WILDER WOODS: CONCERT REVIEW

September 16, 2019

BY AMANDA SIGMAN

Electrifying.

That’s pretty much the only word I could use to describe the unforgettable night that was the Wilder Woods show in Brooklyn, New York. From the intimate venue to the vibrant set to the energetic audience, each and every piece of the night perfectly fused to create an atmosphere of, to put it simply, good vibes.

The night kicked off with Rodrick Cliche and Four20's who made up not only Wilder Wood’s openers, but his own personal band during the main set as well. With their funky rhythmic energy, and self-proclaimed “walk through a record store” set list, Rodrick Cliche and Four20's introduced just the right amount of hype to warm the audience up for the show.

By the time 9pm rolled around, the audience was buzzing, ready to see the ever-anticipated main act. The audience was made up of both committed NEEDTOBREATHE fans and brand new Wilder Woods fans. No matter how long they had known the name Bear Rinehart, everyone had one thing in common; they were ready to jam.

When Wilder Woods hit the stage, the hype reached an all-time high and everyone let loose. Starting off with his own personal favorite and the first on the album, “Light Shine In” brought out everyone’s singing voices and dance moves, kicking off the night with the high energy the album calls for.

Wilder Woods kept the night flowing, mixing album pieces with a few fan-favorite covers. Some notable moments included the heartfelt and personable anecdote that introduced “Feel” as well as the completely acoustic rendition of “Religion.”

With so much energy it only seemed fitting that the night ended on a high note, which Wilder Woods knew. He closed out the night with a fan favorite and his number one play on Spotify, “Supply & Demand.” This upbeat bop calls for all the dance moves, and that’s just what the audience and Wilder Woods did. Even after he exited the stage, the audience continued to sing and dance to that last little bit of an unforgettable night.

If it wasn’t clear, I personally felt like the night could not have been more-free and fun flowing. In fact, it was so good, you might just catch me getting tickets to the next closest one, which would be a short 10-hour drive.

If you want to have the time of your life and hear songs that are even better live than they are recorded, get your Wilder Woods tickets right now.

RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE: ON TOUR

September 13, 2019

BY NAZ MASSARO

THE OFFICIAL RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE TOUR

“WERQ THE WORLD” VOYAGES OUT OF THIS WORLD IN 2019

Hosted by Michelle Visage & Asia O’hara

We are so excited to witness the queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race in action. This show will be featuring our favorites including Aquaria, Detox, Kameron Michaels, Kim Chi, Monét X Change, Naomi Smalls, Violet Chachki and RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11 stars Plastique, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo and current reigning Yvie Oddly.

We are told that this is “The largest drag production on the planet,” says an exuberant Brandon Voss, the show’s producer. “The music, sets, fashion, choreography and lighting are all a cosmic feast for the senses. Audiences will be in awe as their favorite queens come together on some incredible numbers.”

“Werq the World is the official Drag Race tour for a reason,” continues Visage. “The show has always been a theatrical production of the highest caliber but in 2019, we have stepped it up into the stratosphere. This show leaving fans gag- ging.”

For Tickets visit www.VossEvents.com

NORTH AMERICAN 2019 TOUR DATES

Sep 13: Albuquerque, NM

Sat, Sep 14: Denver, CO

Mon, Sep 16: Phoenix, AZ

Tues, Sep 17: San Diego, CA

Wed, Sep 18: Los Angeles, CA

Thu, Sep 19: Fresno, CA

Fri, Sep 20: Sacramento, CA

Sat, Sep 21: San Francisco, CA

Mon, Sep 23: Vancouver, B.C.

