Interview: UK Electronic Musician Curxes Discusses Her New Single/Video "In Your Neighbourhood" and Upcoming Album "Gilded Cage"
We are extremely siked to present our next exclusive interview with @Curxes, an Isle of Wight, UK based electronic...
We are extremely siked to present our next exclusive interview with Curxes, an Isle of Wight, UK based electronic musician who recently released her latest visual "In Your Neighbourhood", directed by Rob Luckins. Curxes will soon be releasing the follow-up to her very DOPE last album "Verxes" on October 20th, so it is only right that we touch base with this talented creative to pick her brain about her creative process in making music, how the next album "Gilded Cage" differs from the last, and much more.
After reading our Q&A with Curxes, be sure to follow her on Twitter, Instagram, etc and check out her website below. If you have not seen the "In Your Neighbourhood" visual or heard Curxes's last album "Verxes", you now have your chance. Enjoy!
We really love your new song and visual "In Your Neighbourhood". Who produced the song and who directed the video?
Thank you, I’m glad you like it - it was a real group effort. The video was directed by Rob Luckins (www.welcometothedarkslide.co.uk), who has overseen virtually every video since ‘Further Still’ in 2013 and designed both the album artwork for ‘Verxes’ and ‘Gilded Cage’ based on loose visual concepts I put forward. There’s a real collaborative element to how we work and for ‘In Your Neighbourhood’, we shared puppeteer and animation duties as well as the planning aspects of the video. I tend to take on the smaller practical elements though, such as finding filming locations, making little instruments and, more often than not, rummaging around for props, whilst Rob concentrates fully on the cinematography, based on our shared appreciation of TV shows such as Fargo and The Americans. Where I actually write resembles a kind of prop storage closet with shelves and a cabinet full of rainbow junk, so for the production side of things, I swapped my cluttered room for the University of Brighton and enlisted the help of friends Deluxe Flamingos, comprising of Mike James, P.J.E. Davy and Matt Horn. We produced the album together and it’s wonderful to have a working dynamic where no musical angle or influence is ridiculous. Everyone has a uniquely valuable perspective from which to make suggestions about sounds/effects and that helped to shape, or in some cases cement, the overall project. Currently, Mike and Matt are on tour as half of punk band Horseflies and P.J.E. Davy is constructing some sort of sound art installation, so hopefully too, you can hear the DIY, lo-fi and the conceptual amongst weird songs about being sucked into space and disappearing forever.
Tell us about your upcoming album "Gilded Cage", for which "In Your Neighbourhood" is a part of. Would you say that "In Your Neighbourhood" is a representation of what we can expect from the album from a thematic standpoint?
Thematically, I’d say it’s representative but sonically, ‘Gilded Cage’ is a mixture of gloominess interjected with humour, vulnerability and intentional menace, which incidentally, would be my main ingredients for a Tinder profile, if I knew what Tinder was.
In terms of external factors, unwanted change, femininity, prejudice, displacement, loneliness, creative freedom, financial restriction and observing the ongoing battle of good versus evil in relation to nostalgia, all of those aspects play a significant role throughout the album. Other than that, it’s quite lighthearted.
How did you get your start as a musician and who are some artists who have provided inspiration to you?
I desperately wanted to play the saxophone when I was a child, having watched The Simpsons religiously, but rather embarrassingly I didn’t have the muscular physique of Tim Cappello to be able to lift it up, so I was advised to attend a recorder club, which was somewhat disheartening. Whilst there, I saw an advert for electronic organ lessons and was in a fortunate position to be able to go to a local music shop and learn with other kids. It’s frightening how much things are changing for children now in that respect, to the point where they may not be afforded such an amazing opportunity years from now. That kind of exclusivity shouldn’t exist. Everyone from my school teachers and music teachers to my college lecturers gave me a lot of encouragement and it wasn’t until much later that I was exposed to things like sexism and classism in the music industry.
Regardless, somewhere between then and now, I started listening to electronic music, soundtracks and post-punk. Anyone who has or had good videos was an influence, because it illustrated to me that those artists could present an idea in multiple ways and that it wasn’t just something that existed within the confines of three and a half minutes. Pet Shop Boys, Aphex Twin, Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode always had great videos when I was growing up and St. Vincent and Björk give a lot of consideration to their artistry through videography with breathtaking results. They conjure up new universes and invite the listener in, to experience and feel involved. It’s like a short holiday, you can just wander into these colourful parallel worlds and sit inside them until you work out how to build your own.
How would you say that "Gilded Cage" is different than your last album "Verxes"?
‘Gilded Cage’ is far more subtle in tone than ‘Verxes’, which sounds extremely confrontational to me now, but not in the way I’d like it to. I feel that there’s greater authority in ‘Gilded Cage’, even with a different approach to the vocals and it’s more nuanced in terms of the sounds used. Additionally, I had some financial help to get it mastered and pressed on vinyl from an independent arts fund called The Mike Howley Trust on the Isle of Wight where I live, so for that reason, even though ‘Verxes’ was the actual debut, this feels like the first proper, uninhibited release.
Thanks for that "Thank you" pic with the black cat for our feature on "In Your Neighbourhood"; we were honored that you took the time to put that together. That was very creative. Speaking of creativity, tell us about your creative process when it comes to songwriting and choosing production.
You’re very welcome and I love making things!
I tend to look at music like a photographer, even though the majority of the pictures I take are blurred. I find the notion of macrocosm and microcosm to be interesting in relation to creating strong imagery and feel that the same principles of magnification and reduction should be applied to sound. ‘Uniseum’, the song used in the album’s video trailer, is probably the best example. I wanted it to be recognisably influenced by horror soundtracks, by the likes of Popol Vuh or Italian soundtrack masters Goblin, to seem as if it was bellowing from a huge abandoned church somewhere in the distance but simultaneously creeping up behind you whilst you lay in bed. The eerie background sounds are very simple household objects, intensified and made unfamiliar whilst the complex sounds are brought up close so as to be intimate. Apart from that, I don’t really give much thought to how it might be received or whether it should be produced a certain way, it’s just satisfying to create something which can be unnerving and strangely triumphant at the same time.
Stream/Download "Verxes" on iTunes
Connect with Curxes: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Bandcamp | Instagram
The Top 10 Indie Albums of 2000 – 2009
The internet was the great equalizer for indie music, which is why our list of the top 10 indie albums of 2000-2009 features a handful of Canadians, a British rapper of Sri Lankan descent...
The beginning of the century saw a boom for indie music, brought about by the interconnectedness of the internet, which made the act of discovery, of sharing, easier than it had ever been in history.
For those who craved for music outside of the mainstream, before the ease of checking out your favorite music blog for what’s new, there was trekking down to the local record store and talking to the clerk or there was college radio–but the quality and availability of these stations varies greatly from region to region.
