I found SECRETS struggling to explain their name to a writer nearby, to which I politely interjected, "Their name is SECRETS - it's one word and all capital letters." to which Michael and Richard (bass & vocals/guitar) both gave me a smile and Michael exclaims, "Yeah, you know!"
The guys were really friendly and excited to talk about their music and upcoming news, which fans who listen to post-hardcore and that genre of "harder" style music should take note of.
Of course, some of the news they gave me on the "DL" is now public knowledge, but hopefully all you SECRETS fans will enjoy reading nevertheless.
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What are you influenced by in your music career? What got you started and fuels your fire to continue? We all grew up in the music industry. This is our dream job. Pretty incredible to make a career of doing what we love.
What has been difficult to overcome along the road?
Picture from Facebook. With new vocalist Aaron Melzer!
When you get together as a band and start playing music, it seems like a lot of fun, but you don't know what to expect before tour. There can be things about your fellow band members you don't know about and once you're on tour you might not like those things or be able to relate to them. It's rough being away from home and being on the road for so long.
We recently lost our bassist and vocalist (who we've replaced now with Aaron Melzer) which is really hard - we've all been super close.
What have been some of your favorite moments? Europe, definitely. New York City. It's so unreal and like the movies - so cool to have that chance to see the world and doing what you love. Meeting people and kids with problems that you can relate to.
What are your guys' musical influences? Death Cab for Cutie, Brand New, Bayside, Underoath, As Cities Burn, and A Day to Remember (post-hardcore scene).
If you could choose someone to collaborate with, who would it be? Michael: Justin Bieber or Kanye West. Richard: Ben Gibbard. Aaron: Tom Denney
What can we expect from you in 2013? A new album, a new look, and a lot of good sh*t.
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Check the band out on Facebook, Twitter, and their website, where you can preorder their new album, Fragile Figures, out July 23rd! Also be sure to check them out on select Warped Tour Dates!
Please support me by liking my page on Facebook for regular updates!
It was a surprise for me to see the electronica artist and producer Stephan Jacobs at the Kickoff Party - not the type of artist you'd normally expect to be on Warped Tour, but I was nonetheless excited to be offered an interview with him by his manager. He's had a lot going on and a lot planned for the next year that fans of his music and the genre will be excited to hear, in his straight to the point style of interviewing.
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What is your inspiration to make music? The parties and the producing; I love making music.
What are your musical influences? Punk rock, hip hop, electronic, West Coast sound. Parts of Canada and Eskimo.
What are your goals for 2013? Things are really unfolding. Besides being on the Warped Tour line-up, I expect it to be a lot like 2012, where I had 180 shows, including Identity Festival, Pretty Lights, and playing with ill.Gates.
What do you see for yourself in the next 5 years? I will continue evolving and reaching new fans. I look forward to custom equipment, my own crew, bigger tours, and bigger stages.
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Be sure to check out Stephan on Facebook, Twitter, and on Warped Tour this summer!
Please support me by liking my page on Facebook for regular updates!
It's been a busy last few months, I must admit. Although that isn't the reason I'm finally publishing my work from the Warped Tour Kickoff Party! I'll get right to the point here.
They were having quite the busy evening with all of the interviews being recorded, but the spooky sweet New Years Day clan were gracious enough to grant me with a few minutes of their time; all of the members got involved and it was certainly one of the most memorable interviews I've had yet!
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What was your inspiration to get together and start a band?
It started out as something to do. I didn't know how to do anything else. It began as an accident, really. And you have a choice in life - you can be a musician or you can be a serial killer. Where do you get ideas for lyrics; what's your writing process liked?
It comes from a lot of bad things, honestly. Anxiety, insanity, heartbreak, depression. That's how we cope with those things. I once made an attempt at a happy song. It was called "Murder."
What are your musical influences? Darker music; bands with dark imagery like MCR, Avenged Sevenfold, and AFI. We naturally became spooky and creepy; Halloween like.
What would be some of your guys' ideal collaborations?
Gerard Way, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Richard Ramirez, Danny Elfman
What has been your favorite tour or a specific favorite show? Warped Tour. Main stage in Phoenix or New Mexico. In New Mexico, they get Albucrazy!
Have you had a least favorite moment or a very memorable one?
Picture from Facebook
Last Warped Tour - we had to sell our van and drive home in a UHaul.
What can fans expect from you in 2013? Lots of touring, lots of shows, and on June 11th we release a brand-new full-length album!
Tell me your long-term goals, say 5 years from now?
World domination.
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Well, there you have it. Prepare yourselves for New Years Day to take over the planet. And if you're unfamiliar, you should probably get to know them so you recognize who's coming for you!
Now that their album is actually out (though this was written before it was) you should definitely hop on it and buy it. And while you're at it, catch them on Warped Tour at a date near you!
Picture from Facebook
Please support me by liking my page on Facebook for regular updates!
