KATIE COSTELLO: INTERVIEW

September 25, 2017

INTRO BY MADDEN LEVIN

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

From writing songs as a way of therapy to making her first album at the young age of seventeen, this next artist is one to look out for. Katie Costello creates "rebel-pop anthems" for everyone and anyone who needs it. In our exclusive interview you can learn how she created her latest EP, New World, and more! Be sure to keep up to date with Katie Costello on her social medias and check out her music wherever you can listen!

How did you first get your start in music?

KATIE: "I starting writing songs when I was 12. At the time my favorite records were all the 90s pop hits you can imagine, the Disney Princess compilation album, and Green Day’s Kerpunk! I was inspired to write songs as a kind of therapy and to understand myself in the world… I would write melodies and lyrics. I wanted to be able to play the songs I was writing by myself, as well as to be able to perform with a band... So, I started playing piano at 13 and guitar sometime later at around 15 or 16. I also studied music theory in high school… From there I wrote enough songs to make my first album and released it at 17. I moved to New York City when I was 18 to continue my songwriting, performing and making records… Thankfully I’ve been able to continue this journey since."

How would you describe your music in three words?

KATIE: "Rebel Pop Anthems. I call my style of music 'Rebel Pop' because it’s music from the heart of an independent musician, songwriter and performer that is intended for everyone… I picked 'Anthems' as the third word because the three tracks on my New World EP, along with others on my coming Twice the Love LP, tend to be heart-lifting sing-a-longs that help people feel hopeful, alive and happy."

You recently released your EP New World – what was the process like creating it?

KATIE: "My latest EP New World is unlike anything I’ve ever released before in that each song is written with and produced by a different songwriter/producer in a different city. The first track New World was composed and recorded in Brooklyn, New York. The second track A Beautiful Mystery was composed and recorded in Los Angeles, California. The third track Hearts on Fire was composed and recorded in Berlin, Germany… The range of cities, people and experiences I had in making this EP has brought about three very different songs linked with a similar message to stay bright and follow your heart."

What song on the EP came easiest to you when writing?

KATIE: “Hearts on Fire… That track poured out fast. I remember the producer I wrote the song with imploring me to sit at the piano and relax. I finally did and the song practically fell out in one piece. From there, we improved and reworked some parts to make it what it is now."

What song came hardest?

KATIE: “New World… Writing about the state of the world can often make people sad… Including even me sometimes. Despite that, I chose to stay positive… It was a challenge to find the right words that are both truthful and hopeful. How can we capture a message of hope while not acting like everything is perfect?"

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

KATIE: "I would like to collaborate with Mick Jagger. He has remained fresh and inspiring for decades… I admire the way he stays true to himself while always transforming and evolving… A true artist in my eyes."

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

KATIE: "My third full-length album Twice the Love will be released October 6th this year! You’ll hear more 'Rebel Pop Anthems' and a new side of me… I’m very excited to share it with everyone!"

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EVERYONE IS DIRTY: INTERVIEW

September 23, 2017

BY DELANEY GERARD

The band Everyone is Dirty is a four-piece rock band that formed in Oakland in 2013. We got to talk to Sivan Lioncub of the band about their new single, San Andreas, their upcoming album, My Neon's Dead, which will be released on September 28th, and what their plans are for the future. Make sure to check the band out on all of their social media and keep your eyes and ears out for their new album!

Your brand new LP My Neon's Dead is out September 28th. How would you describe the LP?

SIVAN: "Dreamy, gooey, heavy, euphoric… If it was a dessert it would be a medicated glazed donut with bacon sprinkles."

What was your Inspiration behind this LP?

SIVAN: "My Neon’s Dead is inspired by the fear I still have that this near death experience killed my light.

In 2015 I almost died because I was allergic to an antibiotic and my liver failed. The album was made during the time I was going through that. Chris, Tony, and Tyler kept the band going while I was in the hospital, and we recorded the album together throughout the last two years. I’m not talking about this to get pity. I just hope that by being honest I can tell a story that other people are going through too, and then we can all feel like we aren’t alone. The fear that something will kill your light or has killed it is one that I think or hope other people can relate to.

After that trauma, I walk around wondering, is the sparkle gone? Did a part of me die? Will I ever be who I was before this happened? Do I even remember who I was? It’s a scary thing."

Can you tell us a little more about your single San Andreas, which was released July 28th?

SIVAN: "San Andreas is a love song that’s inspired by summer in Los Angeles. It’s scenes from a love affair… you meet, you fuck, you fight… It’s about not taking this life too seriously. It’s all a laugh."