The internet was the great equalizer for indie music, which is why our list of the top 10 indie albums of 2000-2009 features a handful of Canadians, a British rapper of Sri Lankan descent, and a collaboration between two of Hip-Hop’s best known underground artists. Indie music, once local and regional, had become global.
10. Feist – The Reminder
As a part of super group Broken Social Scene, and with her earlier release, Let it Die, Feist had already made a name for herself when she released The Reminder in 2007. But with tracks like “1234” and “I Feel it All,” this is the album she is best known for, and for good reason.
9. Arcade Fire – Funeral
Before the Arcade Fire had won a Grammy, had shared a stage with David Bowie, and had become one of indie’s best known groups, they were a relatively unknown Montreal band formed by husband and wife songwriting duo Régine Chassagne and Win Butler. Within a few years, they had earned the praise of David Bowie and their breakout debut full-length, Funeral, earned them a spot in indie music’s pantheon.
8. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
I remember first hearing Vampire Weekend on Myspace. They had a few tracks on a simple page, before their self-titled album was even released, and someone had emailed me the link. I remember returning to that site day after day and noting that the number of listens was skyrocketing. Anyone who sang about Oxford commas in such a fun, upbeat, an unabashedly nerdy way, was likely to find legions of fans in dorm rooms across the nation, and that they did.
7. Iron & Wine – The Creek Drank the Cradle
Sam Beam took Americana, slowed it down, and packaged it up into the lo-fi, whispery masterpiece that is The Creek Drank the Cradle. Anyone who doesn’t feel something when
listening to “Upward Over The Mountain” doesn’t have a soul.
6. Madlib – Shades of Blue
Madlib’s perfect blend of hip hop and jazz, a love letter to the deep history of Blue Note Records, is a work of genius. There’s no other way to describe it, and even if it is at times dissonant, or even abrasive, there is no other way to listen to it.
5. M.I.A. – Kala
Within a span of three years, M.I.A. released three outstanding albums, working with Diplo and other artists to seamlessly blend the sounds of the entire world into unforgettable beats, starting with Piracy Funds Terrorism, Vol. 1 (2004), followed by Arular (2005), and culminating with her magnum opus, Kala (2007).
4. Explosions in the Sky – The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place
Perhaps the finest post-rock album of all time, The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place makes one feel exactly what the title suggests.
3. Broken Social Scene – You Forgot it in People
Broken Social Scene sounds like joy. Their elaborate lineups and collaborations, their friendship and camaraderie, the harmonies, the blending of so many sounds into something beautiful, all of it comes through in their work. You Forgot it in People, from beginning to end, just exudes love. It is easy to become wrapped up in, and totally worth doing so, again and again.
2. Madvillain – Madvillainy
Fragments, interludes, songs—who can tell what is what on Madvillainy? It doesn’t matter. Just listen to one of the greatest hip hop releases of all time.
1. Panda Bear – Person Pitch
Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox already had considerable indie clout when he dropped his solo album, Person Pitch, under the name Panda Bear. Blending Brian Wilson-esque harmonies with masterful production, if one album sounds like the culmination of a decade’s worth of indie music, this is it.
An In Depth Look at the Underlying Meanings of Taylor Swift's New Video "Look What You Made Me Do"
The video for Taylor Swift's new single "Look What You Made Me Do" has already been viewed over 69 million times, and it was only released two days ago- but this doesn't surprise us...
Taylor Swift is notoriously exceptional at playing the victim, getting revenge on those who wrong her in the most dramatic of ways and selling millions upon millions of records. After being relatively silent for over a year, she has managed to bring herself back into the spotlight and in true Taylor fashion. She recently deleted every single post from all her social media accounts and replaced them with pictures and videos of snakes, followed by the album art for her upcoming project Reputation, which is set to be released on November 10th of this year. Then on August 23, Swift released an interesting and slightly confusing single titled "Look What You made Me Do" that ended up making a whole lot more sense upon the premier of the accompanying music video.
The video for Swift's new single "Look What You Made Me Do" has already been viewed over 69 million times, and it was only released two days ago- but this doesn't surprise us. Taylor Swift may very well be the biggest and most notorious superstar that this generation has ever seen, and she has mastered the art of creating just the right amount of drama and remaining relevant without ruining her good-girl image. Think what you will about T-Swift, but the country gone pop megastar know exactly what she is doing, and her latest release is no exception. Let's dive into the underlying messages and potential meanings behind "Look What You Made Me Do".
Now unless you have been living under a rock, you know that Taylor has been keeping very busy over the past year by getting into passive aggressive feuds with an array of celebrities, and she has managed to rack up a pretty long s*** list. It is speculated that her newest music video "Look What You made Me Do" made subtle digs at Kanye West, Kim Kardashian West, Calvin Harris, Katy Perry, David Mueller (the radio DJ who groped her) Tom Hiddleston and the general public- but Taylor is no stranger to using her music as a deadly weapon against her enemies. Remember "Better Than Revenge" (Camilla Belle), "Dear John" (John Mayer), "Mean" (the media), "Bad Blood" (Katy Perry), "Innocent" (Kanye West), and "Forever and Always" (Joe Jonas)? Yeah, Taylor can be absolutely savage.
"Look What You Made Me Do" begins with zombie Taylor digging a grave underneath a tombstone that reads "Here Lies Taylor Swift's Reputation", immediately letting the audience know that the old Taylor we know and love is gone. But things really start to get hectic when you look at the tombstone next to her's that reads "Nils Sjoberg", the pseudonym Taylor used as a co-writer on her ex-boyfriend Calvin Harris’s song "This Is What You Came For". The two got into a major (and very public) argument over Harris not giving Swift credit for her part in writing the tune, even though he claimed they both agreed to keep her involvement private. The Guardian was one of the firsts to notice this hidden little dig, and we commend them for catching something that may have otherwise gone amiss.
Next, Taylor can be seen sitting in a bathtub full of jewels and wearing massive diamond rings, a clip many believe is a direct blow at Kim Kardashian West. Last year, Kim was robbed of millions of dollars worth of jewelry and diamonds in a Paris hotel room, a heist in which the robbers tied Kardashian West up and put her in a bathtub. It could be a coincidence, but the similarities lead us to believe that it is probably not. Less notable, a single dollar bill can be seen to Swift's left. This is a symbol to acknowledge the groping court case she endured against David Mueller in which she was awarded a single dollar. Taylor continues to throw shade at Kim in the next scene where she is sitting on a throne surrounded by snakes. In case you weren't up to date with the drama, Kim tweeted a snake emoji following the Taylor and Kanye feud which led Swift's social media to get flooded with a ridiculous amount of hate- but hey, at least she can laugh at it now.
The next victim on Taylor's list is Katy Perry, a long-time enemy of the singer and the speculated subject of "Bad Blood". At 1:06 of "Look What You made Me Do", Taylor can be seen crashing a car in an outfit that looks awfully close to something Katy would rock. Not only that, but the hairstyle Taylor chose to go along with it looks almost identical to Katy's new pixie cut and colour. Taylor can also be seen holding a grammy, potentially mocking that fact that she has won ten while Katy Perry has won zero- but all of this is arbitrary and mere speculation.
