positivexposure Aug 28 2009 • Issue 2
music • art • community
Portugal. The Man
Also Featuring:
AS TALL AS LIONS • KEEP A BREAST • THE FALL OF TROY ANCHOR & BRAILLE • MAPS & ATLASES • TOMS SHOES ROCK FOR HEAL TH • INVISIBLE CHILDREN
+ MORE!
positivexposure Aug 28 2009 • Issue 2
music • art • community
What’s new in positivexposure?
1. First, you may notice the shiny new table of contents we’re sporting for the first time. 2. As per request, descriptions of the interviewee are located at the beginning of each interview. 3. Some of our old contact e-mail addresses no longer work, so look at the list on the right if you need to get in touch. 4. Sarah Nittinger joined the positivexposure family as Editor-In-Chief! 5. CD reviews are here! We reviewed some of our favorite new albums. 6. Staff picks are here as well. We wrote a bit about some of our favorite albums. 7. Our website, www.positivexposure.com is now active. You can find in depth CD reviews, articles, blogs, and updates on new music we think you should hear. 8. We now publish every other month, allowing us to give you a longer, better quality magazine!
General Manager Sunny Landon Editor-In-Chief Sarah Nittinger If you were not credited, we apologize. E-mail us and we will make it right! All other contributors are listed individually throughout the magazine.
positivexposure is always looking to expand our list of contributors. If you are creative and think you can add to the pages of this magazine, contact us!
Advertising Ads@positivexposure.com Interview Requests, misc Editorial@positivexposure.com Work with positivexposure Work@positivexposure.com Press releases Press@positivexposure.com Mailing list Whatsup@positivexposure.com
positivexposure is a digital magazine that features bands, artists, non-profit organizations, and other creative minded people, exposing what we like, not bashing things we don’t. We understand the importance of giving today’s “little guys” the recognition they deserve. We believe that art is a community, not an industry. We look forward to building this from the ground up with you, not in spite of you. You can help us improve this magazine. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with your ideas, feedback or constructive criticism.
We would like to dedicate this issue to the late Les Paul for his amazing gifts to the advancement of music as we know it.
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contents
Expose Yourself!:
Photographer KIM VAN GROOS shoots mainly with different types of film cameras, most often, Polaroid cameras.
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Photographer HARRISON STAAB just got home from Mussoorie, India, and now he’s sharing his trip with us.
Photographer KRISTIN MANSON seems to be progressing creatively at light speed. Don’t blink or you’ll miss something great.
Expose Yourself!:
Expose Yourself!:
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Photographer GRACE ANN turns every day simplicities into beautiful works of art.
We chose the albums we love, albums we can’t wait for, and albums that surprised us.
We review A Clear Blurr’s Trigonometry, fun.’s Aim & Ignite, As Tall As Lions’ You Can’t Take It With You, and more.
Expose Yourself!:
Staff Picks:
Short & Sweet:
e
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What a leak will never give you
Take a look at The Satanic Satanist’s album art.
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020 COVER STORY Portugal. The Man:
PORTUGAL. THE MAN makes it okay to be devilish with their newest release, The Satanic Satanist.
Up & Coming: THE FALL OF TROY proves that greatness comes with change after surviving several member shifts along the road to musical success.
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Featuring:
ANCHOR & BRAILLE Anberlin’s Stephen Christian shows us that real men need softness too...
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THE IMPOSSIBLE PROJECT reinventing analog film for vintage Polaroid cameras, and maybe even inventing a brand new camera…
Despite working on an album and upcoming tour, ANARBOR jump on The Mystery Machine to sing for Scooby Doo.
AS TALL AS LIONS proves that change can be good with a new album and a new sound.
Featuring:
Featuring:
Featuring:
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ROBBERS will steal all of your bad music and replace it with good music. You’re welcome.
Indie sensation ELLINGTON from Brisbane, Australia is planning a new album and maybe even a US tour…
ONLY ELEPHANTS CAN DREAM is dreaming about releasing a full length album and touring.
Featuring:
Up & Coming:
Up & Coming:
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THE SOUNDTRACK from Atlanta, Georgia really can be the soundtrack of your summer.
They’re back! LIKE LIONS from Langhorne, Pennsylvania recently re-united and are ready to start touring with their new line-up.
THE HAPPY HOLLOWS show us why labels are becoming an afterthought. (Sorry, labels.) Who knew Craigslist could be the launching pad for a band?