Tues, Sep 24: Portland, OR

Wed, Sep 25: Seattle, WA

Fri, Sep 27: Victoria, BC

Sun, Sep 29: Spokane, WA

Mon, Sep 30: Calgary, AB

Tues, Oct 1: Edmonton, AB

Wed, Oct 2: Saskatoon, SK

Fri, Oct 4: Regina, SK

Sat, Oct 5: Minneapolis, MN

Sun, Oct 6: Chicago, IL

Thu, Oct 10: St Louis, MO

Fri, Oct 11: Nashville, TN

Sat, Oct 12: Pittsburgh, PA

Sun, Oct 13: Louisville, KY

Mon, Oct 14: Cleveland, OH

Wed, Oct 16: Buffalo, NY

Thu, Oct 17: Toronto, ON

Sat, Oct 19: New York, NY

Sun, Oct 20: Montreal, QC

Tues, Oct 22: Detroit, MI

Fri, Oct 25: Mashantucket, CT

Sat, Oct 26: Philadelphia, PA

Sun, Oct 27: Washington DC

Tues, Oct 29: Boston, MA

Thu, Oct 31: Durham, NC

Fri, Nov 1: Atlanta, GA

Sat, Nov 2: Jacksonville, FL

Sun, Nov 3: Miami, FL

Tues, Nov 5: Orlando, FL

Thu, Nov 7: New Orleans, LA

Fri, Nov 8: San Antonio, TX

Sun, Nov 10: Houston, TX

Mon, Nov 11: Dallas, TX

Tues, Nov 12: Austin, TX

'FOR FOREVER' / EMMA TAYLOR: SINGLE REVIEW + INTERVIEW

September 13, 2019

REVIEW BY EMMA SCHOORS

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

Emma Taylor’s new single “For Forever” is a perfect blend of strong vocals and delicate guitars, and a smooth transition from the summer’s beach hits to fall’s romantic acoustics.

Lyrics pave the way for a fragile and vulnerable tone, yet the more you listen the more the songwriting strength shines through. Though some songs thrive off hard-hitting one-liners and pulsing drums, Taylor’s softer angle is just as impacting, if not more due to the simplicity and focus.

The tune is romantic and poetic yet has elements of darkness mixed in for contrast, which keep it refreshing. Any new listener will pick up on the haunting backing vocals and perfectly timed echoes, and know that those are what set the song apart and give it its edge.

Can you tell us a little about your new single “For Forever?”

Emma: “I wrote ‘For Forever’ from the perspective of a girl living a heartbreaking truth--- choosing a toxic relationship rather than choosing to take the risk of being alone. In a world full of facades, the song uncovers the need to convince the world, and her self, that the relationship is actually good. I think ‘For Forever’ is a song that resonates universally – for those of us who have been in unhealthy relationships and for all of us who have experienced an impossible situation at some point in our lives. It’s a sad topic, totally, but I think it’s one that should be discussed and embraced.”

How did you first come up with the concept for the song and begin writing it?

E: “Whenever I start a new song, I usually will take one experience that I have had personally or that someone I know has had and I’ll create a whole story and theme around it. When I wrote ‘For Forever’ I was in my last semester of college in New York and I had so many contrasting emotions about every aspect of my life, so I used all of my emotions to create a new idea that really just poured out of me within a matter of 15 minutes! It was wild.”

How would you compare this song to your past music?

E: “I think this song really shows my growth not just artistically, but also emotionally, within the past year and a half. I love all the songs that I have put out but I truly think that this is my favorite song to date. I took more risks, especially with my lyrics, and really wanted to showcase the song’s vulnerable story.”

Do you find that you have the same process when creating music or does it change often?

E: “It changes in some ways, but I think my core process has stayed the same. I always write guitar melodies and vocals together, but sometimes I will take breaks in between verses to come up with new ideas whereas other times, like with ‘For Forever’, it will kind of just flow out of me all in one sitting.”

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

E: “Yes, so much! Now that I’m done with college and moved back to LA full-time, music has all of my attention. I’m working on some new singles that should be done by the end of the year and I’m looking to gig more, so be on the lookout for some dates soon! I am really excited to stay consistent with my releases. Definitely expect much more music!”