As the video carries on, Taylor can be seen in a bank vault with a squad of women in animal masks, robbing and burning money below a moving sign that reads "streaming". This can potentially be attributed to Taylor's long boycott and battle with Spotify and Apple Music. In this scene, we think she is majorly dissing these music streaming companies and how little they compensate the artist by showing herself stealing back the large amounts of revenue they are racking in from all her hard work. Now this is a diss we can get on board with. Creating and producing an album is not cheap, and we don't blame Taylor for wanting reasonable compensation for the amount of time and effort she puts into giving her audience the best quality music she can.
At 2:18, Tom Hiddleston gets a quick shout-out with the "I heart T-Swift" shirts that her back up dancers can be seen wearing. Do you guys remember when Tom received merciless trolling from the internet after he was spotted wearing a shirt with the exact same phrase while on a beach outing with Taylor? It was simultaneously cringey and embarrassing, so Swift is making sure we don't forget.
In the song's bridge, what we assume to be the new Taylor is wearing a crop top sweatshirt that reads "Reputation", and she is standing on a pile of older versions of herself. There are Taylors wearing outfits from old music videos, performances and even her infamous acceptance speech in which Kanye interrupted the singer and ignited a long standing feud between the two. The new Taylor ignores the old Taylors who are crawling to get to her until she releases some sort of supernatural force and blasts them all to oblivion. Adding to the drama of it all, the lyrics that fall over this particular scene are:
"I'm sorry, the old Taylor can't come to the phone right now."
"Why?"
"Oh, 'cause she's dead!"
The video ends with a saucy little dance number that serves as a filler until the song is over, but the last thirty seconds are really what we want to talk about. All of Taylor's personas can be seen standing side by side in front of a private jet, attacking each other and calling each other names. Swift calls herself out for being annoying, a b****, fake, conniving and always playing the victim- letting us know that she is fully aware of what people think about her. So is she making fun of herself and pinning the whole video as satire, or is she genuinely mad at these people and the media for "ruining" her reputation? We are not entirely sure. What we do know is that Swift has a lot to say about the people who have wronged her, and we can't deny that the symbolism in this video was nothing short of brilliant. What we especially like about "Look What you Made Me Do" is that she did not portray herself as the perfect little angel who only ever gets hurt and can do no wrong, because that act was definitely starting to get old.
It's obvious from this latest single that Taylor's new album is going to be an intense and interesting one full of drama and underlying messages regarding her personal life and relationships, and though her musical direction is still slightly unclear and we are unsure as to whether we are on board with it or not just yet- we honestly cannot wait to hear Reputation.
Interview With Nashville Based Southern Pop And Country Music Trio Track45
Our latest exclusive interview is with the Nashville based trio @Track45MS. These guys do not only blend southern pop and country music together seamlessly, they are siblings...
Our latest exclusive interview is with the Nashville based trio Track45. These guys do not only blend southern pop and country music together seamlessly, they are siblings and play multiple instruments, including the piano, mandolin, cello, violin and guitar. We connected with Jenna, KK and Benjamin to find out what the band name means, what led to them deciding to leave their hometown of Meridian, Miss. to move to Nashville, when we'll be able to hear an EP or album, and much more.
After reading our Q&A with Jenna, KK and Benjamin, be sure to follow them on their social media streams to stay up to date on all things Track45, and go to their YouTube channel ASAP to watch all their covers.
Tell us about the name Track45; how did it originate and what does it mean?
When we first started playing music as a band, we went by the name 45 South because it was the Highway that took us to all our favorite places, and we had lots of great family memories associated with it. Later on, we played for a live PBS show and the name was copyrighted by a band in Australia, so we had to change our name. We grew up in Meridian, MS which is a railroad town, so the “track” references that and music “track.” We just left the 45.
At what point did you guys decide to leave Meridian, Miss. and move to Nashville? How would you compare the two cities in relation to the music scenes for your genres of southern pop and country?
We were on the show X FACTOR, and shortly after that (about 5 years ago), we made a contact in Nashville who strongly encouraged us to make the move. We had already been thinking about it but to have someone well respected in the business give us the extra push helped seal the decision.
We’re really thankful for Meridian and all of the music we were exposed to there. We were in awesome choirs, got to play on a live PBS show, played shows all over meridian and the southeast, and we grew up going to the local Meridian Symphony Orchestra. Meridian has a lot to offer, especially for a small city. Nashville was the next step because it has so many opportunities and connections. In Nashville, we’ve been able to find and hone our sound and have opportunities to write with award winning songwriters. It’s been amazing to learn from them and grow and develop as artists and songwriters.
What do you guys enjoy most about performing live for an audience? What is your favorite cover song to perform?
There’s just something magical about sharing your music in a live show. It’s vulnerable but such an incredible chance to put your music out there. Connecting to so many people through music is amazing. We love getting to hangout with people afterwards and hear their stories, too.
Our favorite cover songs to sing live change frequently because we work up a bunch for social media. Right now our favorites are Burning House and I Got You.
Can we expect an EP or album to drop this year or early 2018?
We’ve been writing almost everyday for the past year with lots of great writers, and we’ve also been in the studio working on putting our favorite songs down. We’ll be releasing it soon! Hopefully sometime in the next 6 months.
I know that being on demand singer-songwriters can be all consuming at times, but what do you each love to do on your downtime, off the stage and out of the studio?
My dad has always been big into exercise (his masters is in Exercise Science), so we all played lots of sports growing up. Our favorites are tennis and basketball. My mom has her masters in English, and we all inherited her love for curling up with a good book.
Jenna loves to swim, sketch/paint, hike, read and travel.
K.K. likes cooking (she’s our resident chef), spinning, yoga, hiking, reading and investing (she loves Dave Ramsey).
Benjamin heads up basketball games each week, teaches music lessons, reads non stop and loves to go to shows to hear other friends/artists.
Who are your all time favorite solo pop artists? And who are your all time favorite country bands?
Just scroll down our YouTube channel to see our favorite artists. We take our current favorite songs and arrange them into cool covers, but to name a few:
Pop--Taylor Swift, Bebe Rexha, Ed Sheeran, Charlie Puth, One Direction, and Ariana Grande.
Country--Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain, Reba and Keith Urban.
If you guys could do a collaborative song with any artist (dead or alive), who would you choose?
We are HUGE Beatles fans and got to hear Paul McCartney live, so we would definitely want to write with him (or any of the Beatles). Dolly Parton has been someone we’ve always loved and respected as a person, artist, and writer, so it would be amazing to write with her, too. We’ve seen Keith Urban from a distance for awhile in Nashville and always loved his showmanship and songs. It would be really cool to write with him, as well!
