tells a story that complements the theme of showing the not-so-pretty side of love, whether it’d be revenge, fading friendships and lovers, or the “kind of love [that] could shove [you] off a cliff,” you’ll find a song about it on this album.

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VICTORIA LANE: INTERVIEW

October 26, 2016

BY EMILY REEVES

Miami songstress Victoria Lane musically embraces the passion of pop in her unique covers and original tunes. With a growing social media profile and electric voice, it won’t be long until Lane’s songs are playing on lips and stuck in our minds. On the back of her latest single, “Lights Off” the singer-songwriter has a chat about her growing career and lets us into her magical world of music.

When did you decide you wanted to pursue music as a career?

VICTORIA: I've always loved singing. I remember sitting at a table with my mom right after Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol and telling her, "I want to be on American Idol!" It took until about a year ago, when I was at some friends' show in Orlando, for me to realize that I didn't need AI to start pursuing my dreams! There was something about seeing my friends having a blast on stage that made it click.

What style of music are you naturally drawn to?

VICTORIA: I'm definitely a pop music lover, but I also listen to a lot of country music!

Growing up in Miami, how has that influenced your music?

VICTORIA: Miami didn't influence my music directly, but it definitely influenced my development. I was about an hour away from my friends at Afflux Studios, which is where I was able to start testing the waters with covers. They gave me that first avenue to begin pursuing my dreams!

You’ve just released a music video cover of Sia’s “The Greatest”, how has playing covers help enhance your musical skills?

VICTORIA: Covers are pure fun for me. All the songs I cover are songs that I wish I had written, so I try to learn little techniques here and there from the songwriters and artists while I'm in the studio. (And I think we can all agree that Sia is a genius, which is why I've now covered two of her songs!)

What inspired you to start writing your own music?

VICTORIA: I have always admired artists and creators because they're able to introduce a piece of themselves into the world with every work of art they produce — and that vulnerability is such a sign of strength. When I started this whole journey, I knew that I wanted to be authentic to myself, and writing my own songs was the only way to do that.

How do you turn a little idea for a melody or a lyric into a complete song?

VICTORIA: The process for each song has been so different. My first single, "Don't Regret It," was a mixture of a melody idea that my co-writer and producer, Adam Neilson, had and a concept that I had. For my new single, "Lights Off," I wrote the lyrics and melody for the chorus a cappella (they just felt natural to me), and then took that to my close friend, Chris Bourne, so that he could help me finish up the lyrics and remaining melodies. I'm lucky to have lots of talented people surrounding me who I can bounce ideas off of and learn from!

You’re scheduled to release your debut EP this March, how was that whole process?

VICTORIA: It's a continuing process and it's an absolute blast! I've got a handful of songs that I'm still waiting to take into the studio, and I can't wait to hear the finished product. It feels so good to be working toward the release of my passion project!

What has been the biggest challenge in trying to stand out in the music industry?

VICTORIA: The industry is filled with insanely talented people who have been working at this for years. I just hope to continue to learn from them, while remaining true to myself, so that I can stand out.

How would you describe your upcoming EP in a nutshell?

VICTORIA: Sassy, authentic, passionate. It's me.

What are some of your aspirations and goals heading into the future?

VICTORIA: My immediate goal is to release a killer EP. I remind myself constantly to take one day at a time so that I have stamina for the future. The process is too much fun, especially as I work toward a full-length album. And I also want to make sure I stay happy!

Can you tell us any upcoming plans we can look out for?

VICTORIA: My EP, definitely. I'm also working on getting some shows lined up, so stay tuned via my social media (@iamvictorialane on Instagram and Twitter!) so that you can come sing your heart out with me!

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BEAT ROOT REVIVAL: INTERVIEW

October 13, 2016

BY EMILY REEVES

When UK artists Ben Jones and Andrea Magee sought out new musical adventures in the states, a passionate music connection lead to the formation of their bluesy folk duo, Beat Root Revival. “We came to America as two solo acts,” Andrea reveals, “but six weeks in we realized how well we play together so it seemed like the right thing to put it together, and the response has been positive ever since.” Together, Beat Root Revival provide an eclectic mix of sounds and styles stemming from a fusion of folk, roots, howling blues and classic pop.

