10 ARTISTS TO SEE AT NORTH COAST THIS YEAR

by emma zanger

Returning to the Chicagoland area for its 13th year with some of the biggest names in EDM, North Coast 2023 is sure to shake up the midwest. With six stages hosting a wide array of talented artists, as well as an expanded collection of art installations, the festival’s 90,000 attendees are sure to have a unique experience.

The thrilling three day festival takes place September 1 - 3 at Seatgeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. Popular headliners include powerhouses such as Marshmello, Zeds Dead, and Flume, but here are some of the other exciting artists to catch Labor Day weekend:

ALESSO

Best known for his 2015 album Forever with collaborators Tove Lo and Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic), Alesso is set to play day one of the festival. Be sure to head over to the Stadium stage to hear his latest single “Without You” on day one.

ALISON WONDERLAND

With an electrifying new EP released in spring, Alison Wonderland is set to bring some notably fresh energy to the day three crowd of North Coast. Previously topping the Billboard Dance/Electronic charts, and dominating other festivals like EDC and Coachella, this impressive artist is one we can’t wait to see.

LIQUID STRANGER

Described as the embodiment of transnational dubstep, Liquid Stranger is well-known for mixing many different genres within the EDM and dubstep world, to create his one of a kind sound. Liquid Stranger is set to headline day one on the Vega stage this year, offering an almost out of this world experience we are ready to be a part of.

NGHTMRE

With an extensive library of self-produced hits and gripping remixes, NGHTMRE is definitely a day three, Vega stage headliner to see. Continuing to impress on stages across the globe, this unique performer draws the electro/house lover into a breathtaking spectacle. We’re most excited to hear brand new single “One Chance” alongside the punchy collection of hits from the 2022 album DRMVRSE.

CHRIS LAKE

Dance focused force of nature, Chris Lake, is set to headline the Canopy stage at North Coast this year, and there are several hits of his we can’t wait to catch. Having collaborated with massive artists like Steve Aoki, deadmau5, and other acts on this year’s lineup, his set is sure to bring some heat to the North Coast crowd.

BLACK TIGER SEX MACHINE

Set to appear in their signature LED tiger helmets, this day two artist is sure to bring a sense of illumination through their sharp and edgy performance. Characterized as a darker form of electronic music, North Coast is sure to experience something new and out of the ordinary at their show.

DABIN

Well known for his marvelous collaborations with artists like Illenium, SLANDER and Seven Lions, Dabin definitely comes to North Coast with a wonderfully emotional library of tracks. We’re most excited to hear tracks like “Hollow,” “Hearts on Fire,” and recently released single, “Worlds Away.”

ZOMBOY

Having last released in 2022, we’re excited to see what new music Zomboy has for us at North Coast this year. Zomboy packs a punch with an incredible show full of lasers and high energy dubstep, and we can’t wait to be there.

EVAN GIIA

Brooklyn based vocalist, Evan Giia, is a day three talent we aren’t going to miss. Her training as an opera singer offers a distinctive contrast with her electro pop beats, definitely setting her apart from the crowd. We can’t wait to hear her latest single, “Limit.”

SURF MESA

Most recognized for his viral 2019 single “ily (i love you baby)” featuring Emilee, Surf Mesa brings a lighter and dreamy set to North Coast this year. His individuality within the electronic/dance genre is a fresh sound the attendees at the festival are sure to love. Make sure to catch his newest single “Manzanita” at the Vega stage on day two.

 

NOBODY LIKES YOU PAT: INTERVIEW

by brittany and everly ormiston

photo by charlie flatten

Indie-pop singer-songwriter nobody likes you pat is known for his ability to analyze the deeper meanings in life through his songwriting. He is taking his honest storytelling to another level with his next project dear… out September 23rd. All six tracks are styled as intimate handwritten letters addressed to his loved ones, and in turn a collection of journal entries depicting his own life. nobody likes you pat has now released three singles off his upcoming EP, including the most recent track “dear god.” With cheerful whistling leading the way, “dear god” has faith at its core by asking a higher power for help and direction. nobody likes you pat finds the perfect balance of personal and all-embracing as he addresses his own failures while looking at the downfalls of our society.