Connect with Track45: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
Interview: Brooklyn Based Indie, Pop And Folk Artist Darryl Rahn
@DarrylRahnMusic is a Brooklyn based indie, folk, and pop artist, originally from Utica, NY, who first started writing songs in 7th grade. Fast forward a few years...
Darryl Rahn is a Brooklyn based indie, folk, and pop artist, originally from Utica, NY, who first started writing songs in 7th grade. Fast forward a few years and Darryl is now on tour in support of his recently released album "Everything Is Fine". We connected with him to find out what he's most proud of with the new album, he describes his creative process for us, as well as life on tour, and much more.
After reading our exclusive interview with Darryl Rahn, be sure to follow him on his social media streams, check out his website, and stream/download "Everything Is Fine" ASAP.
Tell us about your latest release "Everything Is Fine". What are you most proud of with this new album and what does the title mean to you?
The record was written and recorded over the course of 2016, and represents a real weird but important time in my life. I had just graduated from college, moved out of my parent’s house, got a job waiting tables, and started playing a lot of shows on the road. For the first time, I was really on my own and had to sort out a lot of personal stuff. I think that came through in this batch of songs. I’m most proud of ‘Stompin’ Ground.’
What's life on tour like for you currently? Do you have a favorite song from your catalog that you enjoy performing live?
This summer, the shows have been really great for the most part. I’ve mainly stayed on the east coast, but have hit some new towns. It’s also allowed me to reconnect with some people I haven’t seen in years, which is nice because I'm usually traveling alone. Right now, I’m having a great time playing ‘Look at Her Now.’
Describe your creative process for us when it comes to developing your songs. Are you able to write songs anywhere or do you need to be in a certain environment to project your creativity?
Sometimes a hook or a melody will hit me on the subway or walking or whatever, but I try to be really disciplined when it comes to writing. I wake up around 6 every morning, go for a run, and then sit down and try to write for two hours before the obligations start piling up. After the initial idea comes, it usually takes a week for it to be totally done in my head. I’d love to be able to write anywhere, but I usually need to be at my desk with no distractions.
What do you enjoy the most about being an artist and what frustrates you the most?
When a song of mine connects with someone, and they tell me they’ve felt the exact same way, or have been through the same situation, it’s one of the best feelings. I think the most frustrating part is just the overstimulation we’re all accustomed to now. It’s hard to try and make someone care about your song when there are literally millions of other things they could be looking at or listening to.
If you could record and perform a collaborative song with any artist (dead or alive) in front of an audience, who would you choose? Why?
John Moreland. I’d just love to see how he taps into such a deep place lyrically.
Stream/Download "Everything Is Fine"
Connect with Darryl Rahn: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Review: Alice Limoges' "The Space Between" Album
@TheAliceLimoges “The Space Between” is the rainy day album that you’ve been waiting for. With a ton of bright, overly poppy summer anthems taking over our feeds...
Alice Limoges’ “The Space Between” is the rainy day album that you’ve been waiting for. With a ton of bright, overly poppy summer anthems taking over our feeds and favorite blogs, the album possesses languid, thoughtful ballads. The singer/song-writer has perfected sad piano ballads that are perfect for heartbreak, or just a case of the Mondays. I’d categorize it as gloomy acoustic pop-folk with a hint of jazz, which manages to feel honest, but not too showy. She writes and sings to us about the banal, and the bigger milestones and essences of humanity. While a lot of her lyrics are dark, they pave the way for some enlightenment, like in her socially conscious tracks like “Red Cigar” which is dedicated to the black lives movement, featuring a bittersweet cello baseline, while Aleppo is pretty self explanatory, as Limoges softly strums with a ghostly yearning about her friend and his fiancee who called Aleppo home, but were forced to flee to other countries.
The brooding piano of Winter Nights stretches Limoges’ will keep you company on cold nights. It gives us a sort of Bon Iver, mournful-artist-camped-out-in-a-cabin type of vibe. She is the type of artist that you would happen upon in a cafe, strumming and singing her heart out, wishing you remembered her name and wondering where you could get your hands on her tracks. Well, we got you! We hope to hear more diverse tracks from Alice, and see her play with different harmonies and styles - this just looks like the beginning of her journey.
Review: Arcade Fire's "Everything Now" Album
"Everything Now" by Arcade Fire is an ambitious work, aiming to be an all-encompassing statement about modern life...
Everything Now is an ambitious work, aiming to be an all-encompassing statement about modern life, but it fails at its goals.
In both structure and content, it is reminiscent of David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest—chronologically and thematically mashed up, cyclical, starting where it should end and ending where it should begin, with three tracks that include the title “Everything Now” and two with the title “Infinite Content,” using underscores to distinguish between the tracks. The album is laced with commentary about addiction, fame, and entertainment, but whereas Infinite Jest captures these themes perfectly, Everything Now falls flat.
There are some moments that stand out. The full-length version of the title track, “Everything Now,” has a catchy melody (although it basically just sounds a lot like a sped up, danceable version of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”).
“Creature Comfort” also features a strong melody, but the message, repeated ad nauseum with lyrics like On and on I don’t know what I want/On and on I don’t know if I want it, seems to comment on the consumerism we are all surrounded by constantly, but also lacks any semblance of depth or nuance.
“Put Your Money on Me” would be perfectly listenable if more compact, but it gets stale at 6 minutes in length.
Win Butler’s vocals in “We Don’t Deserve Love” turn downright Bowie-esque by the end, and that is one of the few genuine moments of beauty that appears on the record, despite being highly derivative.
Everything Now will likely be remembered as an odd little offering by an otherwise solid band—it may be worth a listen or two, or revisiting every once in awhile, but it won’t garner the devoted followings that Funeral or The Suburbs have, and nor should it.
Stream/Download "Everything Now" by Arcade Fire
Interview: New York Based Singer-Songwriter And Multi-Instrumentalist Alice Limoges
@TheAliceLimoges is a singer-songwriter from Maine who currently lives in New York and just dropped the new visual for her song "Winter Nights"...
Alice Limoges is a singer-songwriter from Maine who currently lives in New York and just dropped the new visual for her song "Winter Nights", which appears on her latest album "The Space Between". We connected with Alice for this exclusive interview to find out when she was convinced that she was ready to start performing live and to record an album, whether her time at SUNY Purchase’s Music Conservatory was anything like the Whiplash movie and much more.
After reading our Q&A with Alice, be sure to follow her on her social media streams and be sure to stream/download her album "The Space Between".
Are you a self-taught multi-instrumentalist? Also, which instruments do you play?
