NEW LANGUAGE: INTERVIEW

May 27, 2018

INTRO BY KAT VISTI

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

Where high-octane rock meets post-hardcore fury, you'll get New Language. Co-founders Tyler Demorest (Vocals/Guitar), Matt Cohen (bass/backing vocals) teamed up with songwriter/producer Tony Hajjar to create New Language. The band was direct support for The Usedon their 'In Love & Death/ Self Titled' tour. They have an EP with two singles in the works to be released this spring. We sat down to chat with the band and learn more about their musical influences, the band, and more!

How did you all first come together to start the band?

Tyler: "Matt and I were in a previous band that was kind of hitting a wall creatively. We had been speaking with our friend Tony Hajjar of ATDI and Gone Is Gone about it and he proposed we get together and jam… no expectations, just see what happens. The first time we got together we wrote 2 songs and decided to keep meeting up until we lost that pace. It felt great to just play heavy, and play with energy. We ended up writing 10 songs and decided to record the album with Tony producing and playing drums. From there we knew it was something new so we decided to launch the band NEW LANGUAGE."

For those who don’t know you yet, what would you tell them about your music as an introduction?

Tyler: "Sure thing. We’re the band NEW LANGUAGE and we play music that is 80% girth and distortion, 20% groove and atmosphere."

Who are some of your musical influences?

Tyler: "I think there’s a ton of great rock music coming out at the moment. At The Drive-In, Glassjaw, Queens Of The Stone Age, A Perfect Circle, Tool, Death From Above, Hundred Sons, Every Time I Die, Quicksand, Norma Jean, Deftones, Citizen, Thrice…. All great bands making new records that we enjoy listening to."

In February you released your latest music video for your song “Show Me” - what was it like filming the video and how did the concept come about?

Tyler: "This was a fun one to film. We wanted to be a bit ridiculous with this one so we decided it’d be a good idea to wake up at 4am on a Sunday to shoot a one shot music video with a friend in a gold skeleton mask and a few dancers you found on craigslist the night before with some cheap confetti cannons and smoke bombs on a quiet industrial street that also happens to host a swap meet. Even further we thought it’d be a good idea to take that video and figure out how to do hand drawn animations over every frame…. art. In the end we’re happy with how it turned out and think it fits with what we’re doing as a band."

We saw you recently released your single "Give In". Can you tell us a little bit about the song?

Tyler: "Give in is one of those songs about wrestling with the insane amount of crap being shoved in everyones face at all times. It can be suffocating, and keep you distracted from what’s important. Even after recognizing our own behaviors, resisting can feel helpless."

What else can we expect from you soon?

Tyler: "We’re busy working on a bunch of new music and have a few exciting summer plans in the works."

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SLEEPLUST: INTERVIEW

May 25, 2018

INTRO BY ALEXIS ROGERS

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

Sleeplust consists of 4 band members: Amber Ruthe (vocals), Michael Pepe (guitar), Joseph Pepe, (bass), and Sarah Luffred (drums). Based out of Los Angeles, the band creates unique music that showcases their divers backgrounds. Michael and Joseph Pepe, the brothers of the band, are originally from Charlotte, NC. Sarah Luffred is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and Amber Ruthe is originally from Milwaukee, WI. They all traveled to LA for the same reason: to advance their music careers. In 2017, SLEEPLUST released an EP called “Missing Pieces.” Their two newest singles include “Burning” and “Sedona,” which was released in March 2018. Their music can be found on Itunes, Apple Music, Spotify, and SoundCloud.

How long have you guys been a band and how did you come together?

Joe: "This line up has been together for about a year and a half now. Mike and I, being twin brothers, grew up touring in punk rock bands eventually following our musical passion out here to LA where we weirdly met both Sarah and Amber on Craigslist of all places.

Actually Amber was at one of our shows with our pervious line up and said to herself “I want to be in a band like that.” so she posted a Craigslist ad. That’s the exact ad that I replied to when we were looking for a new front person. Life is funny sometimes."

Where did the name ‘Sleeplust’ come from?

Mike: "We actually get asked this quite often which I think is good and people find the name interesting haha. It actually comes from On The Road by Jack Kerouac. In a part of the book after not being able to sleep for days: “I was lusting for sleep”. It just resonated with Joey and I at the time. It was a very romantic way of looking at insomnia. Also at the time we had just gotten out of loud rock bands and thought we wanted to make super chill vibe music and that fit the genre haha that obviously changed very quickly. We just love guitars and loud drums too much!"

