BECCA KRUEGER: INTERVIEW

December 20, 2017

INTRO BY GRACE SERRAMBANA

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

Using her performances at venues including The Bitter End, Knitting Factory, and Sidewalk Café to make her way into the Big City, Becca Krueger is in the process of kick-starting her promising career. Krueger’s single, We All In It, is the first released single from her upcoming album, which is due to be out January 2018. She plays around with sounds similar to Adele and Alessia Cara - with the blend of smooth vocals and modern music, Becca Krueger draws her listeners in by mixing soft sounds with catchy beats. We interviewed Krueger to find out more about her upcoming album and her interest in music.

Who/what inspired you to pursue music?

BECCA: "My parents and their passion for music when I was younger played a big role in my introduction to music. Writing and performing helped me work through a lot of difficult emotions from a young age. The older I got the less I could see myself doing anything else with my life."

How would you describe your music style in three words?

BECCA: "Adventurous, brave, vivid."

You recently released your latest song We All In It. Can you tell us a little about the song and the inspiration behind it?

BECCA: "We All In It is meant for anyone trying to find a unique place in the world. The song works to capture what it's like to live the chaotic, passionate, wonderful life of a young person following a dream."

We All In It is also the first song released from your debut EP that will be released in 2018. Do you personally think the song is a good introduction as to what people can expect from the EP? Or do you think there’s just so much more to expect?

BECCA: "I think the song is a great introduction to the EP. It reflects a brand new sound and a more vulnerable style of music for me. The EP will definitely bring more genre experimentation."

If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be and why?

BECCA: "I have been a die hard One Republic fan forever. Apologize was the first song I ever learned to play on the piano. Ryan Tedder is a beautiful writer and it would be a dream to work with him one day."

In 2013 you moved to New York City to enroll in the music business program at NYU. Do you think the move to the city influenced your music/writing style at all?

BECCA: "NYC and its crazy energy has had a huge influence on my music. Attending NYU put me in the center of so much innovation in music in addition to introducing me to new collaborators and performers."

Aside from the EP, is there anything else that we can expect from you in the near future?

BECCA: "I'll be performing a lot more in NYC and elsewhere! Stay tuned for a show near you."

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WINNEBAGO VACATION / SCHMAVE: SPLIT EP

December 19, 2017

BY KRISTINA KOZLITINA

Just released: a unique collaboration between two New Paltz, NY acts. Schmave (the endeavor of Avery John) and Winnebago Vacation (the project of Eli Frank) have recently partnered to create a 4-songed, split EP. Establishing a hypnotic presence from the get-go, “Stand Back” sets the scene with comforting guitar strums and throaty vocals. Going further, the EP jumps from bubbly, mostly instrumental beats (“C U”) to refined mood-music, perfect for an evening in (“Amber Tiles”). Honing in the brainchild of two complimentary genres, the EP concludes with “In the Gut,” a light-hearted sad song, wrapping up the collaboration with a twinge of nostalgia. Distinctive and intriguing in its sound, the EP appears to be a step in a new direction for the two artists—overall an all-around successful collaboration, imbued with musical depth and thoughtfully expressed emotion.

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WINNEBAGO VACATION SCHMAVE

CLIFF BEACH: INTERVIEW

December 19, 2017

INTRO BY MADDEN LEVIN

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

A true Gospel singer, Cliff Beach shares what he loves with the world. In his newest album, The Gospel According to Cliff Beach, he celebrates how he got his start in music and why he loves what he does so very much. In our exclusive interview, we chat with Cliff about what made him initially want to be a musician and how he feels now with all of his incredible accomplishments -- those accomplishments include, but are not limited to, his LA music award nominations. So, what are you waiting for? Get to know your new favorite artist!

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue music?

CB: "I started taking piano lessons at the age of 6 and did choir all through school, but I didn’t know I wanted to pursue music professionally until a Pastor, who I did not know, saw me and said he had a vision of me playing music and that people would kill to have my talent. This was when I was 14, when I was not really that good at music but he saw my passion for it. His words have always resonated with me."

You recently released your third solo album, The Gospel According to Cliff Beach. Can you tell us a little about what the process was like creating the album?

CB: "As far as the writing process goes I started writing the songs on this album in 2006. I started talking about producing the album in 2012, but we had many production issues. I had to learn how to produce. Thus I made 2 other albums, Who the Funk Is Cliff Beach? And Stripped Down and Unplugged and then in 2014 started back on this album which I finished in 2016 and released in 2017. This project is my biggest and best yet, with a bigger budget and bigger team, but it all started with a vision and a dream. It’s a concept album, meaning it’s a song cycle. It is meant to be a journey in long play, not a bunch of singles. I want it to be consumed from start to finish, even though we all have our favorite songs."