I was actually a very schooled musician. I started taking guitar lessons when I was 11 with a man ironically named Martin Gibson who was a very big fan of Leo Kottke and The Beatles, the later of which became my guitar textbook. At that time, I’d already begun to write songs. At 14, I took up piano and at 16 took jazz guitar lessons for a summer from Bill Barnes. I graduated high school a year early when I was 17 and studied at the University of Maine Augusta with incredible teachers. My most influential were my guitar teacher, Bob Thompson, and my composition teacher, Sean Morin. So, in short, no, I was not self taught. I actually still take lessons with Amy Goldstein (voice) and Charles Blenzig (piano). Taking music lessons has been one of the greatest joys of my life.
When were you officially convinced that you were good enough as a singer-songwriter to take it to next level and start performing live and record an album?
I was very confident out of the gate. There was this coffee shop in my hometown that I loved called Rock City and they have live music. I felt like the top was performing there and I think I played my first gig there when I was 13 or 14. When I go home, I usually still play a show there. Once I started performing, I never really stopped. I was writing songs at a young age and had quite a collection by the time I was 15, so I started recording my first album then. I released Not Gonna Fall Asleep Tonight when I was 16. It’s so funny listening to it now because I wrote the songs when I was 13 and 14 mostly. It was a great learning experience though and helped me move forward professionally.
Tell us about your experience at SUNY Purchase’s Music Conservatory. Was it anything at all like the "Whiplash" movie?
SUNY Purchase was absolutely nothing like Whiplash, at least not my program. I studied Studio Composition (a program completed by the likes of Regina Spektor and Mitski) which is a song-writing and production major. The faculty was very free with us, encouraging us to skip class if we could get a gig. It’s a program where you get out exactly as much as you put in. You can write a shitty, formulaic song in half an hour (not to imply that all songs written in half an hour are bad!) or you can put a lot of time and effort into it and end up getting an A either way. I improved a lot as a writer and learned to produce my own work, but the biggest thing I got out of the program were the connections I made. Carey, Francesco, and Sean are an amazing band to play in front of and my albums have both been mastered by a Grammy award winning professor.
Congratulations on the release of your debut album "The Space Between". What are you most proud of with the album and what is your favorite song from it to perform live?
Thank you! It’s actually my third album. My first album was put out when I was a wee baby called Not Gonna Fall Asleep Tonight and my second features a mini orchestra arranged by my dear friend and collaborator, Zach Jackson. The Space Between, though, is the first I feel came out how I wanted. One thing I’m proud of is that I self produced it with a lot of help and input from my production teachers Phil Moffa and Jon Jetter. Also, I was going through a lot of mental health problems at the time, so I’m really proud that I made it at all. I was hardly doing anything but managed to make an album between the cracks. My favorite song to perform is probably Save My Soul. When I play it with my band, there’s such a beautiful build that happens and moments where everything goes still and it’s just a few notes of the piano. We perform it very differently from the album version, so it always feel fresh and invigorating.
If you had to describe your music to a stranger in three words, which words would you choose?
Bittersweet, passionate, beautiful
Tell us why you selected "Winter Nights" to create a visual for, along with "On My Mind", out of the nine songs on the album?
Winter Nights feels like the most relatable song. It’s simple in a way, mainly changing between two chords with amending intervals on top. I love how still the song feels and I love the way it feels to sing. It’s an easy song in a way, which makes it a blank canvas for emotion. I’d had the idea of cutting together a video with found footage and things I’d filmed myself. Since On My Mind is a collage in its own right, featuring bicycle and water samples, it seemed like the right one. I also never perform it live, so I wanted to give it its own life to live. I’m currently planning a music video for Your Skin On My Sheets with an incredible filmmaker and friend, Stan Grunder. I also need to give Jordan Tetewsky of Velvatone (check him out!) a shoutout for directing the Winter Nights video. What he did visually is so beautiful and I’m so pleased with the video.
What are your goals musically for the remainder of 2017?
I’m hoping to record a new album with my band. On August 19th, I’m going to start work on it with a friend in Montreal, Cole Barbour. I am happy to say that there are a lot more sweet love songs on this one. There are a few songs I’ve recorded on past albums that we’ll rework. I’ve started contacting colleges and have one college gig lined up so far and am hoping to pick more up. I want to be performing with my band a lot more. Generally, I just want to get it together and hustle hard.
Stream/Download "The Space Between" by Alice Limoges HERE
Coldplay’s "Kaleidoscope EP" Review: Completely Lacking Color
The "Kaleidoscope EP" by Coldplay starts off with a strong groove and Chris Martin’s weathered vocals slightly...
The EP starts off with a strong groove and Chris Martin’s weathered vocals slightly raspy—at 40, is he starting to show some signs of age?
Then the piano kicks in and we’re back in the land of the saccharine, which has been Coldplay’s modus operandi for most of its career. The melodrama only escalates, with a cheesy guitar solo as Martin repeatedly croons, “All I can think about is you.”
“Miracles” is a cheap paperback airport self-help book in a pop song. Big Sean’s verse is the most notable part of the track, but even that can be summed up as him essentially saying, “being working class sucks, thank God I’m rich and famous now…and you can be too if you work hard enough!”
Which, of course, for the extreme majority of people, is complete BS. Then Martin comes back to hammer the point home, again with a chorus that repeats ad nauseum:
Yeah you can be someone special
You’ve got fire in your eyes
I see heaven inside of you
Go further than we’ve ever gone
In you I see someone special
You’ve got fire in your brains
You can break through those chains
You’ll go higher than we’ve ever gone
Just turn it on
Has American-style bootstraperism infected the UK so deeply that its most well-known pop stars now advocate for it in pseudo-inspirational verse?
Apparently so. Don’t worry, kids, according to Coldplay, as long as you work hard you’ll be just like Chris Martin or Big Sean.
“A L I E N S” tells us some sort of poorly put together sci-fi story, complete with twinkling guitars.
Then, seemingly because they needed to fill an entire EP, there’s a live performance of “Something Just Like This” by Coldplay and The Chainsmokers, in which the best part is hearing the entire crowd sing along, because it’s always nice to hear a lot of people singing together.
The EP closes with a lullaby, “Hypnotised (EP Mix),” which is probably fitting because at this point the listener craves nothing more than unconsciousness.
Stream/Download "Kaleidoscope" EP by Coldplay on iTunes
Sleepy Carolina's Review of Lana Del Rey's New Album "Lust For Life"
@LanaDelRey just released her 5th studio album "Lust For Life" (2017), and it is amazing- not that we didn't anticipate that...
Lana Del Rey, or Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, is an American singer- songwriter who is known for her dramatic and Old Hollywood style music. Lana just released her 5th studio album Lust For Life (2017), and it is amazing- not that we didn't anticipate that. The album features artists such as The Weeknd, A$AP Rocky, Stevie Nicks, Sean Ono Lennon and Playboi Carti.
When discussing the beginning stages of the album with NME magazine, Lana stated "I do have early thoughts about what I'd like to do with it. My label, Interscope, is pretty flexible and open to my records coming out at any time, so I don't have that pressure. I'm just happy to be able to keep on making music I can stand behind. That's enough for me." She expressed the desire to take the album in a different direction from her preceding project Honeymoon (2015), while maintaining the same overall aesthetic.
