 We’re living in a weird time with the current events of the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement. Everyone’s lives have been turned upside down. How are you currently holding up with everything that is going on in our world right now?
Life is a little different and sort of difficult for everyone right now. It is so hard to stay positive! I personally am very religious and open about my faith. I have to trust in the Lord through these times. Proverbs 3:5 says, “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” This verse reminds me that through difficult times such as the ones that we are going through now to trust in Him and to help one another out. I believe that music heals and I want to be able to heal hearts with the talent that He gave me. For new listeners who may have just stumbled upon your music, how would you describe your songs, and what sets you apart from other artists? I always like to say that I am a female version of Lewis Capaldi or James Arthur. I use these names because they are artists who use real instruments in their songs, their lyrics mean something powerful, and you can hear their passion for music through their voice. Can you recall the moment when you decided that you wanted to pursue a career in music, and what led to making this decision? I decided one day that I wanted to do a pageant, about three pageants in I found out that I could do talent. I always loved singing and so I definitely wanted to be a part! From the moment I hit the stage I knew that music was what I wanted to do forever. I continued with pageants for a few more years so I had a place to sing but quickly I stopped the pageants and jumped straight into the music business. How did you get your start in the music industry? I recorded my first song in Nashville with three guys that go by the name of, Jordan Phillips, Adam Stark, and Tofer Brown. I then began to sing at smaller venues and karaoke almost every week! By doing those things I met some great people that started booking me in other places and encouraged me to post my music online. My career just grew from there!!! Let’s talk about your new single “Half in Love.” What inspired you to write this track? I wrote this song in Rhode Island with two fellow artists called Jake&Zac. We came up with the idea of writing a song almost anyone could relate to. This song is all about being afraid to commit to a relationship. Maybe you are nervous because you still have feelings for you ex, maybe you lost someone close to you, or maybe you are extremely involved in your career and you are not ready for a relationship. What is your writing process like? I always start with some chords or a beat. I then come up with lyrics or a melody, whichever one comes first. How do you think you have progressed as a musician since you first started making music? I believe that my lyrics have become much stronger. I have gotten a lot better at guitar and I now feel super comfortable on stage. How has social media helped you throughout your journey as an up-and-coming musician? Social media has given me the opportunity to reach people I cannot reach from home with my music. I can help people through tough times with my voice but online. I love keeping in touch with my fans as well and I can chat with them over Instagram or any other platform. Who/what are some of your influences and inspiration for your sound? Jessie J, Lewis Capaldi, James Arthur, Sam Smith, James Brown Who are some of your favorite artists? If you could have a dream collab with anyone, who would it be and why? Most definitely Ed Sheeran. He is amazing! I watched his movie through Apple Music and helped me grow. He just loves what he does and he writes such incredible songs. Which song of yours holds the most meaning to you? Right Man You recently released your new single “Half in Love.” What else can we expect coming up this year? Do you have any goals set for 2021? I will have a few more singles coming out shortly and then an EP. I really want to do a house tour with my band so fingers crossed COVID goes away soon! Everyone’s been hit hard by our current circumstances, including artists, as the pandemic has slowed everything to a sudden halt. The music industry has been severely impacted by the postponement and cancellations of scheduled tours and festivals, leaving musicians stuck at home. The fate of many venues are currently at risk, and may be forced to shut their doors for good. Unfortunately, it appears that there will be a long waiting period before concerts make a comeback. What are your thoughts on the long term effects this situation may have on the industry? What actions do you think should be taken to combat this issue, and help artists get back on their feet once live music is able to return? It has been very different! Interviews, writing sessions, and even shows all from home! Georgia has started to open back up so I have been lucky enough to be able to pick shows back up! All venues have been outside and my favorite thing is that everyone has to stand in a square that is 6 feet apart from another! Due to the pandemic, live shows are placed on hold indefinitely and touring is at a standstill right now. However, many artists are finding new creative ways to interact with their fans amidst all of the chaos; utilizing their social media platforms to share content, check in with their audiences, participate in livestreams, perform songs and put on “virtual concerts”, and provide insight into their new routines in quarantine. Do you have any plans that are similar in nature, to help pass the time until shows are back up and running again? Before my state started to open up I decided I would learn new songs to put into my set. I first focused on getting the songs that are in my set down perfectly. Then I moved on to adding new ones in! Even if I am just sitting around I still want to practice and be as perfect as possible. What is one cause or organization that you are passionate about? I am very big into helping at cancer awareness events and animal abuse prevention. My mom is a cancer survivor and we have adopted most of our animals. I remember being scared when my mom had cancer and I want to be able to help families through the unknown times. Who/what inspires your fashion style and where do you like to shop to pick up your staple pieces of clothing and makeup (thrift, department stores)? Dua Lipa is my biggest fashion inspiration. I love everything she wears. Her hair and makeup is always simple but still very flawless. I love shopping online at places such as ASOS, PrettyLittleThing, and CarliCo which is one of my favs. I also love to find hidden gems such as small boutiques wherever I am! My favorite place to buy makeup products is Ulta! They have so many options for so many different things. What are some of your favorite books? Favorite films/TV shows? What are your hobbies? I enjoy reading poetry but thats about it for reading. The Office is definitely my favorite show and my band and I always watch the movie Step Brothers when we are together. I enjoy spending most of my free time outside. I love hiking and hanging out with my chickens! What is the main thing that you would really like for people to take away from your music? When people listen to my music I want them to understand that they can do anything. I was made fun of in school for wanting to do music and many people in the industry told me that I was too young but that did not stop me! Music is what I love so I kept working hard. Always remember that only your opinion matters and if you love what you are doing then you can most definitely do it. Do you have anything that you would like to tell our readers? Thank you so much for reading this today! Make sure to follow my socials @erinkirbymusic and if you ever need to talk about something please do not hesitate to reach out! Thank you so much for your time! It was a pleasure having the opportunity to talk to you and I love the new single “Half in Love.” Looking forward to hearing more new material from you soon! Stay safe and take care! Interview By: Bri Rodriguez
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 We’re living in a time of history with the current events of the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement. Everyone’s lives have been turned upside down. How have you been holding up with everything that is going on in our world right now?
