‘BITTER’ / ØLIVVER THE KID: SINGLE REVIEW

January 11, 2018

BY JOE HERNANDEZ

In 2014 it was announced drummer Bryan Sammis would be leaving The Neighbourhood. He released two EP’s and several other tracks under the alias “Ølivver the Kid” before releasing his final song “Pink Tires. Smile Lines.” in 2016. With the release of the track, Sammis posted a letter to his fans announcing the end of that solo project. Since then, he has been working with guitarist Jake Lopez and the duo has released their debut EP Heavy Sunshine as La Bouquet in 2017.

A few days into the start of 2018 La Bouquet tweeted an announcement of the return of Ølivver the Kid, and followed it with cryptic tweets we now know are song lyrics. Finally, on January 8, Ølivver the Kid was reborn from it’s “passing,” and Sammis’ new song “Bitter” was released.

Though Sammis is the vocalist and lead for Ølivver the Kid and La Bouquet, both projects are sonically and stylistically different. La Bouquet saw a new era for Sammis. It featured a more alternative sound laden with guitar work and melodies. “Bitter” is a return to the heavy synth and loops familiar to Ølivver the Kid. Whatever project Sammis sets his mind to, he strives to make the final product the best possible. It’s obvious listening to any track how much feeling and emotion he puts into it, and “Bitter” is no different. Sammis achieved what he set out to make, and the emotion is felt on the listening and receiving end. Like any Sammis project, “Bitter” is a story told as the song progresses. During verses and the bridge, the instrumentation is simple and distant as Sammis’ soft voice recounts the memories and words said in a broken relationship. This is contrasted by the heavy production in the chorus, and complemented with Sammis belting the lyrics. The pain behind the words are felt throughout the song, and Ølivver the Kid couldn’t have had a better return.

Fans will be left in the dark where exactly this single leads, but every fan is thinking the same thing: never leave us again ØV.

welcøme back.

Bitter, a song by Olivver the Kid on Spotify

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ASHES OF LUNA: INTERVIEW

January 6, 2018

INTRO BY ALEXIS ROGERS

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

Ashes of Luna describe their style of music as ‘alternative dance rock.’ This rising music group blends a variety of influences in their music, such as rock, electronica, and classical. Their main goal is to create unique music that takes listeners on a journey. The band was born in Los Angeles, California in 2013 by members Brandon Apgar (vocalist) and Lauren Samuels (bassist/guitarist/vocalist). Other members of the band include Kris Persoon (percussionist/programing), Matthew Nelson (guitarist), and Augustus Hoovenstal (guitarist). Their first album, "SI-963 Hz,” was released in 2016 after previously releasing only singles. The band’s most recent releases include two singles, “Touch the Sky” and “Wild and Free,” as well as an EP titled “The Awakening.” Their music can be found on YouTube, SoundCloud, and iTunes. Follow along with their musical journey on Twitter and Instagram: @ashesofluna.

How did you first come together and start making music?

"We have known each other for about 5 years now. I (Lauren) was in a different project but not really happy with the direction they were taking. I started reaching out to friends in the music community asking if anyone new of a band that needed a guitarist or bassist or if anyone wanted to start a new music project. Thats when I was introduced to Brandon. ASHES was brand new at the time so it seems the stars had aligned. Once we got together and started practicing we knew we had something unique and magical happening creatively. To top it off, we both share the same birthday. We have been musical soul mates and best friends since."

How would you describe your music in three words?

"Alternative dance rock."

What is the story behind the name ‘Ashes of Luna’?

"Brandon actually came up with the name. There isn't really an amazing story behind it. He wanted something different...not your typical name. Both of us are extremely connected to the moon and all her phases she goes through and how she has a huge influence on the human body and our emotions...thus was born ASHES OF LUNA."

You recently released your songs Touch the Sky and Wild and Free. Can you tell us a little about these songs and the inspiration behind them?

"We were fortunate enough to be able to go to Nashville to create these songs. We spent a week there and created 4 incredible tracks with our amazing producer Matt Bronleewe. We went during the solar eclipse and it turns out that Nashville was the number one location in the country to witness the eclipse so our creative juices were definitely put into overdrive because of the eclipse energy that was all around us! The songs are about self empowerment and living your best life which is what we are all about. The writing process was new and totally different from how we usually write but we definitely accomplished what we sent out to do!"

Both of these songs have very similar cover art, as they have your logo in the center, but also have different images in the background. Is there a specific reason why you chose the image of the lightning with Touch the Sky and the sunflowers with Wild and Free?