Up & Coming:
Up & Coming:
Up & Coming:
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Fit to deepen Long Island’s musical ocean, GABRIEL THE MARINE is setting sail with a new EP and tour.
ACE MERRILL is very...confident... in their musical abilities. Come see what all the fuss is about.
BOX THE STARS named themselves after a pretty ambitious lyric. They aim high and hit the mark.
Up & Coming:
Up & Coming:
Up & Coming:
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Don’t be fooled, THE HONEY TREES produce melodies and beats without being too sticky sweet.
There is nothing disgusto about MAT MUSTO.
Dear Dakota, DEAR DAKOTA’s well on their way. Love, positivexposure.
Up & Coming:
Up & Coming:
Up & Coming:
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036
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FUN. aims and ignites the pop world with their debut album and infectiously improper name.
MAKEOUT PARTY can only make out with your ears from this far away. Did that sound a little creepy?
EVALINE recommended by Dustin Hook of My American Heart
Up & Coming:
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Recommended By:
MOCK ORANGE recommended by Ryan Zimmaro of Person L.
Up & Coming:
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MAPS & ATLASES, recommended by Dan Schwartz of Good Old War.
You know those cookies you give to your favorite bands? Help them afford their insulin and read this interview with ROCK FOR HEALTH.
Recommended By:
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If you hate boobies, don’t read this awesome interview with KEEP A BREAST.
You can help children in need and look awesome at the same time by buying TOMS SHOES.
Grassroots:
Recommended By:
Grassroots:
Grassroots:
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Grassroots:
They may be INVISIBLE CHILDREN, but only you can help them have a voice.
Expose Yourself! 5
Meet KIM VAN GROOS, a photographer from Glendale, California. We think you should know her because she shoots almost exclusively in Polaroids. Even with film prices through the roof and the remaining, mostly expired stock being eaten up by Polaroid lovers, Kim continues to shoot. She absolutely loves what she does and it shows in her truly one-of-a-kind photographs.
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Meet KRISTIN MANSON, a photographer from Coppell, Texas. Kristin uses both film and digital and we still don’t understand how she gets some of her amazing self-portraits. Magic? Yes. It’s definitely magic.
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Meet HARRISON STAAB, a photographer from Papillion, Nebraska. We think you should know him because he just got back from Mussoorie, India and while he was there he took tons of photos. Through him, we can all see a little taste of life in India.
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Meet GRACE ANN, a photographer from Orlando, Florida. We think you should know her because you can learn a lot about seeing the beauty in everything just by looking at her photos.
EXPOSE YOURSELF! is a section where we feature all the artsy types we discover and fall in love with. You or someone you’re a fan of can be in this section too! Contact editorial@positivexposure.com and give us the 4 positivexposure details!
Kim van Groos
www.flickr.com/depressiverealism
How long have you been a photographer? I’ve had a camera for as long as I can remember. I entered my first contest at the county fair when I was 10. In the last three years I’ve been a lot more serious about it though. How did you get into photography? I got back into photography when a good friend of mine introduced me to Polaroid.
What gear do you use? Polaroids. I have a Polaroid slr680, a Polaroid 250 that was converted by Bradley Johnson to fit a Rodenstock lens and is not fully manual, an sx-70, and spectra. I also have a Nikon N 65 35mm, and a Yashica Mat 124 TLR which is wonderful. And finally I have my dad’s old Fujipet toy camera. Do you have a favorite camera? Well, I guess my favorite one to shoot with is the converted 250, but If there were a fire and I could only save one it would be the Fujipet. It’s irreplaceable. Do you have a favorite photographer? I love Uta Barth’s ability to photograph everyday objects and evoke memories. I also really appreciate that Ansel Adams shot Polaroid. If you could go anywhere in the world to take pictures, where would you go? India. There is such an interesting mix of cultures, regions with high rises bordering shanty towns, that I find intriguing. The color and life of the places I’ve only seen second hand begs to be captured on film. Do you have a favorite subject to shoot? I’ll shoot anything. Anything beautiful or interesting. I tend toward shooting everyday objects that I find beautiful so that other people might examine the world around them more closely. Do you believe that anyone can be a photographer? Yes, I guess I don’t really consider myself a “photographer” so anyone can certainly do what I do. Anyone who takes pictures is a photographer. Is film a dying medium? As much as I love film, I think it is. Profits are decreasing and it’s only a matter of time before companies decide the margins are too thin and stop making it. That’s what happened to Polaroid. I’m hoping there will be a niche market for a long time to come and film will be available, even if the price is astronomical. What’s your favorite thing about photography? The ability to show people how you see the world. What’s your least favorite thing about photography? Showing people how you see the world, and having them dismiss it. If you could photograph anyone, past or present, who would it be? I would love to be able to capture my parents, as they were when they first married. I never knew them like that, young and in love. What is your favorite picture you’ve taken? I have a black and white shot I took in a forest. It was the first time my mom had gone on a photo trip with me, and the first time she had seen any of my work. I was able to capture something beautiful and share it with her at the same time. {Check out her favorite photo here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/depressiverealism/1415732248} Do you think photography will always be a part of your life? Yes. It’s so calming and satisfying to me. Even if I’m the only one who ever likes my pictures, I will continue to take them as long as I can hold a camera. Is there one element you think a photograph should always have? It should always have part of the photographer in it. You should be willing to put your heart and soul in it.