Trevor: I’ve been holding up reasonably well. While there are days of weird existential monotony, it’s been pretty balanced with more positive & exciting days. It’s given me time to regain some perspective in my own life and decide what’s really important. It’s definitely frustrating at times to deal with people who hold an opposing view against BLM and the major social issues we’re facing. I’ve come to the realization that as long as I’m doing what I can within my community and within my reach, while having those difficult conversations with people when they arise, there isn’t much we can do beyond that. Which, I feel, could create more of a ripple effect if we all use that mindset. For new listeners who may have just stumbled upon your music, how would you describe your songs, and what sets you apart from other artists? Trevor: To put a more specific label on it, I would describe the music as indie with emo influences and lyrically driven. I would say the thing that sets this project apart from others is the main drive for community and mindfulness. The idea is to make music that people can get lost in, create a live show experience where people can feel safe to express themselves, and meet each other. It’s a beautiful thing, being able to bring people together in a room and drift away for a moment. How did you get your start in the music industry? Trevor: Throughout high school, I would go to open mic nights a lot and just play cover songs with my acoustic. Fast forward a couple of years, I created ‘shelter pup.’ and started going to 2-3 open mics a week, playing the collection of songs I had written, which would become the first ep. Just pushing relentlessly until I could find something that sticks. I met so many wonderful people through doing open mics that helped me push further into booking actual shows at places like Mahall’s, The Foundry, Beachland Tavern, etc. How did ‘shelter pup.’ form and what is the meaning behind the band’s name? Trevor: The idea ‘shelter pup.’ came to me while on a walk through of my favorite parks. There’s kind of a dual meaning to the name. The more angsty side is the thought that we’re comparable to shelter animals who have been through a hell of a lot and are healing every day from it while looking for our place in the world. Everyone is on a different part of that journey. The more wholesome side is the reason for the period at the end and pup is actually an acronym. ‘Shelter patience, understanding, and peace.’ Let’s talk about your single “(It’s) Your Funeral.” What inspired you to write this track? Trevor: “(It’s) Your Funeral” was inspired by my experience with idealized isolation as well as witnessing the people around me dealing with the same sort of thing. In a sense, it was a letter to my past self who thought that I could do everything on my own, that I didn’t need anyone else, and that I was better off alone. Which is a silly thought now, looking back. Being alone is a natural and healthy thing, but there’s definitely a line where it becomes self-destructive and negatively affects the quality of life. What inspired your ideas for the single’s music video concept? Trevor: I was on a walk around my neighborhood and saw a couch sitting out on a tree lawn and thought it’d be funny to see an animated skeleton person hanging out there as well, walking around as I do - just going about their day doing things alone. It could be taken as a solitary or a lonely thing to do. The guys with In Bloom Productions helped push it into more of a storyline rather than random shots with no chronology. What is your writing process like? Trevor: I write everything myself. I write all the time whether it be thoughts, poems, songs, or random ramblings. Some of those become songs, or I’ll use pieces of different ones to come together into a song. The instruments are written just with myself in my bedroom once I’ve organized lyrics with the idea of music for it already in my head. It’s fun to sit and mess around with ideas and I even surprise myself sometimes with what I’m able to create. Who/what are some of your influences and inspiration for your sound? Trevor: A couple of my biggest influences are Beck, Led Zeppelin, and Dance Gavin Dance. They all just do their own thing and aren’t afraid to push outside their comfort zone for their sound. If you could have a dream collab with anyone, who would it be and why? Trevor: I would love to collaborate with Beck. I feel like we could make a song that absolutely slaps. It would also be pretty cool to see their writing process and perspective on things. What else can we expect coming up from you this year? Do you have any goals set for 2021? Trevor: While there isn’t anything currently planned for the rest of 2020, I am finishing up writing the next EP, which is looking to be released in the second half of 2021. Hopefully, live shows will be back by then. I’m currently in the process of making a better interactive live show experience for the people who come to watch and listen. What excites you to create? What helps you in the moments whenever you are feeling uninspired and stagnant? Trevor: For me, creating makes life worthwhile. I’m throwing my essence out into the world to see if anyone shares the same experiences or feelings. It’s an amazing way to connect with people on a deeper level. I’ve been creating ever since I was a little kid and I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon. Whenever I’m in a rut I’ll either go on a walk, go to a museum, skate, meditate, or sit and do absolutely nothing. Doing nothing is super underrated and has been so helpful with creating space for new ideas. Who inspires you? What pushes you to keep moving forward in the dark periods of life and times when you feel discouraged? Trevor: I feel inspired by my friends, especially when they’re succeeding and doing the things they love to do. Or when they are going through a tough time and are able to overcome it. I feel like a proud mom watching them do great things. I also feel inspired by the simple things in life like taking care of my plants, hanging with my roommate’s cat, art, music, nature, or small and sweet interactions between people in daily life. What did your day-to-day life look like prior to COVID-19? What does your daily life look like now amid the coronavirus? How have you been staying productive during quarantine? Trevor: The only big change between pre-covid and now is not going out to live shows. I’ve been able to hold a job, keep making music, and do all the things I usually do since I’m a bit more of a homebody. I was actually on a week-long tour with the other band I play in, “Pollen Eyes,” in March right when covid hit, but we were lucky enough to be able to finish the tour and come home. I really do miss attending and playing shows. I’ve been able to write more and keep everything more collected as well as feeling not so rushed on things during quarantine. I spend a lot of my time writing, watching movies, or going on walks. What are some of your interests? What inspired you to embark on the creative journey you’re a part of today? Trevor: I like nature, traveling, museums, art, and experiencing new things. I love plants, Halloween, anime shows/movies, cooking, hiking, and skating. I love indulging in life. It’s a brand new day every day! I’ve been singing ever since I was a kid and always had in mind that I was going to create music my entire life. It’s felt like my reason for being for as long as I can remember. It seems as natural to me as eating or sleeping. On top of that, I love creating connections, meeting new people, and being able to bring people together. What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Trevor: There is a difference between being happy and being comfortable. Anyone can be comfortable in bullshit. I even have that tattooed on me in a shortened way. It’s okay to be comfortable, there’s nothing wrong with finding solace. The biggest thing for me is there is always something to improve on. Where I am at right now in life is objectively great, but I know that there is more for me out there. I’m happy right now, but there will be a time where this state of being doesn’t suit my needs. It’s easy to get caught in these areas that are good and easy, but it takes a little extra to create a life of true happiness. Everyone’s been hit hard by our current circumstances, including artists, as the pandemic has slowed everything to a sudden halt. The music industry has been severely impacted by the postponement and cancellations of scheduled tours and festivals, leaving musicians stuck at home. The fate of many venues are currently at risk and may be forced to shut their doors for good. Unfortunately, it appears that there will be a long waiting period before concerts make a comeback. What are your thoughts on the long term effects this situation may have on the industry? What actions do you think should be taken to combat this issue, and help artists get back on their feet once live music can return? Trevor: I am definitely afraid of music and live shows being put on the back burner as sports and everything else comes back. I think the Save Our Stages Act is at least one small step to help on a larger scale for the more immediate issues. The way we’ve been adapting with virtual shows and socially distanced shows is super great, but long term, I think it could cause some odd reformation to coincide with life in quarantine. With venues unfortunately closing their doors, I could see that making way for more house and DIY venues popping up in place once things open back up. When things do open back up, I think there will be a lot of support from the communities and people itching to play and attend shows. The music scene as a whole will need all the support it can get, especially when things open back up. Due to the pandemic, live shows are placed on hold indefinitely, and touring is at a standstill right now. However, many artists are finding new creative ways to interact with their fans amidst all of the chaos; utilizing their social media platforms to share content, check in with their audiences, participate in livestreams, perform songs and put on “virtual concerts”, and provide insight into their new routines in quarantine. Do you have any plans that are similar in nature, to help pass the time until shows are back up and running again? Trevor: I’ve done a couple live streams with open mics and recently had the pleasure of playing Cleveland’s virtual Ingenuity Fest. At the end of last year, I started a weekly poetry post on Instagram called #pressedpoetry which has been evolving ever since and shows a little more insight into my writing style and thoughts. It’s named after the song ‘Pressed Flowers.’ I plan on doing a few more virtual shows in the future to stay connected. What are some causes and/or organizations that you’re most passionate about? Trevor: I’m a big supporter of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, which supports women’s rights, planned parenthood, and a woman’s right to choose. I’ve worked with Musicians Saving Our Home Planet which supports many environmental organizations such as Utah Dine Bikeyah/Protect Bears Ears, Save the Yellowstone Grizzly, and Grand Escalante Staircase Partners. Another great organization is the Last Prisoner Project which pushes against the criminalization of cannabis and looks to help those who have suffered fundamental injustice regarding those laws. What have you been listening to lately? Trevor: A few bands I’ve been listening to lately are Dikembe, Balance and Composure, I Hate It Too, Purity Ring, Mac Miller, Citizen, Polyphia, Covet, Dwellings, Sobs, and Seeyouspacecowboy… What are some of your favorite books? Favorite films/TV shows? Trevor: Some great books are Look at the Birdie by Kurt Vonnegut, A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, and You are a Badass by Jen Sincero. I love any Studio Ghibli movie, Almost Famous, Sweeney Todd, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Shows I like to watch are Over the Garden Wall, Cowboy Bebop, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, King of the Hill, Adventure Time, The Midnight Gospel, Great British Baking Show, and I recently finished Parasyte. What is the main thing that you would like for people to take away from your music? Trevor: I think people should take away their own perspective on it. I have my reasons for writing certain things, but I feel like somebody could listen to the same song and pull out a totally different meaning unique to their experience. I want people to enjoy themselves, feel more connected, and feel less alone in how they think or feel. Just be yourself :) What advice would you offer to others who want to follow in your footsteps and chase after their dreams? Trevor: In the words of Shia Lebeouf, “Just do it.” It’s good to talk about it with friends to get the ideas out in the open, but you gotta just go for it. Whether or not you think what you’re doing is of value, trust me, it is. There are other people out there who will like what you’re doing no matter what. People can’t like it if they don’t know about it, so it’s up to you to spread the word and let them know what’s going on. Keep an open mind and always be ready to learn. There is an endless stream of readily available information and things to learn which will only make you better. Go out there and radiate your essence! Do you have anything that you would like to tell our readers? Trevor: First of all, thank you for reading this and supporting publications like this in the music industry. I can’t wait for shows to open back up and we can make a stop in Pittsburgh! Lastly, stay hydrated and take care of your plants. Thank you so much for your time! It was a pleasure having the opportunity to talk to you. Looking forward to hearing more new material from you soon! Stay safe and take care! Interview By: Bri Rodriguez Photo By: Manda Renee  We’re living in a weird time with the current events of the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement. Everyone’s lives have been turned upside down. How are you currently holding up with everything that is going on in our world right now?