"We both love nature and all it has to over. Our music we feel sets a tone, it sets a vibe. Touch the Sky definitely has dark undertones in the music so we wanted to use imagery that had that feel to it. It is dark and moody, a little scary looking even but we feel it fits the song perfectly. It is like "I am here. I am powerful and intense and I'm a huge entity in my life. Nothing can stop me."

As far as the Wild and Free imagery goes... when we were in the studio writing the lyrics we pictured a huge collective of self aware, self conscious awakened people just letting loose in nature. Just loving life and living.

WILD and FREE. Beautiful scenery and beautiful surroundings just seem to make your soul feel amazing and connected to everything. This song is exactly what that is about. Just letting it all go. Being yourself. Connecting to source and others and loving YOU."

Do you find that you have the exact same process every time you create a song or does it change often?

"It changes every time for sure. We never write a song the same way. Sometimes we might have the majority of the song created on paper before we head into the studio but sometimes we think we do and it totally changes once we are in there. The studio is a very personal, intimate experience for us. We give our all to what we write. Depending on the day, the time, what is going on in the world, what is going on with us personally and what is going on metaphysically it definitely varies. But that is all what it is really about. The unknown. Music comes how it wants to."

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

"Man this is a tough one. Both of us have huge influences that might not even reflect how our music is written but we are both huge Muse fans. So that would be incredible. They're obviously on a level of their own talent-wise but if we opened up for them we believe our music would fit perfectly and do it's job of bringing people together and helping people forget about what's going on in their day to day lives and just helping them to be present and to not think about anything but the music."

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

"We are definitely going back to Nashville to create and record some more tunes. That is a definite! We are also hoping to go on tour. Playing live is an incredible experience! To be able to connect with other souls on a music level is just something that is unexplainable. Music saves and helps and connects people. That's our main objective. We want to get out there and connect with our fellow people."

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'LOW LIFE' / SOLEIMA: MUSIC VIDEO REVIEW + INTERVIEW

January 5, 2018

REVIEW BY EMMA SCHOORS

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

The recent music video from Soliema for “Low Life” relies on simple imagery and concept tactics that are easy on the eyes yet interpretative to the mind. Directed by Jonas Bang, the video depicts a circle of events you can’t seem to get out of. It represents the idea of circling around a bad situation and being able to get out of it, Soleima saying that she had a person in mind while writing it, and that “though they’re still struggling, they’re fighting to get somewhere good.” The music video is just that. It catches the viewers attention for more than just a laugh or a moment of thought, but for the entire video, a time of understanding what the song is all about.

The video is the second of collaboration with Mercedes Benz for their culture laboratory Prxjects, the first being “Paper.” On working with Soliema and Bang, the Prxjects team says that it has some “interesting underlying themes,” also admiring Sarah’s ability to “unify the mass appeal of pop music”.

The video is a stunning visual with a true meaning deeper than any over-produced pop song. It therefore strengthens the appeal of the meaning of music for listeners, rather than capturing their attention for a couple of seconds. It leaves you wanting more.

Read our interview for this project below.

How did you first get your start in music?

SOLEIMA: "My mom has always introduced me to loads of different kinds of music. She brought me to this West African dance camp for example, which later allowed me to travel to Tanzania and stay with a dance group in Sukumaland, Tanzania for a year. Her influence has definitely made me understand and adore many kinds of music!"

Where do you find most inspiration when writing?

SOLEIMA: "I get inspired by lots of things. Other arts and artists often inspire me. But mainly I think I get inspired by what I experience in life and what goes on in the world. I guess that is how it is for many, you can’t avoid being effected by the structure of the world, I think. My mood definitely determines what I write about and what vibe it has."

You just released your new music video/single for your song Low Life. Can you tell us a little about the song and video?

SOLEIMA: “'Low Life' is a song for a person who is struggling, yet still fighting to get to a better place in life. I had a very dear someone in mind when writing this. The video is very much related to the feeling of being stuck in something. I keep on walking and walking, never really getting anywhere, and the guy in the car (Collins) just keeps going round in circles. All of this was a way to exemplify the meaning of the song - that it can be tough to break out of certain circles in life. But I absolutely admire people who fight for a good and happy life no matter what."

Do you have any favorite memories from filming the video?

SOLEIMA: "It was all super fun. Jonas Bang (the director) is amazing to work with and we all had a lot of fun."

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

SOLEIMA: "My producer Vasco and I like to call it ‘Garage Pop.’ I think that is a very good way of understanding what we do :)"

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

SOLEIMA: "Ummm, lots of good things in the future. New music, many concerts, and a few secrets up my sleeve, haha :)"

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'26 MILES' / MICHAEL MCQUAID: SINGLE REVIEW

January 4, 2018

BY JENNIFER CHEN

Michael McQuaid uncovered the lyrics for his new single 26 Miles after meeting a girl known as Jasmine. This is a song that's about going great lengths for the one you love, and embracing it.