The reaction from the audience helped reveal the on stage chemistry the duo had, leading to the inevitable formation of the group, “I think it was the fact that on the road the response that we were getting when we sang together, our harmony, the dynamic that we have and this energy that we have together and was connecting the audience more so than when we were just playing on our own at that point. So we just thought, ‘This is going to be a fun project so let’s put it together and see what happens.’" After the pair decided to join forces, Ben revealed that a growing fan base lead to the decision of their unique name from a lucky dip, “It was literally during our first trip here to the states. We got about halfway through because we had started doing a bunch of these shows together. People kept asking us at the end of the show, ‘What are you called?’ So we literally got together, we went to a diner in New Mexico and we put a bunch of names in a hat basically and just picked one from there.” As it happened, Ben’s blues, rock and roll roots and Andrea’s classical, folk Irish background, were blended to create their own genre defying style that was summed up perfectly in Beat Root Revival, “We find that the name kind of describes it so this actually came from a waitress we had and when we told her our name she said, ‘Oh, yeah, I get it! Your music – it’s got the beat and you’re rooted in your music and you’re kind of reviving it.’ We stole that little quote from her to kind of help people understand the sound that we’ve got. A lot of the time we also say folk-pop as well.” Coming from different backgrounds, the pairs writing process is fairly individualistic with Andrea speaking about her personal inspirations, “I think for both of us it’s different so we write separately and then we bring our ideas together. For me it usually comes from a core emotion and I try to develop that and always keep it honest – just the creativity and freedom to write about whatever you want really.” After listening to their distinctly passionate and earthy music, it’s no surprise that the duo reached number thirteen on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart with the release of their self titled album earlier this year. Despite their 2014 formation, they have already achieved so much in a short space of time and are continuing their successive journey with new goals, tours and collaborating projects, "We made two albums in just over two years so really it’s just to be able to spread out and as far as we possibly can. One of the main aspects of coming over to the United States in the first place is it has so many cultural benefits. In every state that you go to is like visiting 20 countries at the same time so to be able to soak in a lot of the input has inspired us from afar to actually experience them first hand. To be honest, it’s just to live out our music as much as possible and reach as many people as possible. We just finished a show with Jonathan Jackson + Enation, Jonathan is one of the stars from the ABC show Nashville, which went incredibly well. Hopefully a little more touring before the end of the year and before we go back into the studio in the early part of next year to record more songs."

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TARRA LAYNE: INTERVIEW

September 26, 2016

INTRO BY TIFF CHEA

Pennsylvania native Tarra Layne has been singing since she was young and has successfully turned her passion into a career. This singer-songwriter was urged to compete against other talented singers by her high school music teacher, contributing to her decision to audition for the NBC reality series The Voice. Though we are unaware if Layne will be a featured competitor on The Voice, we know that she will become a household name soon enough.

How did you get your start in music?

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLUTCH 32 PUBLIC RELATIONS

TARRA: I’ve always known I’ve wanted to sing. My first time singing solo was in the fifth grade talent show portraying Madonna’s “Material Girl.” From then on, I knew it was something I knew I wanted to do. My father would make me mixed tapes as a child with all kinds of crazy progressive music. I’m grateful for that because having that background has had a great impact on my artistry. I moved to Nashville after studying musical theater, music industry, and marketing. Ever since then, it’s been a wild ride.

Who are your musical influences?

TARRA: The list is endless! I’ve always enjoyed Bette Midler, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna’s fearless fortitude. My first CDs were Jewel, Hanson, and Mariah Carey. I loved 90s R&B pop, so TLC, Brandy, Monica, SWV, you name it was always on replay for me. I lived on it. My influences are all over the place, but first and foremost, I’ve always appreciated artists that I felt close too, who’s music had purpose. Yet, the blues, soul and rock ’n roll really did it for me as far as my artistry. I feel my influences pull from the old to the new. I’m a Zeppelin and classic rock lover and I also love Motown. Otis Redding is a favorite. Too much yet? Haha.

How would you describe your music?

TARRA: Nowadays, I feel like I’m a mixture of Amy Winehouse, Miranda Lambert, and Grace Potter.

What do you think is most unique about you as an artist?

TARRA: The above. Haha. Definitely my sound. Everything has been done. You can’t reinvent the wheel so to speak, but I feel I can’t pinpoint an artist today that I directly sound like or relate to musically.

What song of yours do you think represents you best as an artist and why?

TARRA: Cherry Moonshine. It’s demonstrates the raw, fun-loving, playful side of me and I always want to remain real when expressing myself as an artist.