Kyle: It’s definitely been a difficult year trying to figure out how to be a person and musician in 2020. We came off a big song and were planning on touring all year. So, it definitely hurt personally and financially. It was going to be our “we finally made it” year. Not much we could do, so we just focused on writing and doing a streaming series every Wednesday to stay connected to our fans and have a bit of fun. It’s a stressful time for everyone, we are all in the same boat. For new listeners who may have just stumbled upon your music, how would you describe your songs, and what sets you apart from other artists? Kyle: We maintain our alt-rock roots while managing to be fairly eclectic. We like to jump from sound to sound because we like so many different types of music. We can go from an alt arena jam to a west coast hip hop influenced song to an 80’s neo-soul song. How did you get your start in the music industry? Kyle: We were just an acoustic duo at first. Neither of us had been in a band or written a song. We were like 17 and 18, so very late in the game to start seriously playing music. But we just kept at it, out of mutual boredom of being in a small town in Texas and passion for writing music. After a while, we got “discovered,” after playing a swanky venue opening that we got on because my dad was the electrician that helped put the place together. From then on, it was many years of hard work. Then, we played SXSW and got signed from a performance we did there. How did The Unlikely Candidates form? Kyle: We were friends who both loved going to local shows, and at a party one night, we played a few covers. I had never sung in front of anyone and something clicked for me. I asked Cole if he wanted to jam the next day and we never stopped. Let’s talk about the band’s new single “High Low.” What inspired you to write this track? Kyle: It was about coming home from tour and realizing that while you were off on the road, people have moved on with their lives. You’re in your house alone, wondering where the time and all your friends have gone. What inspired your ideas for the “High Low” single artwork? Kyle: I’ve spent so much time on my couch during quarantine, and I know a lot of people have. I wanted to capture that melancholy disassociation and aloneness, so I put him on a couch in the clouds. The song is kind of dreamy, so the artwork and the colors play to that. I worked with a great artist, Nashid Chroma, on it and he was amazing. Definitely recommend checking his work out. What is your writing process like? Do you write individually or as a collective? Kyle: I like writing with people because you feed off their energy. But, I end up writing alone most of the time because I have to really think about the lyrics sometimes. We have written every kind of way though. Jamming, sending tracks, communicating with producers, locking ourselves in a room, etc. Who/what are some of your influences and inspiration for your sound? Kyle: We love Gorillaz and The Strokes, not sure how much of that we show, but we often try to carry that spirit to our songs. If you could have a dream collab with anyone, who would it be and why? Kyle: Damon Albarn of Gorillaz and Blur because his stuff is always interesting, moody, and soulful. Rihanna would be dope. I love her style and voice. You recently released your new single “High Low.” What else can we expect coming up this year? Do you have any goals set for 2021? Kyle: Some streaming shows mostly, and in 2021, we hope to have an album out. Everyone’s been hit hard by our current circumstances, including artists, as the pandemic has slowed everything to a sudden halt. The music industry has been severely impacted by the postponement and cancellations of scheduled tours and festivals, leaving musicians stuck at home. The fate of many venues are currently at risk and may be forced to shut their doors for good. Unfortunately, it appears that there will be a long waiting period before concerts make a comeback. What are your thoughts on the long term effects this situation may have on the industry? What actions do you think should be taken to combat this issue, and help artists get back on their feet once live music can return? Kyle: It’s going to be hard to find places to play, especially for smaller to mid-sized bands, because over so many venues closing and so many bands needed to get out. Also, I’m not sure crowds are going to be as big, due to COVID still being around, vaccine or not. It’s going to take a while for the industry to recover. Touring is the lifeblood for music financially, so everything is going to be struggling for a while. As far as combating the virus: distancing, masks, faster testing, more outdoor shows, drive-ins. There are a lot of options, but no silver bullet. As far as getting back on their feet, it’s going to be shaky for a minute. Due to the pandemic, live shows are placed on hold indefinitely, and touring is at a standstill right now. However, many artists are finding new creative ways to interact with their fans amidst all of the chaos; utilizing their social media platforms to share content, check in with their audiences, participate in livestreams, perform songs and put on “virtual concerts”, and provide insight into their new routines in quarantine. Do you have any plans that are similar in nature, to help pass the time until shows are back up and running again? Kyle: We did a streaming session every Wednesday called “Flatten The Hump Day” for 20 weeks. Just did our last one yesterday at an animal safari park called Fossil Rim in front of some goat-like creatures called Addax. We tried to do stuff like that to keep people engaged. We have done some full band streams. It’s been great, but we only have so many songs. We also did an emo week and 80’s week where we performed covers. It was a great way to keep up with the fans. But at the end of the day, streams are not really a substitute for shows. What is one cause or organization that you are passionate about? Kyle: We did a stream where we donated all of the proceeds to the NAACP legal defense fund. The fight for racial equality and fair policing policies has been a big one, this year especially. What are some of your favorite books? Favorite films/TV shows? Kyle: I love Murakami, David Mitchell, and Neil Gaiman to name a few authors. “What We Do In The Shadows” - the movie and show are great. Mainly those two things, books and tv. What is the main thing that you would like for people to take away from your music? Kyle: Just something that they can add to the emotional lexicon of their own lives. A comforting or affirming lyric or a song to set their life to. Do you have anything that you would like to tell our readers? Kyle: Check us out. My favorite songs are “Violence” and “Best Things In Life Aren’t Free.” Thank you so much for your time! It was a pleasure having the opportunity to talk to you, and I’m enjoying the new single “High Low.” Looking forward to hearing more new material from you soon! Stay safe and take care! Kyle: Thanks for having me and the same to you! Check out The Unlikely Candidates latest single “High Low” now! Connect with The Unlikely Candidates on their social platforms: Website: http://theunlikelycandidates.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theunlikelycandidates/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theunlikelycandidates/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tucband Interview By: Bri Rodriguez  We’re living in a time of history with the current events of the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement. Everyone’s lives have been turned upside down. How are you and the band currently holding up with everything that is going on in our world right now?
