BY JARED CALLAWAY
Mamby on the Beach is coming to Chicago from August 23rd through August 24th on the picturesque shore of Montrose Beach. The festival will have three distinct stages, and the artists slated to perform include Troye Sivan, Brockhampton, Quinn XCII, and countless others! Five artists are soon to be announced, so fans should keep their eyes on the schedule over the next few months. The full lineup can be found below and tickets are on sale here.
BY BRE CURA
PHOTO COURTESY OF AIMEE DEBEER
We are all searching for answers, to know more about who we are, and to find solutions for problems we cannot remedy on our own . When presented with quick and easy ways to become someone, we start to lose pieces of ourselves. Aimee deBeer’s new single, “Billboards”, takes a deep look at the insecurities and doubts that humankind is left with in our current culture. Upon first viewing the music video paired with Aimee deBeer’s poetic tune, immediately the viewer is drawn in by the beautifully orchestrated videography and editing technique. With the first verse echoing the solemn phrase, “Everything is beautiful, and no one feels the pain,” deBeer walks in solitude down an empty highway, as rolling hills provide the backdrop for her dreamy environment. Pictured around her, almost interrupting the serenity of her world, are towering billboards, reading things like “skinny me” and “you don't need questions when we’ve got all the answers”. Alluding to the underlying message surely to come in the following verses, these slogans portray the values society deems important enough to plaster on the billboards we see. Painting a picture of what our culture convinces us of, that we should care about the method of a temporary solution, so long as it makes us feel better in the moment. A powerful chorus is heard as more and more billboards appear throughout the scenery. A certain mantra throughout the song, listeners are again presented with the powerful line, “Everything is beautiful, and no one feels the pain”. Written on some of the billboards are advertisements for pet clonings, and other ways to escape the harsh realities we all must face (such as the death of a pet, human interaction, and basic necessity). The line, “Got a problem, go get stoned. Prescription overload. Just numb all the devils that haunt me,” reflects the idea that in today's world, so many people escape their emotional and physical needs by drowning themselves in remedies provided by people only looking for a monetary gain, and whose intentions might not always be pure. While the video itself seems to be based in one location, it is all that is needed to portray the powerful implication within the song. deBeer has done a fantastic job of summarizing a monumental message in a way easily understood by anyone who might listen to the track, or watch the music video. The end of the video reveals a spaceship rising above the hills, and Aimee flashes off the screen, leaving the end of the story up for some interpretation. “Billboards” is a great reminder to not let yourself be defined by what the world insists you should be, and to focus on values you truly believe in.
BY BRE CURA
At the young age of 16, Sage Charmaine has already made a name for herself in the music industry. With popular singles such as, “June”, “Bitter Chocolate” ft. Cupcakke, and “Cherries”, Charmaine has just released her debut EP Don’t Leave Me. Featuring 7 new songs, (“Ashes”, “Look Up 2 Me” and “happy birthday” having been pre-released), this EP will be a game changer for Charmaine.
The first track on the EP, “Look Up 2 Me”, has a wonderful balance of both dark and ethereal vibes. Opening with a quiet, syncopated beat, listeners will immediately be drawn to Charmaine’s incredible vocals. The chorus starts out light and airy, then shifts into a slightly more confident repetition of the phrase “look up to me.” With relatable lyrics and a mature tone, this song is a strong opener for the star’s debut EP. “don’t leave me”, a later track on the EP, holds a similar feel to this tune in both tone and expression.
This song flows into the second track on the EP, “Ashes”, a collaboration with Rocky Lynch of The Driver Era. This song is a sad, yet beautiful reflection on a relationship that isn’t working, but still is so hard to walk away from. Soft and slow vocals backed by incredible instrumentality pushes this song to its full potential. The listener can feel the emotion behind the lyrics, and anyone who has experienced a story similar to the one portrayed in this song will surely be impacted.
Both “around” and “don’t bother me” bring a whole new feel to the EP. Giving off almost an air of indifference towards those who oppose her, Charmaine self-assuredly portrays her ability to move on and upwards from people who would only drag her down. Self-confidence is an evident characteristic of Charmaine’s work, and does not fall short in either track.
One of the catchiest tracks of the entire EP is “hurts a little less”. Sage Charmaine’s incredible vocal range is on full display in this memorable melody. This upbeat piece is a perfect song for summer-time drives with the windows down. With a sound that is almost wistful, this song will make you want to throw your hands up and dance. The craftsmanship required to portray heartbreaking lyrics in an upbeat way is not easily achieved. Charmaine should be very proud of this amazingly strong tune.
Closing out the EP is “happy birthday”, an angsty depiction of romance gone wrong . Similar to Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats”, this song cleverly portrays the revenge someone might take on a boyfriend or girlfriend who done them wrong. With lines such as “I forgot your birthday card, so I knocked the windows out your car”, and “what were you expecting, a happy f***ing ending”, this is a great song to sing when you just want to get your anger out.