Is there a song on the album that you found was harder to create than the others?

CB: "The hardest song by far was the cover of the Head Hunters God Made Me Funky. The original, which was already 40 years old when I recorded it had amazing musicians, producers, and backing vocalists so it was a daunting task to cover it and make it my own. When we started, in a church, in my home state of MD laying down the drums and bass, this was the last song of an 8 hour session. At 4am everyone was tired (from eating gas station fried chicken) and ready to go home. We only had one take left in us and we attempted it thinking worse case we would scrap it if it didn’t work. What happened miraculously is we did get through most of it in the one take and magically it worked. There is even a moment in the middle where the beat turns around and I never knew if it was an accident or mistake or on purpose but I left it in because it was so vibe-y. When we later overdubbed all the horn parts and vocals back in LA, with a gospel quartet it just became a juggernaut musically. The icing on the cake was showing it to Mike Clark who co-wrote it and played on the original and him saying he loved it. Best cover of it he has ever heard and it has been covered by greats like Jamiroquai to name one."

Where do you find most inspiration when creating music?

CB: "Everywhere. But mostly relationships. I have had some terrible romantic relationships and my only solace going through so much pain is the beauty of being able to express those stories in music, writing songs that people enjoy. Thank God I have an outlet that allows me to be cathartic in that way. As far as producing music I am inspired by all the great music that came before me. I listen to music probably 12 hours a day or more. I can never get enough. I’ll listen to the same song on repeat to hear every nuance in it, analyzing it. I take master classes from greats online to keep studying and watching documentaries to stay inspired and motivated."

How would you describe your music style in three words?

CB: "Funky, expressive soul."

Do you ever listen back to your older music? If so, what do you find has changed the most over the years?

CB: "OMG yes. I listen to my old stuff all the time. Sometimes my mom or someone who knew me along time will say I loved your old stuff, why don’t you do that anymore? I tell them that I am not the same person I was. My voice has changed and has become deeper and fuller. I don’t have the same level of energy to jump around like I did when I was younger. I have settled into a different pocket and groove. You cannot recapture moments. I use my voice in a much more healthy way. I have more control over my instrument and more experience in the craft now. I still use elements of what I have done before, building upon them and cherish all the great memories I have. I am happy that all my old albums live in a digital form where they can be discovered by new fans every day. My writing has improved significantly as well. My stories have more heart and meaning. I was young and dumb once but I wised up. Still I don’t shy away from my past. I just live in the present and look forward to the future. I never sing even an old song the same way twice. From moment to moment I am always changing and evolving and my emotions swing like a pendulum in the wind. I am ever-changing. Staying the same is boring and stagnant."

Of all your songs, which would you say represents you best as an artist and why?

CB: "They are all my babies and this is a Sophie’s Choice. If I had to pick one I would say Delilah. Of all my songs I notice the audience’s reaction most on that one. I don’t know if it’s because the story of Samson and Delilah is so well known or just the groove of the song, but people always request or remember that one. I allow the audience to sing in call and response with me, and live we usually mash up current songs with it. Hearing my take on Britney Spears, or Katy Perry, Or Erykah Badu, Or the Black Eyed Peas, we just like to mash it all up for the audience. It does not matter what the original style was, all songs have soul and all can be funked up by me. By mixing my original with covers it helps people attach it to something familiar. It also shows them the musicality that is the underpinning of pop music by stripping away the pop elements. Sometimes the production can cover up the songwriting. I also think we finally nailed the recording of it on the new album. Though it does not fully capture the live element, which it shouldn’t. Studio is Studio and Live is Live. 2 different hats. 2 different beasts."

Is there anything else that we can expect from you in the near future?

CB: "We released a video for the single for Right Side of The Tracks that is currently on the festival circuit. It will premiere at a festival in December in NYC and another in May in LA. You can watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykwP9qkQfdQ. I am also working on a collaborative mixtape with my producer Mister Rocks called CBMR (a producer and singer collaboration like Gnarls Barkley), in which I am making a more commercial album, juxtaposing my bluesy vocals onto more urban tracks. We will have a few rappers on the project as well, which is my first time using them, and so far the feedback on the demos we have been making has been very positive. I am always digging into the realm of possibilities, to remain limitless. I always have one hand on the current project, while another is on the next project. I stretch myself with every song, always different, but always, at the core, still me. Don’t try to label me, I will defy you, on purpose, every time."