Dan: It's a strange time for sure, but considering we've all been in some form of quarantine for the better part of this year, we're starting to develop a surreal sense of normality. The weirdest thing for us is having our biggest release as a band under our belt, and not being able to tour to support it. We do feel like Veil is being robbed of that opportunity, but I also realize that's the case for all musicians with new material right now. The silver lining, I guess, is that it's giving us the time to focus on writing our new album so I try to focus on that. Congratulations on your re-issue of Veil of Imagination. What was the initial response to the album, prior to your signing with Century Media? Evan: Very positive! I don’t remember there being too many negative responses. There’s always a handful of people that wish we kept that “piratey folky” thing we did on our first album, haha, but I think most people understand we’re doing something different now. Overall, it seems like people appreciated some of the updates we made to our sound, and some of the new territories we were treading, so that was reassuring. You were an independent band before signing with Century Media. How does that experience compare to signing with a major label? Dan: So far so good. Granted, it's early in our working relationship, but I feel like we're in good hands. The people at Century Media really seem to care about the band and are legitimately excited about the material and that's to me the biggest benefit. Everything else comes a lot easier, when there's a mutual sense of passion behind all the business decisions. How did you get your start in the music industry? Evan: In terms of Wilderun, I’d say we only just now began “in the industry.” Prior to signing to Century Media, everything has been completely independent. We’ve been playing shows across the country for a few years now, so I suppose that’s sorta dipped our toes in parts of the industry, but mostly it was a very indie feeling. Personally, a couple of us have been doing other work in the music industry. Wayne has been doing film and television music for years now, and I do some music and audio for mobile games. How did Wilderun form? Dan: We all met at Berklee College of Music in Boston. When Evan decided to form the band, he reached out to the people he knew in the metal scene there and those connections eventually led to all of us. It's a small community there, so it makes it easy to get hooked up with like-minded people. All of the members went to Berklee and everyone in the band possesses a musical background. Do you feel like that experience has benefited your songwriting? Evan: I think so. It’s a bit hard to say because sometimes I felt like some more of the theoretical music knowledge was stunting some of that more “free” and “spontaneous” creativity, since I was focusing more on the technical side of things. But I think I’ve mostly learned to put that stuff aside when I need to. In other regards, it can really help the technical process of communicating with each other, in musical terms. I think it expedites the actual creation of the final product, because we have some music theory-based shortcuts when explaining ideas to each other. What is your writing process like? Do you write individually or as a collective? Dan: It's traditionally been Evan who demos out all the material and then we write our parts based on his ideas, but this album was a bit more collaborative. We made the point of getting together and playing the material in person, well before booking studio time, so that everyone could bounce ideas off one another based off of Evan's original demos. It definitely made for a more unique approach to the record. The album artwork for Veil of Imagination is both beautiful and thought-provoking. Could you provide us with details regarding the cover art? Who created the artwork, how was it designed, and how does it fit the album? Evan: It was a piece originally called “Veil of Summer” by Adrian Cox. Obviously, the title of the piece influenced the title of our album. First of all, we just felt like the piece fit the music from a purely aesthetic standpoint. The juxtaposition of the serene field of flowers and the strange, dark form in the center felt related to the mood we were wanting to create with the music. It also seemed to align well with a lot of the lyrical content. Much of Veil deals with feelings of being trapped inside your head and your skin, unable to truly experience and appreciate the natural world around you, and it seemed like that strange, calcified character in the artwork might be experiencing something like that. What are your favorite tracks off the album? Dan: It always changes for me depending on my mood but at the moment I'd say “The Unimaginable Zero Summer.” Although, “The Tyranny of Imagination” is probably my favorite song to play live. Who/what are some of your influences and inspiration for your sound? Dan: It's a very mixed bag. We all bring something unique to the table because we all listen to a lot of different kinds of music. I tend to bring more of the electronic, minimalist, and black metal influences into the mix. Who are some of your favorite artists? If you could have a dream collab with anyone, who would it be and why? Evan: This is always such a hard question because it varies so much from week to week, year to year, etc. Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Mogwai, Aphex Twin, Cardiacs, and some random Irish folk music. I’m honestly not sure if we’re the type of band that will collab with anyone else. I feel like we may have to keep things a bit insular to achieve the results we’re looking for (and we all know each other so well that we can be full-blown maniacs and no one will run away). However, we would eventually really like to have some real chamber instruments on an album, so at that point, we’d love to collaborate with some killer chamber ensemble players. You recently released the re-issue of your LP Veil of Imagination on July 17, 2020. Initially, there were plans for an upcoming tour to promote the album, but it’s been postponed due to the lockdown. How did this affect the band, and what are your plans to help stay on track? Dan: While everything is shut down, we hope to release some more content for the fans whether that be playthrough videos, more "quarantine sessions," a livestream concert, or what have you. Our main focus right now is finishing writing the album so we can get into the studio next year so that's our priority. Everyone’s been hit hard by our current circumstances, including artists, as the pandemic has slowed everything to a sudden halt. The music industry has been severely impacted by the postponement and cancellations of scheduled tours and festivals, leaving musicians stuck at home. The fate of many venues are currently at risk and may be forced to shut their doors for good. Unfortunately, it appears that there will be a long waiting period before concerts make a comeback. What are your thoughts on the long term effects this situation may have on the industry? What actions do you think should be taken to combat this issue, and help artists get back on their feet once live music is able to return? Evan: I hate to say that we’re just as clueless as I think everyone is. I’m definitely afraid it’s going to have ripple effects for a while. I just hope 2021 can look somewhat normal, so we can make up for lost time from this year. Hopefully, once a good vaccine is available, everything can start shifting back into place. Besides that, I hope that virus testing can become easy and quick - perhaps we can develop a system where patrons to shows are checked right before entering and can get verification within 20 minutes or so. If we can get something like that established at venues around the world, maybe things can start to look more normal. Due to the pandemic, live shows are placed on hold indefinitely, and touring is at a standstill right now. However, many artists are finding new creative ways to interact with their fans amidst all of the chaos; utilizing their social media platforms to share content, check-in with their audiences, participate in livestreams, perform songs and put on “virtual concerts,” and provide insight into their new routines in quarantine. Do you have any plans that are similar in nature, to help pass the time until shows are back up and running again? Dan: A livestream concert would be fun to do, especially considering we're all starved for shows and performing, but it's got to be something we'd be excited about doing. Just putting up a camera, and playing songs we've played 100 times before doesn't really do it for me. I'm not sure yet what that all would mean, but it's something we are seriously considering. What is one cause or organization that you are passionate about? Dan: We all come from very different social and political backgrounds, but for me personally, I like to think of myself as a big advocate for conservation. Open space and public land are an important part of American culture, and we need to be respectful of the land we're so blessed to benefit from. What is the main thing that you would really like for people to take away from your music? Evan: I don’t think I can personally tell that to anyone. Music is so intrinsically personal, that I just hope people are getting something meaningful and emotional from it. The music I love is able to temporarily transcend me to a different, unusual emotional state, and if our music can do that to anyone else, then I think that’s all that matters. Maybe it can teach you something, or maybe it can just help you escape for a bit. As long as you feel something. Do you have anything else that you would like to tell our readers? Dan: I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe. Don't let the pandemic get the best of you, and go outside. Human beings are not meant to spend most of our time indoors, so take care of your mental health and breathe some fresh air. Thank you so much for your time! It was a pleasure having the opportunity to talk to you and I’m really enjoying the album. I wish you luck and hope that we will see you on stage soon! Stay safe and take care! Dan: Likewise! Thank you for the opportunity! Connect with Wilderun on their social platforms: Website: https://www.wilderun.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialWilderun Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilderunband/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wilderunband Interview By: Bri Rodriguez  How did the band come to be?