What is your favorite lyric from “dear god,” and why?

nobody likes you pat: “I could list most of the song, honestly. I’m pretty stoked on this one lyrically. It’s a big and open reflection on such a foundational aspect of my life. But if I had to pick one, I’d say the line’“No wonder there’s a bus stop at the foot of the cross.’ 

Within orthodox and historic Christianity (not to be confused with much of what we see happening in America today), the cross of Christ is where our human burdens, sorrows, and failures are laid to be forgiven and made new. And in modern-day Jerusalem, one of the possible locations of the crucifixion (which was on a hill then called Golgotha) is currently right behind an active bus depot. So, I really went for the theological-geographical double whammy with that one.”

When you officially announced the release date of “dear god,” the photo you posted on social media shows the lyrics written all across your face in dark text. Any significance to this?

nobody likes you pat: “The whole concept of the EP is love letters or personal communication in general. So, when we were shooting photos for the project, we just thought it made sense to use a lot of paper, typing, and language imagery. So, why not write stuff all over my face, I guess?”

The single artwork for “dear god” displays polaroids in various color shades. What do you intend to symbolize with those photos?

nobody likes you pat: “This answer is lame. But the single art for each song leading up to the EP haven’t really been connected to some deeper meaning. I just loved the holistic and earthy polaroid vibe for this very stripped-back and open project. The only thread is that the first single had one polaroid on the cover, the second single had two, third had three, and so on. Not very fancy of me.”

Describe the revelation you had about continuing to utilize narrative-driven lyricism in a way that resembles intimate letters to your loved ones.

nobody likes you pat: “I was working on a completely different album, to be honest. I had an entirely different theme and vision going on. And then things kind of stalled out. And my label wanted an EP this time, instead of an album. So, I had to really sit for a minute and determine how I could shift gears so drastically, so quickly. I always like to work on a theme-basis vs. just a batch of songs. One thing that became clear to me during this was that music isn’t meant to simply be a means of self-actualization and self-satisfaction. Music is meant to be a gift to others — a sharing of one’s life in a way that allows other people to resonate and be affected in their own lives. And I think gathering a few simple songs about the different loves in my life accomplishes that mission.”

What has been the response of your family and friends when it comes to the songs/intimate letters you addressed to them, and your new EP as a whole?

nobody likes you pat: “In general, I think most people find it sweet and honest. I used to want to be really edgy and cool. But as I get older, I’m much more content leaning into my sentimentality and gentleness.”

For this new project, what has it been like to work closely with your friend and bandmate from MILKK, Jack Vondrachek? 

nobody likes you pat: “Jack and I have been friends for over 15 years. Whether we’re in a band together or not, we’ve never stopped being close to one another nor have we stopped working on music together in some capacity.

I sort of hate technology. I can engineer and mix just fine. But I don’t find it rewarding at all. Jack is really good at that stuff and enjoys it. So, our partnership allows me to focus on the songwriting and production and feelings within my songs, while he tackles making everything sound great.”

Identify and elaborate on your most treasured moment when creating your upcoming EP dear….

nobody likes you pat: “I have a specific memory of sitting in my attic studio, trying to write a song about my kids that didn’t feel cheesy or boring or unrelatable. All of a sudden, it just started coming to me like a rush of wind, and I had this beautiful, intimate, nostalgic song about my sons. I remember sitting there crying because it felt so magical and special. And I love the idea of them listening to it 20 years from now.”

What is on the horizon for you, and what are you looking forward to the rest of this year?

nobody likes you pat: “I’m just taking things a day at a time. If I had to sum up my life right now in one of my own lyrics it would be: ‘Oh, dear God, I need your help down here.’ Because I really do. And we all do. We’re beautifully and tragically and only human.”

 

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AMY SHARK: INTERVIEW

by martina rexrode

photo by jess gleeson

Amy Shark is an Australian singer whose newest single "Can I Shower At Yours" is a sexy, refreshing song perfect for the summer. With an upcoming North American tour and her first release of the year out for your listening pleasure, there's a lot ahead for Shark. To keep up with her, follow her on social media (@amyshark)!

Congratulations on your new single! How does it feel to have “Can I Shower At Yours” out in the world?

Amy: “It always feels great having new music out. This one feels super different too so I was extra excited to release this! I also knew the title would somewhat intrigue people.”