FIND EMMA TAYLOR ONLINE

WEBSITE TWITTER INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK

WILDER WOODS: INTERVIEW

September 8, 2019

BY AMANDA SIGMAN

Driven by a passion for music and a love for creating, NEEDTOBREATHE’s frontman Bear Rinehart released Wilder Woods, a self-titled debut album, complete with soulful, smooth tunes that take introspection to a new level. This melodious combination of modern alt pop, R&B, and soul perfectly pairs carefully crafted sounds with lyrics discussing lifelong themes like patience, forgiveness, and self-love.

What launched Bear on this solo music journey? To him, it was never about signing a major label deal or hitting impressive cities on tour. From the very beginning, Bear didn’t have any tangible goals, rather he was just making music he loved. He shared, “I really wanted to make music that wasn’t a means to an end. It was really fun to make something that I had no idea where it was headed.”

It was his desire to set a strong example to his kids that led Bear to actually release the music. He shared with Unclear that it wasn’t as much the songs on the record, but the fact that he made it. To him, he was setting an example to his kids that it’s okay to take risks and make mistakes because in the end, something beautiful may come of it.

Even with relaxed intentions, Bear’s solo career quickly took off, gaining momentum from both long-time NEEDTOBREATHE fans to brand new Bear Rinehart fans. Wilder Woods hit streaming services in early August and has received nothing but glowing reviews since. With melodious rhythms like “Someday Soon” to driving beats like “What Gives You the Right” this album truly speaks to any and every mood.

The album walks listeners through a variety of themes that can be felt in pretty much any stage of life. Each song takes listeners on a journey of introspection and self-reflection that will leave you thinking about life long after the last track ends. Bear shared that while writing, he drew inspiration from his life, wife, and kids. He reflected that creating for himself rather than a band brought a refreshing perspective to his lyrics, as he didn’t need to speak for anyone else; just his own, impactful experiences.

Complete with ten gorgeous, raw, ridden-with-life-experience songs, Wilder Woods covers a myriad of genres and topics. Of all the songs on the album, Bear pinpoints “Lights Shine In” as his proudest piece. Listed first on the album, he considers this song to be somewhat of a personal manifesto and something he’ll be proud even 15 years from now.

We know everyone’s wondering, what comes next? Is this just a hobby? Will there be more? For now, Bear expressed that this project is incredibly important to him and he is highly committed to it. He’s excited to see it all come together on tour and in live shows and cannot wait to share his passion with the audience. Follow @iamwilderwoods for all the tour updates.

OTIS KANE: INTERVIEW

September 7, 2019

When was the moment you knew you wanted to be a musician?

Otis: “I can't remember one specific moment, but Stevie Wonder is the artist that influenced me to be a music creator. Every Saturday my mom would take me to my basketball games and she would play Stevie. I remember thinking ‘how can something control my emotions so drastically?’ I felt the music and I wanted to create music that made people feel the Stevie’s made me feel. That’s just one example, but a major one.”

How would you describe your sounds in three words?

Otis: “Good soul music.”

You recently released your latest song “Happy Days” – can you tell us a little about the song and the inspiration behind it?

Otis: “Honestly, I was just really happy that day. I was working with a couple friends and I was talking about how the world needs more uplifting songs, and Happy Days is what we came up with.”

“Happy Days” is featured in the short film Hair Love – what was your reaction when you found out this would be happening?

Otis: “I was pretty excited. Mainly because of what the film represents, but also because happy songs don’t always get the love they deserve. I was glad to see this one serve its purpose. Doesn’t hurt to be involved in a project directed by Matthew Cherry and executive produced by Jordan Peele.”

Before focusing on your music full time, you had opened the studio STRZ Enterprises in LA. Do you ever miss working at the studio?

Otis: “The studio was my first major accomplishment, I was a pretty young guy in charge of what became a popular studio. I was very proud if it. At the time music was going through a transition, lots of people were switching to home studios and laptops, so it was tough to make a profit and have time to create. Leaving the studio was a tough decision but it was the right one.”

We also hear that you are planning to release a full-length album in 2020! What else can we expect from you in the near future?

Otis: “I am super excited to say that I will be putting an album out, but you can expect several singles first. I started this project a few months ago so I am still in the creation process.”

FIND OTIS KANE ONLINE

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