In your own words, how would you describe the band’s music?

SIVAN: "Loud. Melodic. Fun. Fierce."

How do you think your music has grown over the years?

SIVAN: "As a band we can stretch out way further than we ever did before. We have more freedom, and we write with more freedom as well. We are always experimenting together."

If you could collaborate with any other artist who would it be and why?

SIVAN: "I’d love to collaborate with some incredible fashion designer like Alessandro Michele. In my dream someone like him would just throw wild clothes at us and we would wear them… I would love to collaborate with the film director Michel Gondry. I’ve always loved his music videos and it would be so fun to make a music video with him."

What are your future goals?

SIVAN: "We will be releasing our album My Neon’s Dead on 9/28 on OIM Records. We are already working on our next album and will be touring through the end of 2017. Keep on making music!"

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OZONE SQUEEZE: ON TOUR

September 22, 2017

BY SERA SNYDER

Up and coming rock/funk trio Ozone Squeeze is headed by frontman and guitarist Oz Noy. The group also consists of singer/keyboardist Rai Thistlethwayte, who is known as frontman of the Australian band Thirsty Merc, and drummer Darren Stanley, who was one of Col. Bruce Hampton's touring drummers.

Their debut, self-titled album was released on September 15th through Abstract Logix. With this album the band brings a bold vision of soul, funk, and R&B, taking the emotional resonance of classical music and blending it with jazz and the outer limits of improvised music.

The trio makes a virtue of space, letting the arrangements breathe. Rai Thistlethwayte often times performs vocals, keyboards, and keyboard base simultaneously, while Oz Noy brings an inventive off-version of blues and rock, and Atlanta-based, Stanley provides the heartbeat. Thistlethwayte says, “There are definitely no rules, set parameters – or formula at all. It’s always been an intuitive conversation.”

The band intends to continue their shared future through live performances and further recordings. You can catch them live on their U.S. tour, which kicked off on September 7th. The tour includes a date in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, September 27th at Gypsy Sally's. Check out Ozone Squeeze’s newest music video for their single Supernatural Man and their cover of The Beatles' Come Together.

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JAY JOHNSON: INTERVIEW

September 6, 2017

BY MADDEN LEVIN

This next artist is someone who is going to be so important to this new generation of music being released. Jay Johnson is that young man who is going above and beyond the norm with his all-around musical talent and amazing heart. Below is our exclusive interview with Jay as he discusses the most important topics! In addition to this, we had first word of his new single being released on September 8th! Until then, open up your eyes and ears for this great aptitude.

For those who don’t know you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

JAY: "I’m a musician and songwriter from South East London. I just started a campaign with Gibson Guitars, I organise, host, and perform at intimate live concerts for AirBnB, and I also produce a radio show in East London."

Being just 19 years old, do you find it difficult to make it in any aspect of the music industry? Do you feel there are any misconceptions for you and your music just because you’re younger?

JAY: "It’s difficult when you don’t look like someone’s idea of a perfect candidate, because you end up having to work twice as hard to prove to them that you’ve got the right mentality. I did find it difficult at first, but my work ethic and proactive mindset are what made people take me seriously. I get stereotyped as a rapper a lot. People are also usually surprised when they listen to my lyrics, I constantly get told that I’m very mature for my age, especially from people I’ve just met. I don’t really know why I turned out this way. The funny thing is it took me a while to become fully self-aware, and I’ve never really cared about things most people my age cared about, and that’s true up until now."

Can you tell us a little bit about the project with Air BnB that you mentioned? What was the experience like on the first day of the gig?

JAY: "They approached me with the idea of putting on intimate gigs in London. The aim was for me to have nights where I host and perform. I thought it was a good idea so I ran with it and it’s going pretty well at the moment. I had my second night last week and tickets sold out a week before the gig. I’ve got another date later this month, and a few in September. I like these nights a lot because they’re run with the idea that everyone benefits. The artists are paid well, the audience has a great time, and the acts I organise are all are amazing. The venue I host my nights in is also really sweet. It’s called Merchant House, they’ve got a couple of bars in Bank. I’ve never seen decor like theirs anywhere, and their drinks are the best I’ve had in London. The first gig was pretty nerve-wracking. I’m not a big talker so hosting was definitely a step outside my comfort-zone. I’m glad I did it though. The audience was filled with some friends which made it easier."

Could you expand on the Gibson Guitar campaign? What is it like working with such a prestigious company?