The 16- track album starts off with a song titled "Love", which was a single released in January and the first track the world would hear from Lust For Life. The track is slow, ambient and classic Lana. The backing instrumentation is minimal with a subtle and consistent bass, while Del Rey's vocals take center stage with minimal to no harmonies. The second track "Lust For Life (feat. The Weeknd)" is a nice change of pace and carries underlying tones of indie and dream pop. The Weeknd also shows a brand new side of himself by singing softly over a completely different sound than we are used to hearing from him, and it is a genre that definitely works for his vocal style.
The next few tracks tend to stick along the same vibe until the 6th track titled "Summer Bummer (feat. A$AP Ricky & Playboi Carter)", which displays Lana's voice over a hard- hitting hip hop beat. A$AP comes in about a minute into the song, and the contrast between Del Rey's sweet voice against the rappers more aggressive vocals work really well together. The album continues to carry a hiphop feel until about the 12th tack, "Beautiful people, Beautiful Problems (feat. Stevie Nicks), which drops all the synths and instrumentals and turns indie-folk, bringing the album back to basics. The 13th track "Tomorrow Never Came (feat. Sean Ono Lennon) proves to be one of our personal favorites, and the son of Yoko and John sounds insanely like his father. Both singers have heavy reverb on their vocals, giving the song a live- audience and spaced- out haunting feel, and the harmonies in the chorus are simply breathtaking,
The last two tracks fill out the end of Lust For Life brilliantly until the final song, "Get Free", which was by far the best song to end the project with. The use of minor chords make the listener aware that the album is coming to a close, but also give of a to-be-continued vibe when the chorus takes a 180 and seemingly switches genres completely.
Lust For Life was a very well thought out, precise and beautiful piece of art- and one of Lana's best project to date. The underlying messages behind her tracks are plentiful and open for interpretation, giving each and every listener something different to take out of them. There are so many different styles and genres intertwined throughout all 16 tracks, keeping Lust For Life interesting and perfect for all varieties of listeners.
Stream/Download "Lust For Life" by Lana Del Rey on iTunes
Interview: Canadian Pop Songstress Olivia
@oliviamusiclive is a Pop songstress from Vernon, British Columbia who just dropped a DOPE single and visual entitled "I Choose This Love"...
Olivia is a Pop songstress from Vernon, British Columbia who just dropped a DOPE single and visual entitled "I Choose This Love". We connected with this talented singer to find out which other Canadian artists have influenced her music, we ask about what we can expect from her upcoming EP, and much more.
After reading our exclusive Q&A with Olivia, be sure to follow her on social media and stay tuned because her yet-to-be-titled EP will be dropping later this year.
What part of Canada are you from?
Vernon, British Columbia. It’s a very beautiful region with lots of lakes, wineries, orchards and ski hills. So lots of beautiful geography to use for my videos.
And who are some Canadian pop artists who have influenced you and your music?
Well for sure I would have to say my amazing manager Andrew Allen. He is an excellent song writer and performer and has mentored me and taught me a lot about music. I also love Alessia Cara. She has done extremely well internationally. There is so much talent in Canada and many have had a lot of their success elsewhere in the world.
Tell us about your experience attending ArtistMax?
ArtistMax was a pretty neat experience. It was great to collab with other young female artists from around the world, some of whom I have kept in touch with. Our mentors were David Foster, Ken Caillat, and Colbie Caillat. They had lots of good advice for us on how to grow and advance in the music industry.
What was the most important thing you learned during your tenure there?
I guess, just to be yourself, do your own thing, but work hard.
Congrats on your new single and visual "I Choose This Love"; how did the treatment for the video come together and who directed it?
Thank you so much! I am really proud of this video. It really tells the love story that this song is all about. I have to give major credits to my videographer Lee Watkins of LMW Photos. We were initially brainstorming for a video showing all kinds of different love, but realized how difficult that could be in less than three minutes, and so we decided to focus on one love story and the ups and downs of that. The two main characters are actually friends of ours and did such a great job of sharing their love story and their dreams. Lee directed and filmed this over three days, and the results are so emotional and inspiring. Everyone in the video is from Vernon, and everyone just stepped up and either acted in it, or gave us locations to film at. We had an amazing team in front of and behind the camera.
Describe your performance for Canada Day in Vernon for us.
I was actually performing in New Westminster, which is just outside of Vancouver BC. It was an early performance (11:30) and so I was not sure how many people would show. Turns out there were hundreds of people of all ages, and had a great set. Bonus is that I got to play with one of my favorite musicians, Cole. So all in all an excellent day!
What songs did you perform? And what do you enjoy most about performing live?
I performed a 30 minute set of some of mostly originals, like Skyline, Outshine the Stars, and I Choose This Love, and some of my favorite covers like One Call Away. I think what I like most about performing is the incredible feedback and support I get from the audience. It makes you feel great when people come up to you and compliment you on your original songs.
Is it top secret or can you tell us what the name of your upcoming EP will be?
I have to say it is top secret….. shhhh!
Also, is "I Choose This Love" a reflection of what we can expect to hear on it?
In a way, yes. All my songs start out as acoustic songs when I write them, and then sometimes we change things up and produce them a little more upbeat, like we did for Skyline and I Choose This Love. But my new stuff will be more grounded in the original way it is written. I am pretty excited about it all.
Connect with Olivia: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
7 Incredibly Happy Songs For These Incredibly Unhappy Times
If happy music can distract people from this shitstorm we call life even for three minutes and thirty-three seconds at a time (that perfect length for a pop song, look it up) then so be it...
If you ask many of the people around you right now, most will tell you the world feels like it is circling the drain. Just spiraling down deeper and deeper into impenetrable darkness until there is no light to be seen and no hope to be found. While yes, it could be said that assessment is a bit dramatic and fatalist, that doesn’t take away the fact that many genuinely feel that. So what do you do when the world feels like it teetering on the brink of insanity, and everyone is anxious and unsettled and feels uneasy? That is when you bust out the happy jams! The music that is like Prozac and is so happy it immediately puts everyone who hears it into a good mood. While it may seem like that is only a temporary fix, it is, but how does that make it any less justified? If happy music can distract people from this shitstorm we call life even for three minutes and thirty-three seconds at a time (that perfect length for a pop song, look it up) then so be it. Bring it on!
Here are 7 genuinely happy songs that might make you forget that life is a corn-filled shit right now.
Beach Boys: Good Vibrations
The number one song for vibrator providers worldwide.
The thing that the Beach Boys did so well (besides harmony and dismissing their brother as crazy) was the way their music captured the energy of the West Coast. Granted, those lying bastards did not even surf, but still, they always nailed the essence of a warm, sunny day in California, driving coast highway with the top down.
