SABROSO 2018: PREVIEW


BY JOE HERNANDEZ

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Sabroso is a multidate festival that features a little bit of everything. From April through May, the fest will make its way through seven cities and features craft beer from local breweries, gourmet tacos from top chefs, food trucks and restaurants, Lucha Libre Wrestling, and of course live music. Bands vary slightly city to city, but consists of The Offspring, Pennywise, Against Me!, and more. The event is 21+ until 4pm, when it becomes all ages.

Sabroso music festival is one that separates itself from others, and has a lot to offer. The traveling fest consists of four hours of beer tasting with over 100 craft beers and local favorites. Lucha Libre wrestlers from around the world will compete in qualifying matches, until a championship match is reached and the top wrestler is awarded the title of Lucha Libre Champion.

The Southern California rock band, The Offspring, will be headlining each stop of the festival. First formed in 1984, The Offspring is often among the bands credited for reviving mainstream punk rock in the 1990’s, and is one of the most successful with over 40 million records sold worldwide. The band first garnered attention from their third studio album Smash (1994), and followed up their success with their next four albums: Ixnay on the Hombre (1997), Americana (1998), Conspiracy of One (2000) and Splinter (2003). Those albums reached platinum, multi-platinum, platinum, and gold statuses - respectively. Following the release of 2012’s Days Go By, The Offspring will be heading back into the studio for the release of their tenth studio album, slated for a 2018 release.

Be sure to come out to Sabroso’s Portland date to see The Offspring, Pennywise, Against Me!, Lit, Unwritten Law, and Los Kung Fu Monkeys on May 13. Or, find a city closer to you below:

 

April 7 - Dana Point, CA

April 8 - Sacramento, CA

April 28 - Denver, CO

April 29 -  Albuquerque, NM

May 5 - Tucson, AZ

May 12 - Auburn, WA

May 13 - Portland, OR

 

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DANCING ON TABLES: INTERVIEW


INTRO BY KAT VISTI

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

PHOTO COURTESY OF SIDEWAYS MEDIA TEAM

PHOTO COURTESY OF SIDEWAYS MEDIA TEAM

Scottish indie pop band Dancing On Tables formed in a small town called Dunfermline, which is located just outside of Edinberg. The band consists of members Robbie, Callum, Hamish, Gregor, and Michael.  We sat down with the band to learn more about their music, how they became a band, and their future plans!

 

How did you guys first come together as a band and when did it all happen?

"We were all friends at school and first began playing music together in an empty cupboard in the music department. From there, we started to write music together and later became Dancing on Tables."

 

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

"We like to say it's alt-pop. They're catchy but still very much driven by guitars."

 

You recently released your latest single Missing. Can you tell us a little about the song and the inspiration behind it?

"Missing stemmed from a late night conversation we had while on a writing break in a beautiful and secluded part of Scotland. It's about the struggles and fights in a relationship and how when you look back, these issues aren't always as important as they seemed. We took a theme typically associated with a slower + more soulful sound and put it to real 'feel-good' music to give the track an 'everything will turn out fine' vibe."

 

You also released a video for Missing, which includes a lot of cool animations. How did the concept for the video come about?

"We loved the idea of mixing the animated scenes with live shots. We took it to our videographer to see if we could make it work, and started drawing out ideas for the video. The scene where the animations comes to life from the sketch book is a favourite."

 

Are there any goals that you hope to achieve as a band?

"From the start, we've always taken things one day at a time to try and not get too ahead of ourselves. Some of the things we've already achieved we didn't think were even possible when we started, so if we keep doing what we're doing we will hopefully end up in a good place."

 
 

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SJ: INTERVIEW


BY KAT H. WENTZELL

PHOTO BY ALEX MASON

PHOTO BY ALEX MASON

            Seth Jones, better known as SJ to the EDM world, is an artist, songwriter, and producer from Louisiana.  SJ is currently signed to Enhanced Music, the record label founded by fellow EDM sensation Tritonal.  Besides music, SJ is passionate about making a positive impact on the world; he recently founded One Life International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing safe environments and long term care to young girls in Khalpar, India.  With all of his success and philanthropy, SJ is quickly on his way to becoming a household name.                        