Why did you choose to audition for The Voice?

TARRA: I thought, “What the hell. Let’s (me, myself, and I) do it!” As in anything in life, you need to makes changes or nothing will change. you need to take chances, or opportunity won’t present itself. The Voice is an amazing platform. I feel that it’s something that any artist in my position would love to be apart of. Singing and performing is what I love, and being able to do just that on national television is an incredible opportunity.

What are some of your goals as an artist?

TARRA: My ultimate ambition is to touch people with my music the same way my favorite artists touched me. I hope my music can be a part of someone’s life soundtrack. Other than my artistry, I want to engage in many areas of philanthropy or awareness for a cause(s).

What can we expect from you in the future?

TARRA: New records. New videos. Maybe acting? I feel that would be fun! New tour soon! And of course, writing as always, and game-planning for 2017!

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'DISAPPEAR HERE' / BAD SUNS: ALBUM REVIEW

September 17, 2016

BY LEGACY JYNN

Two years after birthing a successful debut album ‘Language & Perspective’, indie-rock quartet BAD SUNS - Christo Bowman (Vocals/Guitar), Gavin Bennett (Bass), Miles Kottak (Drums) and Ray Libby (Guitar) - are back with their sophomore release ‘Disappear Here’. Hailing from Southern California, listen close enough and you’ll hear the city reflect itself in each of these 13 tracks. The overarching theme appears to be a mixture of a self-identity ‘who am I?” crisis, midst the added confusion of falling in and out of love. Think of the album as an endless Los Angeles summer mixed with the tail-end of a cotton candy sunset and a little bit of heartbreak to its name.

‘Disappear Here’ kicks off with two of the earliest released singles through which the band decided to reveal its newest musical era - ‘Disappear Here’ and ‘Heartbreaker.’ Arguably, both could easily find a comfortable spot and disguise themselves as songs off of ‘Language & Perspective.’ The title track dabbles with a relationship built on pent up confusion based on which direction it is headed, as the chorus asks, “Would you run after me? / Or do we disappear here?”. The follow up track, ‘Heartbreaker’, lands itself as, hands down, the catchiest song on the album.

Slower ballads such as ‘Defeated’ and ‘Maybe We’re Meant To Be Alone’ give needed contrast to the album’s upbeat consistency. These two tunes are slightly melancholic in rhythm and melodic construction, but even more so in lyric. Full of sweet and smooth falsetto, ‘Defeated’ is a tale of regret and desperado, almost as cry for help; sonically cognitive in style to The Police. ‘Maybe We’re Meant To Be Alone’ plays along with the album’s theme of inner confusion and doubt surrounding the ability to fall in love. Consider it a tune for the modern day hopeless romantic.

‘Even In My Dreams, I Can’t Win’ falls amongst a track that demands to be heard. In classic Bad Suns vibe, the repeating guitar riff and drums/surrounding percussion launch the song to its fullest potential as one of the strongest hitting songs on the album. It also acts as a tasteful save that puts the tracklist back on its groove from the two slower songs that come before it.

Back to sweet, sweet Californian vibes, ‘Violet’ is a nostalgic track about the honeymoon stages of young love. Similarly, the album comes to a close with ‘Outskirt Of Paradise’, reminiscent of summertime and the beach weather breeze in the dog days of a July day. Gavin Bennett’s bassline contributes fully and carries the track from its beginning to end.

Though some tracks appeared slightly predictable in sound, ‘Disappear Here’ is proof that Bad Suns have remained consistent in creating danceable, groovy tunes - all of which are perfect for helping wind down the summer. Although the album’s catchy guitar riffs were prevalent, without doubt, I do wish to have heard more emphasis on guitar solos to break up the typical verse/chorus/verse/bridge structure.

At a first listen, you’ll know in an instant that what you’re listening to is something intricately created and curated by the Bad Suns. The core of any Bad Suns record is Christo Bowman’s ability to belt lyrics that hit straight to an audience’s chest and the support from the groovy, sonically aesthetic instrumentals behind the voice. This album does not fall short by any means and proves that disappointment isn’t in sight for any future Bad Suns projects. It’s sweet, dabbles in life’s bitter end, but is ultimately tasteful.

So call up some friends, hop in your ride, roll the windows down and just drive. ‘Disappear Here’ will do the rest.

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