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Harrison Staab
www.flickr.com/harrystaab How did you get into photography? When our family would go on vacation I would always be the one with the point and shoot clicking away wherever we were. This last summer (2008) I planned to save up and purchase a DSLR for the first time, however, my dad caught wind of this and bought me a Nikon D40 kit. It totally caught me off guard! Since then I take pictures everywhere I go. What gear do you use? The past year being my first in “serious” photography, I’ve been learning with a Nikon D40 with a stock 18-55mm Nikkor lens. I use a simple but extremely handy Manfrotto tripod, a Nikon remote clicker, a leveling cube, with a variety of all the necessary filters. I hope to continue to save and improve and to upgrade everything! Do you have a favorite photographer? I honestly know very little about who’s who in photography, but there is one photographer’s gallery that I never miss when I’m downtown - that of Thomas Mangelsen. He does nature photography all over the world and is most famous for his image of the fish jumping into the bear’s mouth. I pause at every one of his images and just shake my head at how much they draw me in. I would love to be to the places he’s been and to get paid for it! If you could photograph anyone, past or present, who would it be? Call me cheesy, but I’d want to photograph my grandmother - my mom’s mom. I’m told she was a beautiful and talented woman but unfortunately she died before I had a chance to know her. Do you have a favorite subject to shoot? My favorite subject to shoot is people. I love observing people from a distance so I wish I had a zoom lens! Images of people speak so much. You can learn a lot from a person’s eyes, the look on their face, their posture. They tell stories far better than any other subject. What’s your favorite thing about photography? The opportunity to relive a memory time and again. I love looking back on the images I’ve taken and when I do so I can so freshly recall where I was or what I was thinking. For me, photography really helps me to remember. What’s your least favorite thing about photography? How expensive it can be! What is your favorite picture you’ve taken? What a hard question! I’d have to say that it’s a picture I took of drummers during a religious celebration in a North Indian mountain village. I took it while trekking in the Himalayas. We stopped at this village and were invited to watch the ceremony. For hours they danced, worshipping their idol. Do you think photography will always be in your life? Oh I hope so! I would love to continue to learn and grow as a photographer.
Why were you in India? I interned as an architect with a small non-profit design firm in North India that helps organizations serving the poor with professional architectural and engineering services. While serving with them I hoped to experience a new place and culture. How long were you there? I worked with them for six months helping with several design projects. I traveled all over the country with them just for fun and saw many beautiful and challenging places.
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What do you think every photograph should contain? Every photograph should tell a story. It draws the eye here and there and gives the viewer at least some sense of emotion. The best ones make the viewer want to know more. Does your location affect your photography? I think it definitely does. Being in a new and very different place, I felt that I was noticing so much more. Details stood out to me and I tried to capture them as best I could.
Kristin Manson
www.flickr.com/rocketequalslove
How long have you been a photographer? I’ve been taking pictures since freshman year. That’s nearly five years. How did you get into photography? My father, actually. He’s always been such an inspiration to me. He’s encouraged me to keep after it.