 

1Where are you from and how old are you?

SJ: "I'm 33, and I'm originally from Louisiana.  I started my music career in Nashville, and after living there for 10 years, I moved to Los Angeles five years ago."

 

What got you into making music?

SJ: "I just always loved it.  Any musical instrument lying around the house, I would pick up and learn."

 

Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

SJ: "There are so many.  I started as a songwriter, so my biggest influences were people like Billy Joel, James Taylor, John Hiatt, Patty Griffin, John Mayer, [and so on].  Over the years they've spanned so many genres [that] it's hard to list them all!"

 

What is your writing process like?

SJ: "It usually starts with a concept or theme.  I have something I want to write about, usually a personal experience.  The production comes after that.  I try to find a way to express that idea."

 

What can fans expect at an SJ show?

SJ: "I hope people experience being happy and free.  I want them to be excited and surprised by [my] different styles of music."

 

What is One Life?

SJ: "One Life is a non-profit organization I started about 6 years ago.  We do work in Calcutta, India with young girls who live in the slums."

 

What are some of the goals and accomplishments of the organization?

SJ: "Our goal is to turn places of poverty into places of possibility.  We just finished construction on an 8000 sq/ft facility that provides rehabilitation and education for girls who come out of the abuse and poverty of the slum."

 

How can others help contribute to One Life?

SJ: "You can give to our work and find out more about what we do at https://www.onelifeintl.org/."

 

How has your life changed since becoming a popular musician and a founder of an organization?

SJ: "Honestly, I just keep doing what I love doing.  There are things that are changing, but I try not to pay attention to them, and [I] avoid letting them distract me from what I care about most--music and making the world a better place."

 

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MOLLY DEWOLF: INTERVIEW


INTRO BY JENNIFER CHEN

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

PHOTO BY VIKA PETLAKH

PHOTO BY VIKA PETLAKH

Molly DeWolf has released a new single called 8 Seconds from her upcoming debut EP, but that is just one of her many accomplishments.

After starting a musical career at Harvard as the directer of the co-ed a cappella group, and then being on season 10 of American idol, DeWolf realized that the music industry wasn’t for her. She continued on with her life and found a new passion; an immersive media company that specializes in news, documentaries, and discussing AR and VR technology called RYOT that she built in 5 years. This company was sold to Huffington Post / AOL in 2016. 

DeWolf’s passion for music made a comeback when she met with the men in BRÅVES, who performed an original song inspired by a RYOT film DeWolf had previously produced. Both drawing inspiration from each other, they worked and recorded for 2 months and finally created their self-titled debut EP. 

This EP is vulnerable and real, and DeWolf sings about the stages of relationships, the heartbreak that can come with love, and the hardships of love. For her single 8 seconds, DeWolf explains, "The idea behind '8 Seconds' is knowing someone for years, being in and out of each others’ orbit, and then all of a sudden they become your person, which mirrors my own experience and current relationship. That’s a beautiful notion to me, that lighting and timing are the primary factors dictating your life and who you end up with. I’m fascinated by the idea of fate vs coincidence."

The futuristic and vintage sounds of Molly DeWolf’s music will go far, and she is definitely someone to watch.

 

How did you first get involved with music?

"I grew up attending vaudeville shows and as the kid of one of the performers, I was often enlisted to perform as well. From there, it was just any outlet I could find. Rock & Roll ensemble in middle school. Vocal jazz in high school. A cappella in college. American Idol after that. My deep appreciation and admiration for the great artists of the last half century is what drove me to music in the first place, but also what made me apprehensive about creating my own original work."

 

Quite a few years ago you walked away from music and spent time building the media company RYOT. When you decided to start your own music again were you nervous at all or did it feel more like a relief?

"Both. Performing is terrifying when you're rusty. But at the same time, I'm so happy and inspired when I'm singing and collaborating with other talented musicians, I feel like a more complete human."

 

Where do you find most inspiration for your songs?