The Neighbourhood has been on my "watch list" since I first heard them, and the fact that none of my friends seemed to know their music was frustrating to me! How were so many good bands like this one so unknown, while others with more "marketable" sound were filthy rich and ridiculously famous? (Just another reason why I am passionate about this website - to help those great bands get more recognition - free press is good press!) I fell in love with their music, the lyrics, their energy, and I told myself I knew that they were gonna hit it big. I didn't know when, but I knew it was going to happen for them.
If you don't know them, they're California based and comprised of vocalist Jesse Rutherford, bassist Mikey Margott, drummer Bryan Sammis, and guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels. All hugely talented guys, with an obvious passion for music. It's been said that they popped up out of nowhere as a band, and I think that mysterious aura adds something to their music.
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How did you guys first get started as a band?
We all knew each other and decided we wanted to try and fulfill this shared vision we had with our best friends. What, if anything, have you run into as a band that was difficult to overcome?
We were thrust into this world so fast. It was the best thing that has ever happened to us, but going from living at home to being on tour for over a year is definitely something that you need to adjust to. Do you feel like those things brought you closer and made the band even stronger?
Definitely. We live together now, all day every day. We've gone through the trials and tribulations of a proper relationship. We've had arguments and disagreements and it's all brought us to a place of love. Tell me about your current process in songwriting and recording. Has this changed at all since the beginning?
It's always been an evolving process, especially on the road. Now a days people work on songs in the van on their computers and such. We have also been jamming some new stuff during sound-checks, which is definitely a new experience. Who writes most of the lyrics and music? Or is it a collaboration between all of you?
Jesse writes the lyrics. We all write the music.
Photo by Eric T. White (c)
Do you find writing songs therapeutic, if you use real life experiences to influence them? They seem to be pretty different than a lot of what's going on in the music scene these days, so I'd like to know about where they come from.
It's definitely therapeutic. The lyrics are all truthful and about real life things. The music is from a place where we get to express our feelings through our instruments. Did you experience any issues or problems while recording your new album?
Honestly, no. Our biggest problem was which songs to put on the album. Do you think that the Spotify EMERGE contest had a lot to do with building your fan base more recently?
Spotify is a great tool for people to find music. It has definitely helped people find us.
How has being on tour for you recently? Have you had a favorite moment that has stood out as being especially memorable?
Denver was a great show with our good buds in the band Lovelife.
What can fans expect from you in 2013/2014 after your current tour is over? I know you just released a new album, but hey, the fans always want more!
They will get more. It will be momentous for us. You'll see. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years? What are your long-term goals for the band?
I see us doing what we do on a larger scale. Being more respected. I'm curious as to how you feel about the way music sales have changed, such as online sales and illegal downloading. Do you feel like this improes the way that music is purchased and reaches your fans ears?
Definitely. It makes it more accessible.
Do you think that the future of CD and vinyl sales will eventually be completely replaced by online music sales?
No, because there will always be that niche market for vinyl. If each of you could colaborate with one artist or band, who would it be?
Mikey: Dustin Kensrue
Zach: Kendrick Lamar
Jeremy: Tony Iommi
Bryan: Hans Zimmer
Jesse: DJ Premier If each of you could pick one place to travel/tour to, where would it be?
Mikey: Hawaii
Zach: The Beach in the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio
Jeremy: New Zealand
Bryan: Japan
Jesse: Paris
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If you don't know this band and their music, please do yourself a big favor and get acquainted right now. You don't even have to thank me. Let the music speak to you like it did to me. It might be one of the best things you do for yourself! Buy the music if you like it. Support them! I can't stress how important that is.
Pic @ Vans Warped Kickoff Party (MC Lars w/Andrea Blunt)
I'm a little late getting this up, but I was happy to catch up with my buddy MC Lars who makes some of the best "laptop rap" in the game, at the Vans Warped Tour Kickoff Party! I was introduced to his music many years ago, during a very monumental time of my life, and I was very influenced by this genre, which he's well known in. (If you don't know of him, get acquainted now!) I genuinely appreciate all the amazing work he puts into his music and the sweet, sweet poetry (literally and figuratively) that comes as a result. He also is inspired by one of my favorite poets, Edgar Allen Poe! To top it off, he's such a genuine sweetheart and for me, that makes everything in the music game better.
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What influenced you to start making music?
I was passionate about punk rock, hip hop, and I just really loved doing it myself. When I was sixteen I started writing hop hop songs.
What is your writing process like?
I start with a beat, need the cadences, the beat informs the rap. I look for a beat that matches, like a paper - the chorus is the thesis, the verses are the defending paragraphs. [I just have to say I love this, as a writer myself!] Do you consider yourself a nerdcore artist? That's definitely how I was introduced to you.
No, I definitely don't consider myself a nerdcore artist.
What has been your favorite moment or show or specific tour?
Warped Tour 2011. The Less Than Jake main stage and performing with them.
What drives you and keeps you going?