JAY: "I was in a busking competition last year being run by the mayor of London. This year it’s being sponsored by Gibson Guitars. For the campaign they decided to get a couple of London buses wrapped. I got asked to model for the buses and that’s how I ended up on a bus for their campaign. I did the shoot at their private offices near Oxford Street and it went really well. It’s kind of surreal to be doing this campaign with Gibson. The people working at their office were really chill too. They turned down the office music, and let me have a jam on their guitars for what felt like 10 minutes but was actually a couple of hours."

What makes your music unique compared to others?

JAY: "I guess it’s the fact that I spend a lot of time on my lyrics, and I try to actively unfilter my thoughts when I write songs. I’ve also had a lot of strange and out-of-this-world experiences which I don’t talk about so virtually no one knows about them, they’re always great stimuli for any artistic work I do. I come up with my best lyrics after extended periods of solitude. I think it’s important to spend a lot of time on your own because that’s the only time people are truly themselves, so a lot of my music comes from thoughts and ideas I’ve come up with on my own. I think that makes me unique because nowadays it seems like the ‘cool’ thing is to hang out with a lot of people, but being in social situations with a lot of people is one of the things I hate the most."

Do you feel that growing up where you did played a big part in who you became musically and personally?

JAY: "Yeah, definitely. Anyone who doesn’t know about South East London, is missing out majorly. I’m glad I grew up there. It’s definitely shaped the way I see music and everything else. There are also some really talented artists coming out of there. For anyone who’s not familiar with the area, I’d highly recommend that you visit. Just don’t gentrify innit."

What was the process like creating your debut EP?

JAY: "Not gonna lie, it was pretty long. The EP took a year to get together because Jamie (my producer) and I were both really busy. Towards the start of this year both of us managed to find time and we finished it off. It took a while getting people together, but it was always a good time. I’ve got an amazing cellist called Sya who played the cello parts on the EP. I started playing the cello when I was 8 and now I can’t get enough of its sound. I’m glad it’s come together the way it has though. I’m really happy with the EP."

Many of your songs have very deep lyrics that I am sure many people can relate to. Where did you get the inspiration for these songs?

JAY: "My inspiration comes from experiences I’ve been through, which are somehow more universal than I thought. I started out writing poems when I was young. I ended up writing hundreds of poems and won some competitions with some of them. My inspiration also comes from other people and the stories they have. Like I said I’m not a big fan of being around a lot of people. I prefer to speak to someone one-on-one, when there are fewer egos and fewer people to please."

Finally, what can we expect from you in the near future?

JAY: "I’m releasing the single from the EP on the 8th of September. Working on quite a few things in and out of music. I recently started managing a rapper who plays the double-bass. I’m producing music as well, some slightly electronic and experimental stuff. I don’t know where a lot of the things I’m doing will take me. but I guess it’s still better than being lazy and waiting for things to happen."

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CAITLIN EADIE: INTERVIEW

August 31, 2017

INTRO BY MADDEN LEVIN

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

With the release of her sophomore album, Balancing Act, under her belt, Caitlin Eadie had a lot to share about what has been going on in her life. From which of her songs were the most difficult to create, to dream collaborations, we spoke with Caitlin about everything you’d need to know. To find out more, read her exclusive interview with us below, and check her out on her social medias!

How did you first become interested in music?

CAITLIN: "I would spend all summer exploring my grandpa's music collection. I was so intrigued by all the music and all of the sounds. I would spend all day singing and dancing. My grandpa really ignited my love for music by telling me so many stories about the songs and musicians."

Who are some of your musical influences?

CAITLIN: "Billie Holiday, Robert Johnson, Paolo Nutini, Patsy Cline, and Otis Redding are some of my musical influences."

You recently released your sophomore album Balancing Act – can you tell us a little about the process creating it?

CAITLIN: "Cameron Tyler (co-producer) and I initially were building a catalog of songs. Eventually, we realized some of those songs should be an album for me. It was a very liberating process- it called for a lot of growth and hard work."

What song on the album are you most proud of?

CAITLIN: "I am most proud of Wolf Cry - it was written to empower and inspire. I can't think of any reason better for a song than that."

Was there a specific song on the album that you had a difficult time creating?

CAITLIN: "Michelangelo was the most difficult to share and create. It was the last song added to the album but one of the first ones created. I re-wrote the very end of the chorus and then decided I would send it out to the world with the rest of this album."

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

CAITLIN: "I would love to collaborate with Paolo Nutini. I love his voice and his eclectic musical style. I think it would be such a cool collaboration."

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

CAITLIN: "I plan to release two more music videos for this album and release a new single. I will be touring Europe at the beginning of next year, and I will be playing shows in LA, Nashville, and a few other cities the rest of this year."

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