In your own words, how would you describe your music?

Amber: "I would describe our music as a mixture of electronic and indie rock with dance elements that has a sensitive pulse."

Joe: "I always say it electronic influenced Indie Rock."

Mike: "I feel like it is indie rock that leans on keyboard production. Most songs all are guitar, bass, drums and vocals at root and we build from those elements. Even though depending on the song we may lean heavier on the keyboards or heavier on the live instrumentation and arrangements it all lives in the indie rock world."

In March you guys released your latest new song ‘Sedona’. Can you tell us a little about the song and the inspiration behind it?

Amber: "We co-wrote this song with our amazing friends Angela Mukul and Joey Verskotzi. At the time, I had recently taken a trip to Sedona with my now fiancé for our anniversary. During our entire adventure, I just kept thinking about how lucky I am to have found someone who has the same outlook on life and how comfortably unfiltered we are with each other. For every time that someone said the word no or told us that we couldn’t do something, we supported each other and conquered it anyway."

Joe: "Amber can dive more into the lyrics and themes as her and our co-writer Angela were responsible for that. Musically that song was hard to crack. I started it with that verse vocal sample as a demo with just some chords and that’s what Amber and Angela wrote to. After that Mike and I co-produced it with one of our favorite collaborators Joey Verskotzi."

Do you have any goals that you hope to achieve as a band?

Amber: "To keep writing great songs, having incredibly fun shows and to find an awesome manager who is ready to join the madness."

Joe: "Absolutely! We were fortunate enough to sign a publishing deal with Angry Mob Music at the end of 2017. This year is all about releasing lots of new music and hopefully continue to build our team with a manager and label."

Mike: "Most bands here will say a record deal or something of that nature and while yeah that’s attractive and great I really just would like the band and the music to get through to people and touch them in a way a band either hasn’t ever or hasn’t in a while."

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

Joe: "We’re thinking of possibly releasing one more single and then the EP we’ve been working on. But we have a ton of new music we’re excited to release that we’ve really slaved over and I truly believe it’s the best songs we’ve ever written. Other than that just playing as many cool shows as we can, we just love playing for people."

Sarah: "Next steps: manager, record label. Get our music out there and touring in future."

Mike: "We’re so very excited about the EP we’re in the process of recording. It’s a big step up for us in both songwriting and production."

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'I LOVE YOU' / LAURELINE: SINGLE REVIEW

May 25, 2018

BY EMMA SCHOORS

Los Angeles band Laureline has just released their debut track entitled "I Love You", a name for which the song implies, explains and proves with melodic vocals and guitars. The song features both male and female vocals, giving it a balanced and calming vibe. The verses build a narrative storyline for which the chorus emphasizes and projects. The seemingly effortless addition of warmth is one that gives the song a really nice touch and one that strays from the common love song, romantic or platonic, cliche nature. Instead of distanced straight to the point lyrics, the song displays auras of simplicity and genuine senses of the other ways humans can express love and emotion, which adds so much intimacy and care. It leaves listeners on a lookout for the three words, yet they are drenched in the songs' style and tone the entire time. Find Laureline's socials below!

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'TRANQUILITY BASE HOTEL & CASINO' / ARCTIC MONKEYS: ALBUM REVIEW

May 21, 2018

BY EMMA SCHOORS

If there’s anything more exciting than a new Arctic Monkeys record, I haven’t heard of it. The band, originally signed in 2005, has made a comeback that’s bringing fans back to the buzz of 2014’s AM and the sheer grit drenched in their first record. The new album is nothing short of the bands’ infamous classic vocals and haunting guitars. If anything says genre consumption and understanding, it’s the bands always present inclusion of so many iconic sounds. The new record screams electricity, and still keeps listeners on the edge with the pure smoothness of it all. Titled Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, the album includes no singles. It signals difference at first listen. The usual contrast of voice and instrument is broken and we're left with songs that are to be listened to with pure intent of getting the most satisfaction out of them, rather than being held on edge.