Overall, Don’t Leave Me is an immeasurably strong debut EP for an already well received artist. Make sure to stream it now on your favorite platform!
don't leave me, an album by Sage Charmaine on Spotify
INTRO BY TÉA VAN ACKEN
INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY
PHOTO BY LEEOR WILD
Rising singer Carlie Hanson and her newest single are ignited from the experiences and people around her, and create a new sound for the world. Hanson’s single “Back in My Arms” captures the infatuation and adoration she had felt towards a significant other in her first relationship with a girl. Her young, wild, and free sound showcases deeply felt love, passion, and liveliness, which will be demonstrated further in June, upon the arrival of her new EP titled Junk. Starting at age nine, Hanson discovered her passion for singing through the inspiration of seeing other young and talented individuals, and knew she had to live out her dreams. Her career is at its genesis, and has earned an edgy music video for “Back in My Arms”, embodying a jaw-dropping reaction by Carlie and her sisters robbing an armored truck, filled to the roof with money, in order to aid to the bail of their father. Not only does Hanson wish for a taken aback response, but her audience is gifted the feeling of their personal impression, as Hanson says, “If you can feel something from my music, whether it’s the sounds or the lyrics, then I think I’m doing my part as an artist,” which the world will be able to feel with her new single, and additional songs being released upon her new EP.
When was the moment that you knew you wanted to be a singer?
CARLIE: “When I was about 9 or 10 years old, I discovered Justin Bieber, and that’s when I really fell in love with music. I watched all of his YouTube videos like it was my job, it was so inspiring to me to see someone so young, so talented, living out their dreams! I wanted to be just like him, from then on I knew I wanted to be a singer.”
How would you describe your sound in three words?
CARLIE: “Young, wild, and free lol.”
You recently released your new single “Back in My Arms.” Can you tell us a little about the song and how it came about?
CARLIE: “I wrote Back In My Arms about my first romantic relationship with a girl. I was very much in love during the creation of this song, I think you can really hear how infatuated and full of emotion I was at the time.”
You also released a music video for the song – what was the process like creating the video?
CARLIE: “When I was creating the music video for BIMA, I knew right away that I didn’t want the video concept to have anything to do with what the song was about. I just didn’t wanna create another cliche video of me and a girl hanging out and holding hands or whatever. My goal was for people to be a little taken aback when they watch this! For some reason, I’ve always wanted to create a music video where I robbed a bank, so I threw that idea at the director, Danilo, and he came back with a sick treatment. The concept was me and my two little sisters rob an armored truck full of money to help bail our dad out of jail. It was so so so much fun shooting this one!”
Where do you find most inspiration when creating music?
CARLIE: “Most inspiration that I get when creating music, usually comes from real-life experience. Whether it’s something I’m going through with my friends, family, something I saw on a billboard, someone I overheard talking while I was out, it doesn’t matter, there’s something I can write about everywhere!”
What do you hope people take from your music?
CARLIE: “I just want whoever listens to my music to feel something, anything! I wanna make you happy, sad, laugh, dance, feel nostalgic, etc. If you can feel something from my music, whether it’s the sounds or the lyrics, then I think I’m doing my part as an artist.”
Is there anything else we can expect from you in the near future?
CARLIE: “EP will be coming out in June this summer!! Will have 5 songs, almost all unreleased! So excited for the world to hear what I’ve been making!!”
INTRO BY MIKAYLA LAWLESS
INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY
Are you looking for something a little like Björk but with a dash of Taylor Swift? If so, you should definitely check out Madelin, an avant-pop artist. Her lyrics give off an engaging aesthetic that centers around the concept of just being human and drive the listener to think deeply while also being able to bop to a cool dance song. Check out our interview below!
For those who have not yet heard your music, how would you describe it to them?
MADELIN: “I like to describe my music as half way between Björk and Taylor Swift. I’m a piano playing singer/songwriter at heart, so all my songs are very lyrically driven at their core. I like to combine that with the fun of a pop song, and wrap all of that up in eclectic found and electronic sounds to create something unique, danceable and deep at the same time.”
On May 3rd you released your new EP, Then Her Head Fell Off. What was the process like creating this project?
MADELIN: “The process of making this record was longer than I’d like to admit. Some of these songs have been in a holding pattern for years because they weren’t up to snuff according to my former management. I always loved them though, so i decided to release them now. Other songs on this project were written more recently. It’s a pretty accurate snapshot of the last five years of my life. The entire record was produced by my partner Matt Speno and my good friend Eric Gerhardt. (Their project “Betamax” is awesome you should check them out.) I love their gritty yet sleek approach to production. I think it gives my introspective songs an edge. I’m really grateful to have their hands in this album.”
The cover art for the EP is absolutely beautiful! Can you tell us how you decided to go with this aesthetic?
MADELIN: “The aesthetic for this era as a whole was inspired a lot by tarot cards. Particularly the traditional Rider Waite Deck. I love the duality all the cards embody, and the different archetypes they represent. We have so many identities as humans, and they all combine to form who we are. I wanted to interpret my favorite cards visually through my own lens. My album art is my version of the empress card. She has to do with abundance, fertility, and feminine strength.”
Of the songs on the EP, which one would you say came easiest to you when writing?
MADELIN: “I wrote Broken Star In my head while I was walking through the city. It really just came to me. I went home and wrote the base synth line and the rest is history.”
Which song was the hardest?
MADELIN: “Monarch was more of a process. I wrote it on piano but I knew I wanted it to have a danceable club vibe. I had to find the balance between those two aesthetics both sonically and lyrically. I wanted it to be cheeky but not cheesy; an unexpectedly fine line to tread. However I think I accomplished my goal.”
What inspires you when writing music?
MADELIN: “Being a human being, and the concept of consciousness in general. I like to zoom out to see the big picture but not forget the tiny details that make our lives meaningful.”
How would you describe your EP in three words?
MADELIN: “Growth/Death/Party.”
What do you hope people take from your music when listening?
MADELIN: “I just hope people enjoy it. Why enjoy it doesn’t really matter to me.”