By releasing this as your first single of the year, what kind of foundation do you hope is established for future releases?

Amy: “I'm not really an artist who plans the aesthetics of an album early on. I put every single bit of energy into writing the song and making it sound the best it can possibly sound and then afterwards I find ways to somewhat tie them all together into a body of work. So I guess the answer is you'll never really know what's coming next.”

I noticed that the lyrics never actually say “Can I Shower At Yours,” so how did this title come about?

Amy: “I wanted to have a little fun with this one. The song is about being super upfront and honest about your feelings for someone you're 'into' so the question ‘can I shower at yours’ to me sounded sexy and exciting and within the storyline of the song. Also the chorus of the song is 'fall for you,' and I was not about to let this song get washed up and lost in the millions of songs called 'Fall for you' — I had to get creative.”

What is your songwriting process like? How long did it take you to write this single?

Amy: “My songwriting process is different each time, some songs take longer than others. But what I will say is the songs that take the least amount of time usually have a better hit rate. This song started out as an entirely different song and when I took it to my producer we decided to restructure it then re-produce it so then I decided F*#k it... I'm gonna rewrite it! And it took me about 20 minutes.”

How much fun was it to shoot the music video with all of the aerobics choreography?

Amy: “This music video was so much fun! But I soon realized how bad I am at learning choreography. Luckily I had some incredible dancers there to make up for my terribleness.”

Leading up to the release of this single, what has been the most memorable experience so far this year (career-wise or generally)?

Amy: “The highlight would be recording at New World Studios in the UK. That's where 'Can I Shower At Yours' was born and many other exciting songs. I stayed in a little cottage that was literally 100 meters from the studio I was working in, all the food was prepared for you, and I honestly had the best creative experience of my life.”

What kind of show can fans expect to attend during your upcoming tour?

Amy: “The next tour is the North American tour and I'm really excited to get back over there! I have some really lovely and loyal fans in North America and I kinda had to abandon them during Covid. So they'll finally get to see a show similar to the 'See You Somewhere' tour, only they'll get to hear some new songs live...”

Are there any dream collaborations you want to put out into the universe?

Amy: “I've always wanted to collaborate with Post Malone, I just feel like we'd create something super cool and emo.”

How are you planning on celebrating this release?

Amy: “Few bottles of Pinot Noir and a f-load of promo. :)”

 

JOSEPH LAWRENCE: INTERVIEW

by brittany and everly ormiston

photo by chieska fortune-smith

“Your soul feels everything your mind may try to deny, but your heart greets honesty with joy and relief.” London-based singer/songwriter Joseph Lawrence is on the rise and excelling in the Jazz scene. He has performed at the historical and acclaimed Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, and networked with other musicians with a similar vision to his own. After being a part of several bands, Joseph decided to plunge into the creation of his debut album and show the world what he is capable of. His single “BeGod” is exceptional and has received nothing but praise. Listeners can dive even deeper with Joseph’s new release “No Good For Me.” His debut album in its entirety will be out later this year where Joseph will take listeners on The Trials Of A Dream. 

How do you feel knowing your song “BeGod” is out in the world? 

Joseph: “It’s always a great feeling to have your work out there. I never really put a special feeling on the release of an individual track as they all hold a special place for me and are all considered. Although BeGod probably has an extra special feeling because the message of the song highlights my rise from a personal dark space I was in.”

What musical influences did you pull from when creating ‘BeGod?’

Joseph: “There is a lot. I would say Kanye West and his record, MBDTF was a huge inspiration for me sonically behind this track. The melodic keys parts and the hard hitting punchy drums. Vocally, I actually listened to a lot of rap music for this record and was inspired by it, the way it flows and builds tension melodically. Chris Cornell and Jeff Buckley vocally I drew some inspo from too, masters.”

“BeGod” is filled with raw emotion and intense vocals. Describe who/what inspired you to create the track.

Joseph: “‘BeGod’ was born out of a place of coming out of dark space solely by myself. Having to find an inner light, a non tangible thing and pull myself out of the hole. Having optimal faith in myself seemed the only option.”

All of your live performances are incredibly powerful. You have been able to provide creative direction for several of them. Were you able to do the same for “BeGod?” If so, what was it like being able to express yourself and your artistry in another way?