The band was launched after I had the idea of a concept album about the 1980s hard rock scene in Los Angeles California. I got a hold of my friend and 30+ year bandmate Todd Long and shared the idea. He was totally into it and by the end of that day we had the skeleton of the song “Miles In-Between” that ultimately became our first single released on Golden Robot Records. Do you have any releases coming up in the new year? In October we will release our second single on Golden Robot Records called “Never Goodbye” then follow-up in November with our full EP release. We’ve already begun work on a full-length that should come in 2021. What is something you want listeners to take away from your music? I think it would be nice if listeners could take a piece of the characters portrayed in the music and let that shape their level of empathy and understanding for other human beings. On our EP “Headed West”, the concept of the album is a fictional band that leaves their hometown and heads to the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles to “make it big”. Just by listening to the stories that unfold within that framework could serve to change the perspective that many people have concerning the 1980s “hair metal” scene. It wasn’t always sex, drugs, and rock n roll. For the bands that found success, a key ingredient they all share is guts and hard work. Those are universally required for success in nearly any endeavor. With everything that is going on in our world what is one cause or organization that you are passionate about? For me (John Merchant) personally, MUSICARES through the Recording Academy deals with addiction recovery. Being in recovery myself, it’s close to my heart. With what’s happening in our world today it’s easy to fall into depression, and depression begets sadness, begets pain, begets a quest to numb that pain, which oftentimes leads to substance abuse in many forms. Hopeless hearts are the perfect breeding ground for addiction. What is your writing process like? Usually we share very rough riff ideas, then start to hammer out a song structure. Once we get a skeleton in place, I start to search for a theme and story for lyrics and let the melody serve to move that story along. As we’re working through that, we’re also adding musical parts to the original skeleton that support the storyline and add emotion and texture. It’s really like painting, just with words, music, and melody. To follow up with the last question, what inspires your sound? Every single song that’s ever connected with us. That can be music that we grew up with and artists we idolized, to a song that may have caught our ear on the radio or elsewhere. We’re a rock n roll band with strong 1980s hard rock and metal roots, but we let our music be informed and influenced by any genre that speaks to us. That opens the door for everyone from Bruce Springsteen, Jason Isbell, and Bob Dylan, to RATT, Motley Crue, Poison, Faster Pussycat and LA Guns. If it tells its story and draws a listener in, we’re onboard. We don’t discriminate. A good song can come from anywhere. Any tours coming up soon? Covid-19 has spun our industry completely sideways and has put a lot of our brothers and sisters out of work. We’re hoping that 2021 sees the business start to recover. Shows are being announced by artists in multiple different genres. Ghosts of Sunset are already having conversations with our team at Samurai Artist Management about festival dates and supporting slots on several tours. Of course, it seems the entire world is up in the air now. We’re keeping our fingers crossed and are excited to take this music to like-minded people as well as turn some new people on. Anything you would like to tell our readers? Please visit us on all the normal social media platforms. Like, comment and more importantly share. Just like it was when we were coming up, “tell a friend” is one of the greatest, most organic ways a band can build itself. We want everyone to know how grateful Ghosts of Sunset are for all the love and support so far. We’re just getting started and the fans we’re connecting with are creating a supportive, loving, inclusive community. It’s insanely exciting.  How did the band come to be?
Chaoseum was founded in January 2018 in Switzerland by Loïc and I. Our vision was to create a band for live performances. We asked Greg, our amazing drummer, to join us at the early stages of the formation, then followed in February 2019 our singer CK Smile. Do you have any releases coming up in the new year? Our second video from our next album was released a few days ago. This song is “Stick Under My Skin”. The album, “Second Life” will be available on September 25th. What is something you want listeners to take away from your music? The most important thing is that this album gives pleasure. This album has a specific atmosphere and different songs. With everything that is going on in our world what is one cause or organization that you are passionate about? Everything related to nature and animals. We are not vegetarian but we love and respect animals. We are against their bad treatment. What is your writing process like? Loïc and CK make the main part together. Greg and I put finally our personal touch during recording. To follow up with the last question, what inspires your sound? Modern Metal for the sound. But for the songs, a lot of bands like Korn, Slipknot, Trivium and some old heavy metal bands. We listen to almost all kinds of metal and rock. Any tours coming up soon? We will have a release party at the end of September in Switzerland. Our European tour was postponed to October 2021 due to Covid-19. Anything you would like to tell our readers? Thank you for spending this little time with me and don’t lose the habit to go to the concerts due to covid-19.We have to wait and it’s long for everybody. Take care and hope to see you soon. Valery Veings  What or who inspired you to write this album?
Catrin: cause there's 4 of us we have quite a range of musical influences but the one artist that we say binds us together is one we listened to as the band was forming, the Talk Talk albums. That's our main artist and I'm massively inspired by Tracey Chapman. Jack: a few of us like bands like Coldplay and Oasis and all the classic stuff, we cover a lot of ground in our music which is reflective of what we listen to. It's hard to summarise. How long has this been in the works for? Jack: we've been a band for 6 years, maybe a little bit longer now, and some of the songs on this album we wrote in the first couple of months of being in the band. So it's been 6 years of work, blood sweat and tears. That's not a cliche, it's true. It's been a journey but we are so happy we are finally here releasing it. Any troubles faced whilst composing it? Catrin: yeah. Haha yeah loads. What's really difficult about being a small band like we were when we started, people come in with their own ideas and you really have to hold on to your own ideas because people can throw you off with one comment. There's a lot of that in the industry I think but thankfully now we have an amazing team that's so supportive and they get what we're trying to do but along the way you just experience so much doubt it's hard to sum up in one sentence. Jack: yeah like in London. Everyone in our area moved in to start a band, in Goldsmith. So it was really trying to be seen in the most overpopulated subset of music. So just fighting for what we believe in for the last 6 years has been a lot of work. But it's been worth it. Do you have a favourite track? Catrin: I'd say "All Ends" personally. Jack: my favourite track is "Only Rain" which is the last track on the album. Just feels like when we put that at the end I felt like the album was done. We were super critical and for me to feel like we had finished it kind of made that song extra special cause it was like wow, finally, it's over. So yeah, that's quite deep but I love that song. What message do you want to give to your audience? Catrin: I think I'm coming to terms with the fact that's its less about wanting to send out a message and it's more about wanting to invite people in and decide their own meaning from it. I would like for that to happen, our first album was very much this songs about toxic masculinity, this songs about police brutality but I think at the end of the day, people take what they need from songs and you can never dictate that. I want people to take what they need from it. Anything you'd like to say to our readers? Jack: if you like what you hear when you check out our album just come to a gig, meet us, meet everyone else at the gig and just get involved. People feel like they can't get involved but it's like Catrin said we've got ourselves out there and if anyone gets it then just get involved and see us. It's pretty obvious but we've never had the chance to say it before so it's nice to get the chance. Interview By: Tyler Sams  We’re living in a weird time with the current events of the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement. Everyone’s lives have been turned upside down. How are you currently holding up with everything that is going on in our world right now?