For example, the title track lays out a punchy bass line and melodic vocals. “Four our of Five” is accompanied by a fitting music video and a era-defining sound. “The Ultracheese” is a classic example of lead singer Alex Turner’s smooth and retro vocals shining through. “Science Fiction” brings elements of drums and synth/keyboard sounds to create an atmosphere unlike any other bands’, and tracks like “Golden Trunks” and “American Sports” show the world beyond the bands’ prior sound. It’s iconic sounds, fit to be a unique example of this timeless era of music

The whole record is an outlet for the bands’ creativity and perspective, and listeners around the world feel that energy as purely as the band does. It’s got all the check marks for a great AM album, but this record shows the unending possibility and inspiration that seeps through into the music. It’s new, it’s complex, yet it’s got the simplicity that reels listeners in for the long run.

'THE HYPE IS DEAD' / VESPERTEEN: EP REVIEW

May 20, 2018

BY DEMI MARSHALL

Alternative indie rock/pop artist Vesperteen (Colin Rigsby), released his latest EP “The Hype Is Dead” on May 19th, 2018. Vesperteen has a lot of talented artists and producers backing this EP, further exemplifying his talent and passion for creating and performing music. Songs off the EP are co-produced by LostBoyCrow (Flor), John Feldmann (produced for Blink-182, All Time Low), and PJ Bianco (produced for Nick Jonas, A R I Z O N A). In addition to these influential producers, Vesperteen also worked with Josh Dun of Twenty One Pilots, as he plays the drums on the song “Speed of Light.”

Vesperteen also recently toured with Vinyl Theatre. His tour dates have gained him a mass of support from his fan base known as the “VesperTEAM”, which has helped his music hit the ground running. “The Hype Is Dead” is a unique and energetic EP that really presents Vesperteen’s talent and style.

Dabbling with a unique blend of electro-pop and rock, Vesperteen produces a sound that is amped-up and one-of-a-kind. The EP does not rely solely on its electronic features, as Rigsby’s vocals are strong and bold. Opening with a vivifying sound and energy, “The Hype Is Dead” is led to a serene close that wraps up the EP nicely. While it is difficult to pick any “favorite” songs off of this EP, I think the songs that stand out the most and attest the most to Vesperteen’s style are “Fifteen Minutes”, “It Will Never Be Enough”, and “Blue”. These songs sum up the beginning, middle, and end of the EP, so they exemplify the flow of feeling throughout.

Opening up the EP, “Fifteen Minutes” brings to life not only the theme of the album, but also the colorful and fun nature Vesperteen provides. With catchy piano riffs and electronic melodies, this song is sure to get stuck in your head. Rigsby’s vocals range from syncopated to melodic, and are accented with high-pitched catchy background vocals as well, which add a lot to the song. “Fifteen Minutes” has an impressive amount of depth— every listen, there is something new to hear. The lyrics also perfectly sum up the title and theme of the EP. Even the first line, “Close your eyes and bow your head/Welcome to the funeral, the hype is dead” provides an idea and mood for the EP. This was the perfect song to open “The Hype Is Dead”, as it hooks the listener with an upbeat catchy song, while also introducing its message.

“It Will Never Be Enough” feels slightly different than “Fifteen Minutes.” While it is still an energetic and upbeat song, it feels more like a typical indie style song than playing with a lot of different musical aspects, which is not a bad thing. I think starting with this song, the EP begins to wind down in terms of the bold and upbeat style heard in the first half. The details of this song that remind me of many indie songs are the the drum beats in the background, and the background vocals that lead into chorus. This song’s style reminds me a lot of bands like Walk The Moon. “It Will Never Be Enough” has many strong elements, such as its vocals, as we see a lot of strength in Rigsby’s voice. He has quite a range, proving his ability to hit both low and falsetto notes. This song is a good transition into the final half of the EP.

“The Hype Is Dead” closes with “Blue”, which is a beautifully written and produced song. It is calm and soothing to listen to, and features meaningful lyrics. With lines such as “When I see blue inside your eyes, I know a storm is coming/When I see fire in the skies, I know I lost your loving”, we see Vesperteen uses a lot of poetic imagery in his lyrics. I think the lyrics, along with the soft flow of the electronic background in the song, make it one of the most unique and interesting on the EP. “Blue” does a great job of wrapping up this EP with a cool and calming sound.

Overall, Vesperteen’s latest EP “The Hype Is Dead” draws a conclusion that the hype surrounding his music is far from dead— it is just the beginning. Upon the release of this EP, I have no doubt that Vesperteen will continue to gain an even larger following, as this bright and remarkable release will help draw in an array of listeners, as he touches on a variety of musical sounds and styles.

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