So pop this track on during a rainy day when you feel particularly awash in shit and feel said shit just start to fall off you in chunks.
Beastie Boys: Fight For Your Right
You don’t like these dudes, no one likes you. FACT!
Yes, some of the music on this list will be straight up pop songs that you can tell are designed to make us happy. But this, on the other hand, is straight party music. Thing is, EVERY MOTHERF*CKER ON THIS PLANET likes the Beasties (as long as said person is not super f*cking lame) and when we hear the Beasties, it takes us away to that special place where if we stay too long, we’d probably break down and cry.
No idea why that just turned into “Sweet Child O’ Mine” lyrics but it stays!
Rusted Root: Send Me On My Way
And not a shoe was worn between them.
Yes, it is totally a one-hit-wonder. Yes, they all seem like they might smell like weed and patchouli. Yes, it is a rather strange song that doesn’t quite sound like anything else out there. But my gosh, something about that groove and the funky and unique way the lead singer belts it out that just makes you feel like you could totes join a hippie commune, not wash for weeks, grow dreads, and earn the genuine disdain of your conservative family (and totally be okay with that).
Okay, well maybe not quite THAT much, but still, it does put a little hop in your step, and that is just what we all need now.
Bobby McFerrin: Don’t Worry, Be Happy
All three of these men admitted to doing copious amounts of cocaine before this video shoot so revel in that as well.
Granted, this is a guy who was on a TON of coke at the time who was making music by hitting his chest in different spots (some people are STILL unaware that there are no instruments in this song and he did all the music with his mouth). But slide those asides aside and you realize, this is a song about letting go of what is f*cking your brain and just remembering how to enjoy life.
That may be hard to do right now, but atleast we have a theme song for it.
The Monkees: I’m A Believer
What were they believing in is the question!
Let’s get something out of the way, right now. We are NOT talking about that shitty Smash Mouth cover. No, we are talking the original song from the original fake band who were just actors basically trying to be the Beatles. It matters little where you are or what you are doing. You could be running from an atomic blast with your skin hanging off in ribbons of pink meat and if this song was on, it would STILL put a little bounce in your step as your melted.
Sorry not sorry about that visual. Pink ribbons of hanging flesh. Man, I am good!
DMX: Party Up
So much bravado my computer grew a beard while this was on.
I don’t give a flying pho (the soup) if this song features a thug singing about making men s*ck his d*ck or how he is gonna murder you so badly your grandmother wouldn't recognize you in the casket. Put all the lyrical bravado aside and just put the track on. It is like someone suddenly jams you with an adrenaline needle like in Pulp Fiction And you just sit up immediately, bobbing to the infectious beat and high energy of this song.
I don’t care. I could have a rolling wall of lava coming at me, digesting everything in it’s path, and if Party Up (UNCENSORED) was playing by DMX I would be convinced I would f*ck that lava up and come out okay. Maybe pole vault that bitch or something.
R.E.M and That One Chick from The B-52’s: Shiny, Happy People
Nah, you know what? This song makes me wanna drive nails into my ears so how about we just scratch this one? I refuse to end this list with cheese.
Hell, this song would just make your unquenchable rage worse. Have some Bishop Bullwinkle instead, thank me later when your find your mood turns to pure mirth as a result of all the songs you just heard.
Honorable Mentions:
Everything by Flight of the Conchords
Everything by Lonely Island
Review: Night Argent's "The Fear" EP
@night_argent newest EP, "The Fear", starts off with a thumping beat and a feeling of the epic that is perfectly crafted to be paired with film...
Night Argent's newest EP, "The Fear", starts off with a thumping beat and a feeling of the epic that is perfectly crafted to be paired with film. This is 21st century soundtrack music at its most banal. The first track, "Mannequin," could fittingly be paired with any blockbuster movie trailer—everything about their sound is melodic, put-together, produced, and slick, just like most of the fare that comes out of Hollywood.
Night Argent is music made by people who are making music designed to be popular.
There is nothing to fear in "The Fear", except perhaps boredom. Proficient musicians all, these sounds are relatively well done pieces of pop/rock, but there is nothing memorable about any of the tracks.
One can listen to "The Fear" as one listens to background music at a shopping mall—it makes little difference whether you pay any attention, as the band does not have anything unique to say either musically or lyrically.
There are some catchy hooks laden throughout the EP, most noticeably in the title track, "The Fear," itself, but none of them render the EP worthy of the twenty-some minutes it takes to listen to the whole thing.
With cliché-laden lyrics and the type of simple-minded pining that one might find from an amateur poet, "The Fear" might attract the type of mindless listeners that would likely be Night Argent's perfect target demographic, and since there are apparently tens of millions of them ready to queue up whatever is new and shiny, perhaps that will work for them. More mature listeners, however, will likely find little of note here.
Interview: Dance Pop Artist Charlotte Bash Discusses Her New Album "Princess Game"
@cbashmusic is a Dance Pop singer-songwriter, session singer and vocal coach originally from Los Angeles who just released a brand new single...
Charlotte Bash is a Dance Pop singer-songwriter, session singer and vocal coach originally from Los Angeles who just released a brand new single entitled "Labeled" featuring Anye Elite. This new single will appear on Charlotte's upcoming album "Princess Game", which we have recently reviewed. We connected with this multi-talented artist who find out more about her musical influences, her experience at Indiana University, how "Princess Game" compares to her first EP "Journey To Me" and much more.
After reading our exclusive Q&A with Charlotte, be sure to follow her on social media and stay tuned because "Princess Game" is coming very soon.
Congrats on your new single "Labeled" featuring Anye Elite; it's a really great track. Who produced it and how representative is the track of the other songs on your upcoming album "Princess Game"?
Thank you so much! I think Labeled is representative of the album in that it is electronic dance music and very pop-y. I also feel like it really matches the album lyrically, and might even be the climax of the album in that respect. What makes it unique from the rest of the album is the Latin aspect (thanks to my producer, Sonnemm) and the rap by Anye Elite. That's what I love about this album. I really had a chance to add a lot of unique flavors in to the mix.
Describe your time as a student at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. What would you say was the most important thing you learned in the program?
Indiana was intense. The academics made those 4 years very challenging... but I met amazing people that were super talented and kind, and they inspired me push through. Indiana really emphasized the importance of my music theory and reading skills (I didn't even know how to read music before college) and of course, transformed me in to a super solid vocal technician.
Who are some artists who have been your musical influences?
So many people, but in more recent years, Sia has really inspired me musically and career wise. When I released my first EP back in 2013, one of my friends told me to listen to Colour the Small One because he thought my songs sounded like hers from that album.. and I feel like we've had a similar career/ creative trajectory (obviously, hers has been on a much larger scale). She has really inspired me to continue to write intelligent pop music, that I'm really passionate about. Just because music is catchy doesn't mean there shouldn't be any depth behind it.
How would you compare your new album "Princess Game" to your first EP "Journey to Me" and how would you say that you have grown as an artist and songwriter in the time between the two?