Where do you draw your inspiration from? I draw most of my inspiration from photographers around me. It’s never really from a certain person, but mainly ideas. I can build off of others, as well as others can build off of me. What message do you want to send through your art? I don’t really think I convey a certain ‘message’, but I suppose I’d truly love it if people found a constant theme of joy throughout my photos. That’d be nice. Do you have a favorite photographer? I don’t believe I have a ‘favorite’ (I should work on that) but I think The Pulleys (Kate and Amanda) are pretty great. Do you have a favorite subject to shoot? People. Definitely people. What gear do you use? I use a Canon 5d with a 50 mm f/1.4 lens. Do you have a favorite camera to use? Oh, hard question. I really adore film- so I truly love my Canon AE-1. If you could go anywhere in the world to take pictures, where would you go? Africa. The children there convey such emotion. Do you believe that anyone can be a photographer? Well, in a sense. I think anyone can be some type of artist, whether it be photo, painting, what not. If you have an eye, and passion for it, I think that it can be developed, but it’s not for everyone. What’s your favorite thing about photography? I can portray emotions without words. What is your favorite picture you’ve taken? I was actually driving to get my film developed, and I hadn’t finished the roll yet. It was raining and foggy outside. As I was driving I saw a radio tower (which I usually ignore) disappearing into the fog. So, while driving at 50 mph I rolled down my window, focused it as best I could, and snapped a shot. {Check it out here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ rocketequalslove/3118883717 } I ended up taking two shots, both turning out in perfect focus and exposure! It was quite remarkable to me. Do you think photography will always be a part of your life? I can’t really say, but I sure do hope so. I plan on doing it in college and as far as I can see, after college, too. Is there an element you think every photograph should always have? Light. Whether it be strobes, or natural light, it’s so, so important to use it carefully. You sure have grown quite quickly with the quality and composition of your photos… does it just come naturally? Well, I wouldn’t say it comes ‘naturally’. My style is certainly affected by other photographers, so I pick up others’ styles, while trying to generate a style of my own. You can clearly see the ‘phases’ of my photos, but I feel like right now they have a pretty good, consistent feel.
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Grace Ann www.flickr.com/elgraceann How long have you been a photographer? Oh my, this question is actually very difficult for me to answer. I suppose I would say that people started calling me a “photographer” two years ago. But I got into photography nine years ago.
How did you get into photography? My mother used to always buy me disposable cameras. Once she bought me a black & white one; I really loved that. And my sister used to pay me in quarters to take photos of her and sometimes her friends. Yes, my first paying photography job was at eight years old. Where do you draw your inspiration from? People around me, music, unique and beautiful movies. You know, all the cliché stuff. But, to be less vague: The Beatles, James Dean movies, Audrey Hepburn movies, old photographs, the 1950s, the 1940s, the 1930s, Bradley Hathaway, poetry, books (mainly literature), seeing other peoples’ work, and just the nature that surrounds me. What message do you want to send through your art? I want people to be able to see how beautiful and marvelous the people in this world are that God created. I want people to be able to realize how lovely this Earth’s scenery is. I just want my photos to have feeling and for people to be able to feel that feeling. Do you have a favorite photographer? Not really. But I am going to just go ahead and sound like everyone else and say that I really do like Annie Leibovitz’s and Sally Mann’s work. They are wonderful. Do you have a favorite subject to shoot? Humans, definitely. They are the most beautiful and unique things on this Earth. They all react differently and feel emotions differently than the next person. What gear do you use? I use Canon; a Canon 50D to be exact. And the lens that I mainly use is my 50mm 1.4. I wish that I used my Nikon N55 35mm, but the battery is dead and I can’t find the one it needs anywhere. I also use my Polaroids a lot but film is now close to being extinct; therefore, I can’t find it at stores anymore. If you could go anywhere in the world to take pictures, where would you go? Iceland, Norway, Ireland, and of course, anywhere in the polar regions for Aurora Borealis. Do you believe that anyone can be a photographer? Only if they have a real passion for it. If they are just getting into photography and buying a nice camera to be like everyone around them, then I wouldn’t call them one. Just like how someone cannot become a doctor, writer, dentist, painter etcetera if they don’t have the passion. Though I do think that you don’t have to be born with a gift in the arts—you can develop a love for it over time. What’s your favorite thing about photography? Capturing a moment, making memories. Looking at a photograph and being able to remember every detail about the day from it. I love how a photo can tell a different story to each person that views it. What’s your least favorite thing about photography? When a scene and idea look better in my head or in person than on the camera. What is your favorite picture you’ve taken? The story behind the photo is quite simple, I had a box; I asked someone to get into the box and to lift their hands up. You see, the night before I was watching Dead Poets Society and got inspired by the whole “carpe diem” (seize the day) quote that they frequently used throughout the movie. I guess it doesn’t quite make sense since he is in a box, but the way that I look at it makes perfect sense in my mind. {Check it out here: www.flickr.com/photos/elgraceann/3413025532 } Do you think photography will always be a part of your life? Yes, I am sure. Is there an element you think every photograph should always have? I think that every photograph should convey some sort of emotion.