Joseph: “Yes, live performance is arguably the most important asset for an artist to express themselves. It’s the truest form of your art, as you can’t hide behind things and the truth will prevail for people to feel and see. I’m blessed to have a great team who listen to me and respect my vision.”

Describe your experience working with Fryars (Mark Ronson, Pharell) and Dave Okumu (Jessie Ware, Lianne La Havas).

Joseph: “Fryars is a true genius. There are too many things to say about this man. I guess you’ll see in time to come… Dave is almost a God like figure, anyone who’s met and spoke with him will know what I mean. Truly born to do what he does, much more work to be done together I hope…”

What are some details you can share about your upcoming debut album?

Joseph: “The title of the album is The Trials Of A Dream, a lot to unpick from that…”

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given, and what is one you would give to aspiring musicians?

Joseph: “There is no one piece of advice, more so moments and advice together accumulated over time are the most powerful things. And with both of these things they always keep happening, so it changes or adds all the time.”

What are a few of your aspirations for the rest of 2023?

Joseph: “Sell out a headline show, release first part of the album. And be ready for the biggest year of my life, 2024.”

 

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THE LAST DINNER PARTY: INTERVIEW

by aiden rodgers

If you’re into alternative music, there’s no way you haven’t heard of this indie powerhouse dominating the UK’s underground scene. After the release of only one single, The Last Dinner Party has garnered over 500,000 monthly Spotify listeners. In anticipation of their upcoming UK tour and the release of their second single, “Sinner,” we talked to the quintet about their name, aesthetic, and how The Last Dinner Party came to be where it is today. 

Were you all at all startled by just how quickly you would rise to underground prominence after officially releasing your first single? What do you think that had to do with how much you had been killing it in the UK live scene?

The Last Dinner Party: “We were wishing and hoping ‘Nothing Matters’ would be received well but couldn’t anticipate the scale. It’s been overwhelming and amazing. We always hoped it would be the shows that drew people in, that’s partly why we started doing live shows before releasing anything online.”

Where did the name The Last Dinner Party come from?

The Last Dinner Party: “It was conceived during Abi and Georgia’s famous wine heavy night in Brixton. They wrote a whole manifesto, dripping with wine and blood, for this fantasy of a band they were going to start. The name is perfect because anyone can attend a dinner party. It’s welcoming and it embodies an ethos of mystery, decadence and maximalism.”

You all have such a unique aesthetic in your exploration of those Victorian, Baroque, and Renaissance themes. When did that start, and how important is it to the band’s identity moving forward?

The Last Dinner Party: “We’ve always naturally been drawn to those aesthetics as we find they capture the spirit of our music. There’s a playfulness and glamour that comes from dressing up like that and it empowers us on stage. Like many other musicians before us during the glam-rock and New Romantic eras, we like to interpret the silhouettes through a modern lens so that it doesn’t become pastiche. 

However, as with our music, our look will naturally evolve as we explore new avenues and interests so it’ll be exciting to see where our aesthetic goes next.”

At every live show, what do you hope to gain with the audience?

The Last Dinner Party: “We want the shows to be a cathartic experience for the audience. We want you to feel like you’ve been apart of something, a shared experience. We hope it’s inspiring, that it inspires artists to create, musicians to play, and friends to start bands.”

What does The Last Dinner Party songwriting process look like?

The Last Dinner Party: “As a band it’s an ongoing experiment. With the five of us being capable writers there are so many ways of collaborating on new music. On this album, Abi wrote most of the songs on the piano and then the band added the beef to the sandwich. 

Aurora and Lizzie made the ‘Sinner’ demo with each member contributing their parts, ‘Gjuha’ was written together in a practice room then Aurora went away and added the vocal line. It’s a mix of sharing songs, producing demos and jamming out in a practice room.”

What is your favorite live moment you've experienced thus far?

The Last Dinner Party: “The Camden Assembly gig right after the release of ‘Nothing Matters’ was euphoric. It was a massive joy to jump around with everyone singing along to ALL the words, we were ecstatic.”

What do you hope for The Last Dinner Party's future?

The Last Dinner Party: “We hope it keeps on the same trajectory. This band has been a dream come true. We get to make art and music, play gigs, travel with our friends, what more could you ask for? We are so incredibly grateful.”

 

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