The two works are night and day. Journey to Me was my first project ever and it was essentially a big experiment. By the time I starting writing the songs for Princess Game, my songwriting style had greatly evolved, and I was better at communicating the production style I wanted. So it's really a whole new level for me and I'm so excited about it :)
What do you enjoy most about being an artist and songwriter? And what do you enjoy the least?
I love being able to create new works that are meaningful to me and being able to share them with friends and fans that also find them relatable. I don't mind promoting my materials on social media but I would prefer to live in a magical fairy land where all I was doing was creating.
Connect with Charlotte Bash: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Interview: Skyler Cocco Discusses Her Debut Album "Reverie" And Touring
@skylercocco is a New York based Alternative Rock/Grunge singer-songwriter who just released her debut album "Reverie" on @diversion_music...
Photo by: Alejandra Lopez
Skyler Cocco is a New York based Alternative Rock/Grunge singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who just released her debut album "Reverie" on Diversion Records. We connected with Skyler to discuss "Reverie" and what excites her the most about its release, as well as what motivated her to make the transition in her sound from Pop to Alternative Rock/Grunge, and much more.
After reading our exclusive interview with Skyler, be sure to stream/download "Reverie" below and follow her on social media so that you can stay up to date on all things Skyler Cocco. Also, check out our in-depth review of "Reverie" here.
Congratulations on your debut album "Reverie" which dropped today. What are you most excited about with this release?
Thank you so much! Firstly, I'm really excited to establish myself and my sound in today's music world. This is only the beginning for me and I'm really happy to continue exploring my sound and taking my music further. This album was extremely personal and took two years to make. Zach Miller (co-producer, mixing, mastering & engineering on the album) really took my sound to the next level and I cannot thank him enough for dedicating so much of his time and effort towards making "Reverie" sound and feel like a reflection of myself. Ultimately I'm most excited for everyone to hear what we've been working so hard on and I'm pumped to finally release it.
As an 11 year old, what attracted you to your father's basement recording studio where you first learned how to use the studio equipment and play instruments (bass, guitar and piano)?
I had been writing songs since I was 7 years old, and at a certain point I couldn't keep imagining what the accompaniment was like in my head, so I needed to make it come alive. My dad bought an 8-track digital recording machine in 2003, and after a few lessons watching how the machine worked I found myself recording almost daily. When I produce a song I usually hear a part in my head, so when I wanted a guitar line I'd learn it myself. Then I taught myself piano, bass and programming drums to fill out my songs more. Music was a huge creative outlet for me, as my head is almost constantly flooded with song ideas and melodies. Having that basement studio was a place for me to begin practicing my craft and release creative energy.
What motivated you to make the transition in your sound from Pop to a heavier Alternative Rock/Grunge sound?
The switch was totally natural. Writing and producing pop music is a very easy process for me and I do enjoy it still, but I never had as much of an emotional attachment to my songs as I have had writing in a more alternative/grunge sound. My influences growing up were hardly pop related (minus my Miley Cyrus obsession) but the music I listened to the most (Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Silversun Pickups) became a soundtrack of inspiration for my songwriting as I entered young adulthood. Being able to make music like those artists and also convey my emotions through my songwriting has put a much bigger meaning to my music overall.
Photo by: Joe Carrotta
Tell us about your tour. Have you been performing many of the songs that will appear on "Reverie"? Also, what do you enjoy most about performing live?
The album has been two years in the making (I started writing it my senior year of college in 2015) but I've been playing with my band since mid 2016. The songs were mostly written and produced by the time we started playing shows, so a bunch of the songs on the album are what we have been performing live. Playing live is quite the trip! I had a bit of stage fright up until my junior year of high school, and now since playing in a few bands at college and later fronting my own band I've never felt more comfortable on stage. I also absolutely adore my band (Nica Statman, Zach Miller, Nic Palmeri, Jake Fineman). They are all incredible musicians I met while studying at the SUNY Purchase Music Conservatory, and they make my songs come alive every show.
Dopecausewesaid is based in Raleigh, NC; we'll love to see you around our way in the near future on stage. Will you be traveling to various states in the coming months in support of the new album?
We've been consistently playing around New York City, and we have a couple shows lined up in Brooklyn, Manhattan and upstate New York. We are working on a few SUNY tours and branching out into neighboring states in the northeast later in the Fall, but I'd love to head south at some point and explore other music scenes in the USA!
Stream/Download "Reverie": iTunes | Spotify
Connect with Skyler Cocco: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Review: Skyler Cocco's "Reverie" LP
@skylercocco new album "Reverie" embodies deep frustration and anger personified by intoxicatingly sweet vocals backed against a rugged foundation of rhythmic and bass guitars...
Photo by: Joe Carrotta
Reverie embodies deep frustration and anger personified by intoxicatingly sweet vocals backed against a rugged foundation of rhythmic and bass guitars: a feeling that can be described as silk running over sandpaper. Cocco moves us past these tumultuous emotions to suspend us within the sublime ambiance of “Awake” and the namesake “Reverie”, only to ease us into refined themes of grungy reminiscent of the former half of the compilation.
When you’re traveling through this album, keep your ears open for:
“Pretty Thieves”: This song has an opening reminiscent of the post-punk/grunge themes of the 1990s, though it quickly dissolves into the dream-like grunge pop Skyler Cocco is known for.
“Awake”: Consider this track the palette cleanser of the album. Ethereal and almost spectral, this lyricless song suspends you in the wake of the frustration experienced in “Perfect Muse”
“Draining”: Here we have a refined complements of vocals, drums, and rhythmic & bass guitar melding together to give that unique feeling of “silk running over sandpaper”. Being the last song on the album, Cocco leaves us wanting more of this ethereal grunge vibe.
Skyler Cocco brings us this album as documentation of her experiences with the loss of her father, her struggles with depression and anxiety, and the presentation of her growth as she matured and developed the skills to cope with her past experiences.
Here is some insight into the album featuring Cocco’s own words:
Reverie is a trip inside my mind during the formative years of post high school through my first few months as a college graduate.
Personally, I was adjusting to life without my dad, struggling to separate my passion for music from his absence, coping with sleep paralysis and vivid nightmares brought on by depression and anxiety, and beginning my first romantic relationship in college.
But my story is one that I never allowed myself to tell before. Reverie gave me a chance to release the chains I put on my emotions.
It let me disclose how draining it is to pretend you are happy, how you can be your own worst enemy, how hiding your emotions can lead to reckless behavior and how frustrating it is to be dropped into an adult world after the bubble of college.
Although writing Reverie was not the easiest process, as I had to relive a lot of situations I’ve done my best to block out, I needed to make this record not only for myself but for those who have coped with loss, depression, and the fear of adulthood.
With this, she presents to us an uniquely energizing grunge-pop debut album and takes us through memories experienced in her youth.