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STAFFPICKS Sarah Nittinger.
http://www.last.fm/user/heinzbakedbeans
Album I Love: Chunk of Change // Passion Pit
I first heard about Passion Pit when I read that Phoenix was going to be playing Central Park this September, with Passion Pit supporting them. I scrambled to download “Chunk of Change” and subsequently fell in love. Chilled out dance and mild electronica... enough to put me in a good mood and make everything feel alright.
Album I Can’t Wait For: Phrazes for the Young // Julian Casablancas
The Strokes, being my favorite band, is an act I follow. So far, three of the members have embarked on solo projects, and I’ve been waiting for awhile to see if the band’s vocalist, Julian Casablancas, would be following suit. Sure enough, Casablancas is dropping a solo album, Phrazes for the Young, this fall. Be sure to check out the preview on Youtube - sounds like it’s going to be an amazing record!
TRIGONOMETRY // A CLEAR BLURR
A solid piece of work from a teenage quartet. Sounds like old school Pop-punk’s making a comeback. For fans of New Found Glory & Blink-182. // Drops September 29th
THE SATANIC SATANIST // PORTUGAL. THE MAN Groovy! There is not enough room in 140 characters to list every single song when I choose the best song. Definitely won’t disappoint you.
Album That Surprised Me: Little Joy // Little Joy
I read about a year ago that the Strokes’ drummer, Fabrizio Moretti, was going to work on a record with Binki Shapiro and Rodrigo Amarante, and I have to be honest, I wasn’t sure about it. Moretti isn’t a member of the Strokes that I keep tabs on usually, and I had never really heard of the other two members of Little Joy. But I heard Brand New Start off of their self-titled debut LP, and it blew me away. I listen to this album every day now. It’s beautiful, with Spanish influences and Portuguese lyrics, it’s hard not to get into this beachy, mellow, haunting record.
Sunny Landon.
http://www.last.fm/user/sunnylandon
AIM & IGNITE // FUN.
Indie pop at its absolute finest. To put it simply, fun. are ridiculously fun. Pop record of the year, anyone?
THIS WILL BE THE DEATH OF US // SET YOUR GOALS
Heavy guitar and bass lines, fast drums. Smooth vocals, fairly easy listening. For fans of Four Year Strong and Hawthorne Heights.
Album I Love: The Satanic Satanist // Portugal. The Man
Can a CD request a restraining order? It’s seriously borderline creepy-stalker-ish how much I love this album. It’s everything you know and love about Portugal. The Man with tons of brand new styles carefully mixed in.
Album I Can’t Wait For: TBA // Eisley
I already own both of Eisley’s LPs (Room Noises and Combinations) and they are two albums that are pretty much always being played on my iPod or iTunes, even in my head. I can’t wait to add even more Eisley songs to my collection, and intensifying my anticipation are the EisWood videos, showing bits of Eisley in the studio and playing clips of the new songs that so far sound like they’re going to go above and beyond the already incredibly high bar that the members of Eisley have set for themselves.
Album That Surprised Me: Aim and Ignite // fun.
I don’t like the Beach Boys, I don’t like Queen (I know, blasphemy) and I don’t like pop. Somehow I love Aim and Ignite, even though it sounds very similar to both the Beach Boys and Queen, and is a pop album. Want the staff to pick something you dream up? E-mail editorial@positivexposure.com with your categories.
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU // AS TALL AS LIONS
Although different from their debut, any As Tall As Lions fan will enjoy this or learn to enjoy it. Change can be a good thing.
THANK YOU // THE LITTLE HEROES
Love the guitar sound, fast paced but not tense. Very easy to love this album. For fans of R.E.M & The Junior Varsity. Best Track: Thank you // Drops November 10th GREEN SARAH
BLUE SUNNY
3 OK
4 Good
5 Great
Don’t agree with us? Why don’t YOU write the reviews? Editorial@positivexposure.com Log onto www.positivexposure.com to see longer, more in-depth reviews.
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Featuring 5 GREAT
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The Fall Of Troy
Photo by Dean Zulich
This three piece from Washington prove that greatness comes with change after surviving several member shifts along the road to musical success. With a new album and tour on the way, THE FALL OF TROY certainly aren’t falling. They’re not going anywhere but up.
What made you want to create music? When I was in eighth grade our jazz band played a concert, and the feeling I got onstage was unbelievable. Ever since then I wanted to play and share my music with people. There are so many classifications for music right now. How would you describe your sound to someone who's never listened to you before? It's rock and roll that your grandparents would probably find completely un-redeeming.