I am one who strives to live in the light, so I’ve been doing my best to stay as positive as I can, especially when my peers need someone to lean on. As far as the pandemic, it’s been a hardship financially and I definitely have had moments where I felt extremely alone because I’ve been pretty much quarantined alone this whole time. Prior to these events, as a society, we were all caught up in ourselves instead of each other and essentially stuck in the same routine. There’s no growth there, so as challenging as these current events are, I feel like this is the time to really take a moment to pause, self-reflect, and re-examine our lives in hopes of becoming better versions of ourselves. For new listeners who may have just stumbled upon your music, how would you describe your songs, and what sets you apart from other artists? My music is a message of vulnerability. I love to mix positive lyrics with darker tones and melodies and vice versa because it truly reflects the ups and downs of my journey. I also write specifically to my life events, but I like to switch up the writing in sections to be more universal. This allows the audience to get to know more about my personal life while still finding it very relatable to what they’ve experienced or what they’re going through at that moment. As far as my sound goes, I would say that it’s cinematic, which is what I really enjoy about dark pop. I also love to blend different types of genres that I grew up with or am currently listening to because they’ve all inspired me in different ways. You’ve worked hard to forge your own path as an artist. How did you get your start in the music industry? What has the experience been like? My first experience in the music industry was when I interned at Hopeless Records under Eric Tobin. I ended up getting a job on Vans Warped Tour to be a merch girl for a metalcore band called Attack Attack! that same summer, and Eric was very encouraging. I ended up leaving that internship. From there, I ended up working for other bands for a few years, and finally stopped because I really wanted to focus on my own music. Since then, it’s been very difficult, especially being a Filipino-American woman in the industry. I’ve been told that my image didn’t fit and I didn’t think too much of it at the time, but recently their CEO stepped down because of racism allegations in the workplace, so it kind of makes me wonder what they meant. I felt like I had to fit a mold to be successful in the music industry, so there was a time when I dismissed my culture. It wasn’t until 2016 when I took full control of my career that I started to embrace it and realized how unique I am. Please tell us more about your new single “STARLET.” Personally, I find this song very empowering and take the message to heart: “Follow your dreams and be who you want to be. Ignore the ones who doubt your ability to succeed in life. There’s always going to be people who will attempt to do everything in their power to bring you down. Just focus on your goals and no matter what, don’t give up.” What inspired you to write this track and did it come together quickly? This song was actually inspired by a music writer from Musical Notes Global who wrote reviews on my past releases, “Type Erase” and “1445.” She called me a “rising pop starlet” and my co-writer, a girl named jaen, called me saying, “We need to write a song called ‘STARLET,'” and I agreed. We hadn’t heard that term used recently, so we just thought it was a dope idea. From there, a girl named jaen sent me a melody idea which essentially turned into the chorus and she thought I wasn’t going to like it, but I loved it and we ended up getting together to sit down and write the lyrics and the rest of the melody. Once we established the theme of empowerment, the lyrics and melody flowed very easily. However, the production took a while because this was the first time we decided to work remotely on a song with producer, John McLucas. Normally, we would all be in the studio together putting the production together, so it was definitely hard to get used to communicating via email describing sounds that we wanted and trying to explain changes. We ended up with 10 production demos before I even laid down the vocals but honestly, I don’t really think that matters, and I feel like you can really hear how much time we spent into creating such a hard-hitting, anthemic production. There are a lot of production elements that are so subtle, but really are necessary to create that tone and “STARLET” wouldn’t be where it’s at with all of the time we put into creating it. What inspired your ideas for the “STARLET” single artwork? My videographer, Josh Suguitan, and I were storyboarding the music video and when he brought up outfits that I was thinking of, I didn’t really know yet, so he asked me, “Well, what makes you a starlet?” So, I started thinking about how I have different fashion personalities like one day I love to be super girly, then some days I like to be more boyish, and so on. Then, I ended up talking to my close friend and up-and-coming stylist, Aylin Padron, and she started telling me what she notices about my personal style and how I love the 70s, 90s, and early 2000s. I ended up having some pieces already that I hadn’t styled yet and went with the color aesthetic that I wanted to follow like the purple iridescent biker shorts, so from there, we started styling around each piece and ultimately, decided that there are four different fashion styles that I generally play with on a daily basis. Each look represents my fashion personalities that make up the starlet that is Lisa Danaë. What is your writing process like? I definitely tend to co-write, whether I start an idea or concept on my own and bring that idea to someone to write off of that or we just start from scratch together. With my frequent co-writer, a girl named jaen, our style of writing together starts off as an interview process. If I have a thought right off the bat, then she just starts asking me questions about it and she’s just writing keywords or lines that I’m saying to her. If I don’t necessarily know what I want to write about that day, we schedule a writing session, which is very rare, then she’ll start by asking, “What’s going on in your life? What’s on your mind?”, and she’ll end up finding a word or phrase that I may have said or reiterated a lot which determines the topic, and then we just go from there with the interview type process. Who/what are some of your influences and inspiration for your sound? My influences are all over the place, but I feel like I’m very inspired by Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Jazz, and I like to pull from all genres just depending on the vibe of a song. I grew up listening to Donna Summer, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Michael Jackson, Queen, and many more. As I got older, I was very into *NSYNC, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, and so many more artists. And currently, I love Post Malone, The Weeknd, Drake, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves, and more. To me, music is a universal language, so again, I feel like I pull inspiration from any artist and any genre, just really depending on what I want to make the audience feel with the lyrics. Who are some of your favorite artists? If you could have a dream collab with anyone, who would it be and why? All-time favorite artists are a long list and I named some already, but other than those artists, I’d add Aaliyah, Eminem, Missy Elliot, and Alicia Keys. I definitely have a lot of dream collabs, but one big one for a while now is Pharrell. I really think he is dope and creative even beyond music and I would love to see what we could come up with together. He seems like one of those producers that can really bring the best out of an artist and that’s very hard to find. You have an active social media presence, especially on YouTube. Besides promoting your own works, you record and share different song covers and reaction videos. You interact with your fans, as you take the time to respond back and leave comments. It feels very personal. How has social media helped you throughout your journey as an up-and-coming musician? Social media has allowed me to reach and connect with an audience from around the world. As an independent artist funding everything on your own, it can be stressful trying to figure out how to finance marketing and get yourself out there, but social media allows you to put your art in the eyes of people all over the world. Although it can be very overwhelming, I love how there are different types of social platforms because I feel like each platform allows you to showcase different sides of yourself as well. But yes, I love responding to fans and I love engaging especially when I feel passionate about something, but I definitely had to learn quickly how to figure out ways to block out the negativity, and you just have to remember that you can’t please everyone. Which song of yours holds the most meaning to you? I would say it’s a combination of “1445” and having the outcome of that period in my life being “STARLET.” “1445” talks about my battle with depression and self-worth during a time in my life that was full of instability and change. No one knew what I was going through and fortunately, I was able to get myself out of that dark headspace, which ultimately led to me taking full control of my life and my career. From there, “STARLET” was born and I still to this day really never thought I’d be in a position to feel inspired to write an empowering anthem. I’m the best I’ve ever felt mentally, emotionally, and physically, so as hard as it was going through something that inspired “1445”, I wouldn’t be where I’m at or feel as good as I feel without that period and “STARLET” also represents that powerful moment of finding confidence and self-love. The light truly came out of the dark with these two songs. You recently released your new single “STARLET.” What else can we expect coming up this year? Do you have any goals set for 2021? Well, I originally planned to release two more singles this year. However, since I did postpone the release of “STARLET” and I, now, have a lot more to share with this song, I’m not sure when I’ll release the second single at the moment, which could ultimately lead to a push back on the third. I’m sure I’ll also have more songs ready to go into production once I finish these two, so the order of releases could change depending on the lyrical theme and production vibe. This is a huge plus to being an independent artist. I have full control of my music and essentially I call the shots, so whatever I decide, just know that there is more music coming and more visuals to coincide. As far as goals for 2021, I definitely want to start playing live shows, but since we have to live day-by-day, I plan to get back into live-streaming regularly for the time being. Another huge goal of mine is to get my songs synced in TV, commercials, or film. I’ve been learning a lot about sync licensing during quarantine and really started paying attention to how music can really set the mood of a scene and I would be honored to have one of my own