"I have a complicated relationship with my own emotions. Historically, I've tried to exert power over them, or manipulate them rather than listening to what they have to say. The songs were all inspired by moments I felt something that I didn't express well or at all."

 

How would you describe your music in three words?

"Driving, brooding musings."

 

You recently released your latest song "8 Seconds". Can you tell us a little about the song?

"It's the first and only true love song I've ever written. I wanted it to feel... inhabitable. The way most of us fall in love isn't 'love at first site' but it's just as magical, maybe even more so; It grows over time and then somehow, at some point, this person who was just someone in your life becomes YOUR someone. It could be hours or it could be years, but it is not immediate or reactive. There isn't really a term for that kind of developmental love, but maybe there should be."

 

"8 Seconds" is the first track released from your upcoming EP, which is due out this year. Do you personally feel that "8 Seconds" is a good introduction to your new music or is there just so much of a variety from the new songs that we can expect so much more?

"With Johnny What / BRAVES behind the production on the entire EP, there's definitely a consistency to the sound. The whole thing is moody, sexy and just dark enough. My second single, out Feb 1, is the most different in sound from the rest of the tracks."

 

In what ways do you hope to continue to evolve as an artist?

"I hope I'm never NOT evolving, but on the performance side in particular, to me, the hallmark of an amazing musician is when their live performance is even more compelling than their recordings. I hope to get there."

 

Aside from the upcoming EP, is there anything else we can expect from you? Any live shows?

"Yes! Also releasing a remix of 8 Seconds this month, by my friend Ryan Merchant from Capital Cities."

 
 

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KEYS N KRATES: ON TOUR


BY TARIQ ABDELLATIF

 

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEYS N KRATES

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEYS N KRATES

Keys N Krates will be stopping by Portland's Roseland Theater on their Cura Tour on March 2nd 2018. Doors open at 8pm and tickets for this event can be found here.

Since forming a decade ago in their native Toronto, Keys N Krates have carved their own path via a bass-centric, sample-driven sound which melds the realms of electronic, hip-hop and beyond. The group composed of drummer Adam Tune, keyboardist David Matisse and turntablist Jr. Flo has built a venerable reputation as one of the leading live electronic acts today on the strength of their onstage instrumentation and energetic sets. Keys N Krates now elevate their craft with Cura, their debut artist album.

Reflecting a sonic evolution many years in the making, Cura sees Keys N Krates evolving from revered instrumental beat-makers into musically sophisticated producers and songwriters. Cura embodies Keys N Krates’ matured style of now: soulful electronic music created with an organic touch, allowing for open experimentation and sonic curiosity. On “Music to My Ears,” dynamic strings and reverberant bass provide a joyous backbone to Grammy-nominated vocalist Tory Lanez’ uplifting hook. On “Glitter,” a slow-burning romp through disco-tinged future R&B, the group slathers the groove-laden cut with satiny synths and distorted strings alongside the vocals of rising sensation Ambré. “Do What U Do” revisits the sample based, boom-bap beats and harmonious vocal layers that have become a keystone of the Keys N Krates aesthetic. Elsewhere, the hard-hitting instrumental “Flute Loop,” featuring Ouici, is a frenetic bomb exploding with trap-leaning muscle, while “My Night” boasts hallucinogenic production accentuated by 070 Shake’s haunting sung / rap vocal.

Originally formed as a live hip-hop act in 2008, Keys N Krates have since logged countless hours on the road via a relentless tour schedule and have been recognized for advancing the live performance aspect within electronic music. They have headlined their own tours and performed high-profile sets at the top international music festivals including Coachella, Sónar, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Tomorrowland, EDC Las Vegas, Pukkelpop, Bestival and more. Keys N Krates will spend 2018 on an extensive world tour in support of Cura, performing headlining shows across the US, Canada, and Europe, with additional shows in Asia and Australia. In-between tour stops, they are set to grace festival stages at Sónar Hong Kong, Ultra Music Festival, and Electric Forest.

While Cura marks the crew’s debut full-length album, it, too, initiates a first step toward a new creative vision, a breakthrough in sound and a new beginning for Keys N Krates.

Listen to the entirety of Cura by visiting their Soundcloud here!

 

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