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'SOHO' / FV: SINGLE REVIEW

December 18, 2017

BY EMMA SCHOORS

Self-described “gloom pop” band FV is bringing 80’s alternative to modern music with their own twist. The black denim royals, hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, released their fourth single with the name Soho, showing their fan base that they can take on all sides of the genres they represent. Bassist Evan King brings a strong yet punchy bass line to lead singer Timmy Waldron’s dreamy vocals. Guitarist & singer Sean McCall holds a nostalgic rhythm and drummer Chris Kitchen has a consistent beat, all adding up to a romantic yet melancholy tune, reminding us of our naive days. Speaking of naive, the band has another recent single titled 19 all about the troubles and promises of naivety. The songs, ranking in at just about at four minutes each, are just long enough to leave you wanting more. The quartet are currently on tour with WATERMEDOWN, Rent Party, A Change of Plans and Walkney across the east coast. Check out their music & whereabouts on their social media below.

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MOTION CNTRL: INTERVIEW

December 16, 2017

BY MELISSA TUCKER

After dropping their self-titled EP in 2015, Motion Cntrl is back with their latest work titled Envision. On this EP, the mood is darker and better than ever. This duo is all about capturing the beauty of their surroundings, and using that energy to create some amazing music. Allyce and Luke are the geniuses behind the epic electronic sound that stems from Motion Cntrl. Unclear Magazine had the wonderful opportunity to get their perspective on beauty, fashion, and how Envision came to be.

Growing up, how did each of you fall in love with music?

LUKE: "Both parents were big fans of music. They had very different tastes but they’re preferences were reasonable. I’ve been hugely influenced by the music they introduced me to."

ALLYCE: "Similarly, both my parents listened to a lot of music. Some of my first memories with music were when we moved across country for a time and my dad playing 80’s and classic rock on the road trip. I was fascinated."

How did you two come up with the name Motion Cntrl?

BOTH: "We actually didn’t have a name when we did our first photoshoot. We shot by the train tracks downtown, and saw the words 'motion control' on the shocks of one of the trains. It immediately stuck."

How do each of you identify with Motion Cntrl’s music?

LUKE: "It’s where I go musically to explore the more emotive and moody side of songwriting. Allyce has helped me find real beauty in the dark."

ALLYCE: "It’s a very cathartic experience creating the music. It’s an outlet where I’m able to authentically express myself."

What can fans expect from the new EP Envision?

BOTH: "It’s deeper and far more serious than our other releases. It's a reaction to what we were experiencing in the studio, coupled with the strange nature of current times."

What inspired In the Dream?

BOTH: "The conviction that everything is really okay in the grand scheme of things."

How did the concept for the music video for In the Dream come about?

BOTH: "We wanted the music video to convey the same feelings and message as the song. Our mutual appreciation and relationship with nature inspired our thoughts about a time-lapse video. We discussed our ideas with our friend and filmmaker Brian Ford, and he was able to create a beautiful video for us using footage he captured during his travels."

Motion Cntrl appears to be all about pushing boundaries and eliminating binary stereotypes. How will Envision break through the barriers that are set within the music industry?

BOTH: "That’s a really tall order, but we actively try and push those boundaries with our lyrics, and not limit ourselves to any genre. At the core of Envision, we wrote about the human struggle and spirituality, beyond any labels. This new EP hopefully breaks through because different kinds of people can relate to it, and the music is enjoyable. We've had the benefit of working in an age where self distribution is a fact of life. We have a long way to go, but have enjoyed the success that we’ve had."

How has LA influenced your writing and creative process?

BOTH: "LA is a mysterious place where the deepest ideas and most superficial experiences collide. That relaxed tension plays out in our music."

How do each of you identify beauty in your music and in your lives outside of the studio?

BOTH: "Beauty for us is sentimentality; meditating on the way the connections you have with people who are dear to you infuse experiences with beauty."

The LGBTQ+ community seems to have been a big part of your lives. How has this community influenced your music?

BOTH: "The LGBTQ community is the engine of style and culture in our country, it’s impossible not to be influenced."

What does fashion mean to each of you?

BOTH: "Fashion is strutting in comfort."

How do you guys incorporate your fashion into your music style?

BOTH: "Sleek silhouettes in a noir-ish moody light. The music has inspired the look more than the other way around."

Outside of Motion Cntrl, how do each of you spend your days?

BOTH: "Hustling and relaxing."

What advice would Motion Cntrl give to fans in order to gain more confidence in seeing the beauty in their own identity?

BOTH: "Read as much history as possible. You'll see more often than not, it’s the outsider that makes the biggest mark."

What can fans expect from Motion Cntrl in the future?

BOTH: "More music."

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