drive a storyline. I’ve also created a good community on YouTube with people in the Philippines, so I would love to travel there to connect with them more and collaborate with other Filipino artists. Everyone’s been hit hard by our current circumstances, including artists, as the pandemic has slowed everything to a sudden halt. The music industry has been severely impacted by the postponement and cancellations of scheduled tours and festivals, leaving musicians stuck at home. The fate of many venues are currently at risk, and may be forced to shut their doors for good. Unfortunately, it appears that there will be a long waiting period before concerts make a comeback. What are your thoughts on the long term effects this situation may have on the industry? What actions do you think should be taken to combat this issue, and help artists get back on their feet once live music is able to return? I have a lot of friends that work in the touring industry as tour managers, stage production crew, audio techs, etc., so my heart really goes out to those that have been affected. Touring is the majority of an artists’ income, so once we figure out safe ways to navigate, budgets will most likely decrease so, unfortunately, I feel like there will still be a lot of people out of jobs. I know that they’ve been testing out drive-in concerts in Anaheim, CA, which sounds really dope and I would love to check it out. I’ve heard great things about it, so I think we could potentially see a rise in that type of live entertainment environment. I also think live-streaming is going to continue to rise and become the new norm. Due to the pandemic, live shows are placed on hold indefinitely and touring is at a standstill right now. However, many artists are finding new creative ways to interact with their fans amidst all of the chaos; utilizing their social media platforms to share content, check in with their audiences, participate in livestreams, perform songs and put on “virtual concerts”, and provide insight into their new routines in quarantine. Do you have any plans that are similar in nature, to help pass the time until shows are back up and running again? I definitely went full force with creating content for every social media platform that I’m on. I focused mainly on YouTube and TikTok as I’ve been feeling really stagnant and kind of getting bored with Instagram. TikTok has been a lot of fun creating relatable content to quarantine life and what it’s like living by yourself during this time. I’ve also been creating different types of content to share my music like digital collages, I’ve been writing, working on visuals for the next releases, I host a music podcast called Sound Scrub where I dissect the writing, production, and recording process of a song with the artist and producer, and I’ve been networking and connecting with more people in the industry. I definitely feel like I’ve been given the gift of time to create more and more. What is one cause or organization that you are passionate about? Not sure if this is necessarily considered an organization, but I’m very passionate about figuring out ways to make sure there is more representation in the music industry within the Asian community, but more specifically within the Filipino community. It’s pretty non-existent and it’s really disappointing and was really discouraging when I first stepped foot into the industry. So, I’m doing everything I can to make sure our voices are heard. Aside from that, my music podcast focuses on independent artists as I want to give back to our community and also give other independent artists another platform for their voices to be heard as well. Who/what inspires your fashion style and where do you like to shop to pick up your staple pieces of clothing and makeup (thrift, department stores)? My mom and her sisters were always into fashion, so I was interested in fashion at a young age. I am definitely a child of the 90s and early 2000s, so when those eras came back around recently, I was very excited! I don’t really have a specific person that I turn to for inspiration, but I browse Pinterest every once in a while for ideas. Other than that, I love a good trend, but comfortability is key! As long as I feel myself in it, I will wear it whether it’s “in” or not. I’ve tried to thrift, but I feel like I have the worst luck because I never find cute things, but I’m also very impatient and don’t like to browse. I generally shop at department stores and I do a lot of online shopping because I hate trying on clothes! What are some of your favorite books? Favorite films/TV shows? What are your hobbies? I’m a huge Harry Potter fan, both book series and movie series. I recently started collecting the illustration books that are slowly coming out and the art is stunning. I also really love To Kill A Mockingbird and 1984. As far as TV shows, I am a huge Friends fan and I’m pretty sure I can beat anyone at a trivia game about that show, Game of Thrones, and some guilty pleasures would be Vanderpump Rules, Real Housewives of Orange County, and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I also watched the whole series of Schitt’s Creek during quarantine and I think it’s hilarious. Movies, that’s actually pretty hard for me, but I will say one of my favorites is Mean Girls! I’m obsessed with that movie and I really enjoyed seeing the musical on Broadway. A lot of my hobbies are honestly music-related, but other than that, during quarantine, I started making digital collages, which I really enjoy and I love going to the beach. What is the main thing that you would really like for people to take away from your music? Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness. It takes a lot of courage to open up to people, especially in a time of need. Everyone goes through different struggles, so we need to learn how to be more empathetic with one another. Do you have anything that you would like to tell our readers? I want to emphasize how much I truly believe in creating your own path in the music industry, especially now, with everything going on in the world. I think it is time for independent artists to be heard and rise up. The majority of us are creating music for ourselves, so we’re not afraid to push boundaries. “STARLET” is all about authenticity and finding what makes you unique and using that to your full ability to show your true self. We have no excuses to be in the shadows anymore. There are too many tools that we can use to make our voices be heard. Thank you so much for your time! It was a pleasure having the opportunity to talk to you and I love the new single “STARLET.” Looking forward to hearing more new material from you soon! Stay safe and take care! Review by: Bri Rodriguez Photo by: Josh Suguitan Be sure to check out the “STARLET” music video released on September 9, 2020!  How did the band come to be?
The four of us used to go to the same youth group – Tim and Sam were already childhood friends, as were Chris and Ali. Ali was the eldest, and cooler than the rest of us, so we named the band after him in order to entice him into joining. It’s a good job he did join, otherwise the band name would’ve made even less sense! Do you have any releases coming up in the new year? Watch this space! We’ve had a great 2020 (coronavirus aside), having released our debut EP and 2 music videos, and we’ve still got the “People Change” music video to come (date TBC). Hopefully we will have something lined up for 2021 soon – we'd love to get back in the recording studio as soon as we can do it safely. What is something you want listeners to take away from your music? A sense of never having heard something quite like that before. I hope that’s not too much to expect of ourselves! We incorporate such a diverse range of genres into our music, as well as tempo changes, many different sections, and differing playing styles – we want listeners to take away something different from each song. AITJ are most predictable in being unpredictable! With everything that is going on in our world what is one cause or organization that you are passionate about? Runnymede (https://www.runnymedetrust.org/), which is a Trust/think tank that aims to make positive change to the lives of BAME people through research-based interventions. They conduct research and analysis which is used to inform policy-making and public debate. Runnymede recognises that one of the most effective ways to move towards racial equality is to ensure change on a bigger scale, by influencing policies and practices throughout Britain. They say, “in order to effectively overcome racial inequality in our society, we believe that our democratic dialogue, policy, and practice, should all be based on reliable evidence from rigorous research and thorough analysis.” The music industry is just one of many industries which suffers from endemic racial inequalities -- we need systemic change to address that. What is your writing process like? Hectic! A song can start off from anywhere; usually one band member brings a riff or chord sequence that we then jam over or combine with existing parts we’ve written independently. But our music is so varied that inspiration can come from anywhere: a film or video game soundtrack, a random whistled melody, a dream, or the fridge. Once we’ve got the first section down, we’ll try to start adding other instruments in – drums tend to come last because they’re rhythmic rather than melodic, but other than that, we can write the instrumental parts in any order. We’re four very different people so everyone’s got a natural musical voice; you can’t control that, only hone it in and push it in certain directions. If we hit a snag, our usual troubleshooting technique is “do the opposite”: think about what you’d expect to come next, then turn that on its head. To follow up with the last question, what inspires your sound? Because we’re such different individuals, there’s a whole raft of genres which feed into Ali In The Jungle’s music. Overall, we grew up with a radio dominated by upbeat and interesting rock music, and we’re trying to bring back a new innovative form of that! We write the music we wish we could hear everywhere on the radio: a mix of our post-punk revival influences, plus more retro influences such as classic jazz, glam rock, funk and disco, hip-hop, noughties piano-pop, and much, much more. We each bring our separate musical tastes together and try to fuse them into something cohesive and engaging. Any tours coming up soon? Hope so! All of our summer gigs – including many in London, and two festivals – have been cancelled or postponed, so keep an eye on our socials for updates on those. We had a mini tour of UK venues via video link for the #saveourvenues campaign; you can find those videos on our Facebook page, plus many other live videos on our YouTube. Again – watch this space! Anything you would like to tell our readers? You, reader, are a wonderful person. Honestly. Well done you.  We’re living in a weird time with the current events of the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement. Everyone’s lives have been turned upside down. How are you currently holding up with everything that is going on in our world right now?