With a catchy beat and groovy vibe, this song will be playing on repeat as you live out your life.

As Michael McQuaid said, "This song is all about the vibe. I want people to drive in their car, all the windows down, with no gas in their car, blasting this song and on their way to go see someone special.”

26 Miles makes you feel like doing just that, so go and embrace the ones you love with all your heart.

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WORLD WAR ME: INTERVIEW

January 4, 2018

BY KAT H. WENTZELL

Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, alternative rock band World War Me is a force to be reckoned with. The group consists of vocalist Stephen Krypel, lead guitarist Charlie Harris, rhythm guitarist Jonny Watson, bassist Sean Daly, and drummer Joe Kus. The boys were recently signed to SharpTone records and dropped their first full-length, self-titled album on October 7th. Much more is to come from World War Me, and the boys invite you to join their revolution.

How did World War Me come to be?

Krypel: "It started with me and our producer, Nick [Mathews], from [the band] Get Scared just meeting up, recording demos, and writing non-stop. I had an idea in mind for a project and the name 'World War Me.' I wanted to find the sound that I was looking for for the project. After a few demos, Nick hit me up and was like, 'We’re good to go, let’s just start this f***er up.' So I was like, 'Alright, I need a band,' and Nick hit up some people for me. Our guitarist, Jonny, tattooed Nick on Warped Tour, and that’s how they got connected."

Daly: "Jonny worked on a song with our old guitarist, sent it to Nick, and then Nick gave it to Stephen. Stephen laid down vocals on it, and that was what I first heard. I was like, 'Holy sh*t, please tell me they need a bass player.' They did, and I was in. We’ve all been together now for a little over two years."

Krypel: "After we all linked up, Nick was like, 'I’m going to get you guys signed.' I was working at Starbucks around 9 p.m. a few days later when I got an email from Sal Torres at SharpTown records saying that he wanted to sign us. The rest is history."

What is World War Me’s writing process like?

Krypel: "For me, it’s pretty wild. When I write, I like to get into a zone that fits the feel of what I’m going for, kind of like method acting. I want to come off as honest as possible. For example, for a song like 'War Zone,' I will lock myself in a room for a week at a time eating bread and getting manic."

Daly: "The rest of the band really feeds off of that. Stephen’s got a lot of ideas with lyrics and melodies, and we’ll build riffs off of them. Sometimes we’ll build the riffs first, and then Stephen will write over top, but we all work really well together. This first album was really unique because Stephen had a lot of songs already done that he and Nick had worked on for a while that we were able to add our flair to."

Krypel: "It was beautiful; the album wouldn’t be what it is without that. Writing with Nick for a long time eventually got repetitive. To have new people in the room with different flair and influences really made the songs better than they initially were."

What can fans expect to see at a World War Me show?

Krypel: "I think when people put in headphones and listen to our songs, they’re listening to the perfection. Everything’s tuned, everything’s in sync. But when you hear us live, you’re not just hearing the album. I want kids to come to a show and have a completely different experience that’s like listening to the album again, but remixed and shown in a different light, because I feel like there’s no point in playing an album to the T. I think if I went to a show and a band played the album exactly how it was recorded, then I’d be like, 'Man, I could have sat at home, not paid money, and listened to this album on my iPod.' What we do is very live, very energetic, very rambunctious. There’s a lot of heart, and we leave everything on the stage."

Daly: "Our goal live is to create an experience. That’s our objective every night. We even hurt ourselves sometimes [in the process]. Our drummer likes to kick his drums down. He hit Stephen in the back of the neck the other night."

How does World War Me differ from other rock groups?

Krypel: "We try not to put ourselves in a box. Many bands classify themselves in subgenres like emo, pop-punk, and whatever, but we don’t."

Daly: "It all roots back to the same sh*t at the end of the day."

What’s coming up next from World War Me?

Krypel: "There are a few things that we can talk about. We’re going to be working with people that inspired us growing up, which we’re really excited about. I can’t name specifics, but I’m really f****** stoked about it. We’ve also already recorded two singles for our next album. We want to make sure that our next album definitely makes people say, 'Wow, I’ve never seen that before!' We want to find new ways to connect to our audience and people that support us."

Daly: "We want to keep evolving, and we plan on being on the road a lot next year. There are really cool things in the works. We really want to show people the energy that we bring."

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