It's a miraculous thing to make a living doing what you love. I feel very lucky.
Have there been any bumps in the road that you've had to overcome, and then grown from?
Being "DIY" you do it all. You have to find the fun and momentum. People are so generous. And Kickstarter helps.
Courtesy of mc_lars Instagram
Who did you grow up listening to that has influenced you?
I grew up on Weird Al and the Beastie Boys, but got more into punk and indie rap as I got older.
If you could have a collaboration with one person, who would it be?
Dr. Dre. He's awesome, a great song writer, and great with beats.
***
Check out MC Lars online to check out his music and what he's up to, and check him out on Warped Tour!
Show reviews are much like album reviews in the struggle that involves morphing a beautiful live experience into the proper words. I started listening to The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus when I was probably 10 years old and they were part of my regularly listened to playlist over my early teenage years. Their first album Don't You Fake It, was a popular one that I couldn't stop listening to and sharing with everyone.
Not having seen them live for years, I was really excited when I found out my buddies in The Material were going to be on a leg of their tour! Stepping into The Roxy near the beginning of the night, I was so excited to see how many people were there. Not just for the main act, but in support of local music and for The Material, who over the years have gotten themselves quite the following as well.
The Material took the stage, and I glanced around to see how many fans pushed their way to the front, as well as how full the venue was. Often when you go to see a show, many people are standing outside or haven't even arrived until the headliner takes the stage. If you didn't know better, you'd have thought The Material was headlining the show. As vocalist Colleen started to belt out her strong, mesmerizing vocals, the crowd sang and clapped along with songs they were clearly familiar with. Something that's always caught my attention with their music is not only the quality of the vocals, but the power behind them. Impressive is the length at which she sings without taking a breath. Add to the mix two skilled guitarists and a kick-ass bassist, a drummer who seems he could go on for hours, and you've got yourself a band that's a real team. Safe to say besides being able to draw a crowd and put on a great show, The Material has truly grown into themselves and has so much to offer in terms of a real live experience.
When Red Jumpsuit took the stage, it was apparent that many didn't quite know what to expect. If you're like most modern Americans, you listen to so many different genres and bands, which means it's hard to keep up with every band. Many, like myself, are most familiar with RJA's first album, despite having listened to their newer albums over the years. Ronnie, after so many years in the band, still almost has a shyness about the way he performs, which seems to endear fans to him even more. Playing a mixture of songs from the beginning straight through to their latest album, the band made it clear why they're still around after so many years. With solid harmonies and passionate vocals, the guys still love what they're doing for the sake of the music.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Red Jumpsuit show without two of their most famous songs, "Your Guardian Angel" and the last song, their most popular, "Face Down." Any fan who wasn't singing for the entirety of the set was definitely singing and moving for the last few minutes of the show.
THE MATERIAL (All live show photos shot by Molly Calvo) RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS
It's often really strange when your musician friends (or acquaintances) ask you to review their album or ask if you want to interview them, because when you have a lot of friends who are pursuing careers in music, they all have their different styles. And I do mean that, it's not code for anything. They all have different sounds and levels of experience and talent. My favorite thing is when a musician or band (friend or not) gives you the chance to listen to their music with no pressure, and if you're into it, to write something about it. That way it comes from the heart! Anyway, that's what happened this time and I'm really happy to be able to write something genuine about this album.
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XI is an album in which you can hear the passion Matthew Lindblad (yep, another one man band!) has for his music. Something I value, and I think many others do too, is meaningful lyrics and sounds that grab your soul and drag you in. It's very rare that I like every track on an album and have little to no complaints, but that's the magic that was just produced in this 6-track masterpiece.
Ambient rock with just enough tasteful aggressive vocals (don't get this confused with "screamo") placed discreetly just where it belongs, it seems that these tracks could be just about anyone's jam. Matt's sweet side is easily visible within the lyrics of these songs, making it obvious how much he cares about the music and what he's written, as does the letter included in the album, which made even me feel emotional!
Although each track has its own sound, the album flows so easily that when it ends, it's almost as though all of the songs are each a part of one long, beautiful song. From the first time I listened to it, I couldn't stop. I soon had the whole album on repeat, and each time it ended, I felt like it was too soon! I definitely couldn't pick an absolute favorite out of the six songs, but I'll tell you that none of them were my least favorite either!
It's hard to compare such beautiful, standalone music to other bands' sound, but I might relate it in slight to Cartel and New Found Glory. Matt definitely brings back some worth to the words "one-man band," which seemed to have lost their reputation as a valid form of talent. Produced by Colby Wedgeworth (who has produced albums for Lydia, The Maine, This Century, and others) it's obvious that they make a good team in the studio (and out).
If you don't know much about Matthew, he's been around the music industry for quite a while, in various different projects, including having been one of the guitarists for New Years Day (who I actually just interviewed at the end of March!) and has started this new project more recently. I'm glad he decided to go on his own path, so that he had the full creative decision making to create this gem of a record.
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