The first large chunk of quarantine time was spent finishing up the EP, so we would have mostly been in “studio lockdown” anyway even without a nasty virus out in the world. And lately it’s been getting everything prepped for the release, finishing up editing the “Parasite” video, etc. It’s been lots of work but we’re lucky to be able to do it almost exclusively from home. The Black Lives Matter movement has been a long time coming & we hope real change happens in this country so we can all evolve & help bury systemic racism six feet deep. Since things have been so upside down with all of our lives due to the virus, we are hoping the silver lining in regards to the Black Lives Matter movement is that more people are paying attention than ever before since there are less distractions right now. In the meantime, voting the right people into office, donating where we can, using our platform to educate & talking to others around us that might not understand the significance of this movement is what we have been doing in that regard. Besides that, we’ve been finding time to read/listen to podcasts/watch some movies+tv & talking long walks & drives. It’s definitely been trying since we do so much from home anyway and this is an even more intense version of that - we wish we could tour soon because it’s been rough not having that option as musicians. How did you get your start in the music industry? We both come from musical backgrounds - Tony has had a long career in the music industry with his band Eve 6 and producing and songwriting with other artists. Danyell took piano lessons & played flute from 3rd to 7th grade & came out of the closet as a singer in 2013 & started writing songs and performed around the LA area in a small local band. Both of us have had music coursing through our veins for quite some time! How did Dead Posey come to be? We knew each other socially for a few years before truly making music together for Dead Posey in earnest. Both of us were doing our own music and supportive of each others’ work, but hadn’t dived fully into working together until 2016. It just felt like the right time - Danyell had a vision for a new project with this dark, alluring aesthetic, and it felt right to do some songs with that in mind. Things started to click really quickly from then on, and we were off to the races. On top of that we also became a couple, and now a married one at that. For new listeners of Dead Posey who may have just stumbled upon your music, how would you describe your band, and what sets you apart? Can you talk a bit about the sound transition from “Freak Show” to “Malfunction”, and what inspired it? We’re a duo from the City of Angels (LA). Danyell is the lead singer/producer & Tony is the Guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/producer. We make rock n roll music and enjoy anything subversive and twisted. We’re pretty in-house, doing everything from writing, recording and mixing to photo shoots and video edits mostly ourselves. For the ‘Malfunction’ EP, we pushed ourselves to not rely too much on sounds from our earlier work, while still retaining the core elements of what makes us sound and feel like us. To go with darker lyrical themes of the EP, it’s a hybrid of the gritty/bluesy influences of our past mixed with a new digital edge. What is your writing process like? We’ll both bring in our compiled ideas: guitar riffs and beats that Tony has stashed away, and lyric and sonic ideas that Danyell has concocted. From then on, we’re both in the trenches; for each song it’s like a tug-of-war of both our minds, constantly challenging each other to dig deeper to get to the real essence of what we want to say. While we’re both very interested in all the nuts and bolts of the production and sounds and all that, we try to get the core elements of the song (lyrics, melody, chords, feel) all dialed-in pretty early in the process so we have a strong foundation to build on. With this EP in particular, the actual songwriting happened very quickly – it was the production and getting things sounding just right that took some time. Who/what are some of your influences and inspiration for your sound? Sonically and lyrically, our inspirations are Depeche Mode, The Kills, NIN, Marilyn Manson, Garbage, Joy Division, The Doors, QOTSA, and many more. We took a few steps with this EP into a darker sonic place, bringing in touches of industrial sounds and synths to layer the songs further. Lyrically, we lean toward artists and bands that are truly provocative and have sensuality and depth to them. Our general artistic godfathers of inspiration are Salvador Dali, Edgar Allan Poe, and David Lynch. There was a last minute change to the “Malfunction” EP cover art. What was the original concept and why do you feel that this alteration was necessary? Originally, we had an actual brain scan of Danyell’s brain with a couple artistic flourishes as the cover. We came up with it in the middle of the recording process before the songs had become fully fleshed out. By the time we were in the final stages, the music was more vibrant than the cover, so Danyell came up with the concept in a moment of inspiration in the last couple days of work on the EP. We shot and edited the photos ourselves, and there it was! Who are some of your favorite artists? If you could have a dream collab with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and why? Fave artists listed in the previous question - but some more are Shakey Graves, Pink Floyd, The Cure, Cigarettes After Sex, Mazzy Star, and The Black Keys. Pretty much any or all of the artists mentioned would be incredible to work with! In June, you released your new EP “Malfunction” with a coinciding music video for single “Parasite.” And you recently dropped a live UK performance video for “Holy Roller.” How has the process of creating music videos changed for both of you? The visual element of Dead Posey is very important to us and always on our minds. David Lynch films, Edgar Allan Poe poems and imagery & surrealism photography & art such as Salvador Dali are all major visual inspirations. Often, when first working on a new song we are already discussing visual elements that go with it. Sight and sound go hand in hand for us, so we’re always excited to do music videos for the songs. Of course, due to the state of the world we were pretty limited in what we could do so far, but were able to make things work pretty well. For “Parasite”, we had some footage shot from some months back, and were able to fashion it into a music video for the song - editing all ourselves on Final Cut. We have a great animator working on a video for “Head Of The Snake” right now which we’re excited about. What else can we expect from Dead Posey coming up this year? Short term, it’s about getting “Malfunction” into as many brains as we can, using whatever tools we can to do so (livestreams, interviews, etc). Long term, we are starting to compile material for our first full length album that we are gonna be diving into soon. And then of course as soon as the world isn’t upside down we are looking forward to getting back on the road & touring as much as humanly possible. Do you have a release timeline for a debut full-length album anytime in the near future? Our hope is in the first half of 2021, with a handful of singles leading up to it (hopefully starting as early as Sep/Oct of this year). What is one cause or organization that you are passionate about? Environmental causes, helping the homeless (particularly here in LA), the Women’s movement, and BLM/racial equality are big ones. The world is in a state of real flux right now - there’s a lot of bad happening, but real change is occurring, and it’s important for activists of all stripes to be diligent for us to all evolve. Some of your cited muses include David Lynch, Edgar Allan Poe, Salvador Dali, and Jim Morrison. What are your favorite David Lynch films and/or films in general? Favorite books? All-time favorite albums? Favorite films are probably his “LA” works (Mulholland Drive and Lost Highway) - it’s hard to look at our hometown the same way after seeing those. David Lynch also has some music that’s worth a listen & a book called “Catching the Big Fish” that’s a good read. Poe’s poem “The Black Cat” is a fav & Salvador Dalí used to create these surreal photos that we love - one example is the naked women arranged to look like a large human skull as he sits in the frame with a black top hat on. What is the main thing that you would really like for people to take away from your music? To feel connected to something & make it their own. Due to our current circumstances, live shows are placed on hold indefinitely and touring is at a standstill right now. However, many artists are finding new creative ways to interact with their fans amidst all of the chaos; utilizing their social media platforms to share content, check in with their audiences, participate in livestreams, perform songs and put on “virtual concerts”, and provide insight into their new routines in quarantine. Do you have any plans that are similar in nature, to help pass the time until shows are back up and running again? We popped our cherry for livestreams when we did one on Twitch for SPIN Magazine around the release of the EP, and it opened the door for us to that world. It was fun to do and, though it will never replace actual live shows in front of audiences, it is a legit way to give fans some semblance of a performance. We plan on performing a couple cover songs stripped down over the coming weeks, and possibly another livestream or two. Do you have anything that you would like to tell our readers? Be kind to one another & we will get through this crazy ass time. Us humans are resilient, so cheers to the future. Thank you so much for your time, Danyell and Tony! I really love the direction you’ve taken in “Malfunction” and I look forward to hearing more new material from you two soon! Stay safe and take care! Many thanks and same to you, cheers! Interview By: Bri Rodriguez Photo By: Neto Velasco |