You've gone through a couple of member changes throughout your history as a band. Has that made it difficult to pick up where you left off, or have the transitions been smooth? The transitions have been smooth, because either we didn't replace them (Mike, our guitarist, or Jesse, our keyboard player) or we made sure the person coming in was really prepared and knew what they were doing (Frank, our current bass player).
How did you come up with your name? We flipped through a history book and put our finger down at random. It turned out ok.
If you could tour with any band, past or current, who would it be and why? The Beatles or Led Zeppelin, with Pink Floyd as a close third. Each of those bands is completely unique and also I am big fans of all of them. It’s always more fun to play with a band that you truly enjoy watching perform every night.
Were any other names considered? We were called The 30 Years War before The Fall of Troy, but when we got The Fall of Troy it seemed good, so we just stuck with it.
What cities are your favorite to play in? Portsmouth UK, NYC, San Diego, Austin, New Orleans, and Chicago.
What was it like to record your first full length album at such a young age? I was fairly oblivious to how cool it was. It was amazing, but it seemed like a natural progression in the life of the band. Regardless, it was a very fun experience, and confirmed that this is what I wanted to do with my life.
What influences you most? Life?
How did your sound change from album to album? We get older with each album, and are at different places in our lives each time, so the emphasis on certain things (screaming, pointlessly technical parts, ridiculous transitions, etc.) changes due to where we are at mentally.
What’s in the near future for your band? A new album (In The Unlikely Event, October 6th), lots of touring (beginning with Thursday in early September), and lots of strange people and hotel rooms. What aspect of music excites you the most? The sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing a new song, album, or show. They are each singular things that are different every time.
What's it like to read about yourselves in magazines or on the internet? Strange. No one who writes about me or us actually has spent a good amount of time with us, so it’s more of a sketch drawn after seeing a person once or twice as opposed to a detailed drawing that someone has spent weeks or months on.
What aspect of music discourages you the most? The fact that people are very quick to judge bands or songs without giving them a chance.
What band has been your favorite to tour with so far? Deftones, Tera Melos, or Portugal. The Man.
If your band were an ice cream flavor (real or made up!) what would it taste like? A rainbow burp coming out of a robot unicorn in space destroying cyclones while on the way to find the lost and ancient 13th colony of man.
Who are your musical idols? The Beatles as a band, and Jon Theodore or Nick DeWitt as drummers.
What's your favorite thing about touring? Seeing how the other 99% of people live around this rock in space.
www.myspace.com/thefalloftroy
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Anchor and Braille For three years, Anberlin’s Stephen Christian accumulated songs that were basically collecting dust. These songs just ‘didn’t fit’ with Anberlin. Enter ANCHOR & BRAILLE. A&B’s debut album, Felt, was recently released on Christian’s own label, WoodWater Records. Days away from the release, Stephen Christian could not have been any more elated.
for fans of:
Copeland, Anberlin, Jonezetta
listen to:
Like Steps In A Dance and Summer Tongues Do you have any musical training? I wish. i took one guitar class in high school, i do not remember much from the class, but i do remember how to play the cure's 'Just Like Heaven' from that class. I wish i would have paid more attention, i wouldn't have to use a capo to make the four chords i know sound much more exciting. Why did you choose the name Anchor & Braille? i wanted to write a record with depth & feeling. Did you consider any other names? Yes. It has progressed many times. DENVER > Juniper Trust> Stephen Christian > Anchor&Braille. Why did you create WoodWater Records? Besides the red tape I really do want to eventually put out records, I think it would be great even to release a few 7”. But starting a record label and putting out a record costs a LOT of money, so if I found someone to put on the label I would REALLY have to believe in them. I have already approached a few people and so far we’re on hold. I guess my album is the grand experiment, I’ll put out more if this one does well. Why not write and record these songs with Anberlin? I don't think that Anberlin's audience would appreciate this slow of music, I imagine they want much more upbeat, energetic songs with a positive message. These are slower songs with a glass half empty feel, but they are honest and sincere, and I think anyone will get something out of that. Are you worried about how Anberlin fans will/do feel about Anchor & Braille? No, not really at all. At the end of the day A&B is for me, and if anyone else gets something out of it then that will be fine. When did you and Aaron decide to start a side project? I am not sure how people got the idea that Aaron was ever ‘in' A&B. I would like to find out who said that and set them straight. Aaron is the producer for this record, and a great one at that. I have been playing solo shows for many years now with several cover songs, Anberlin songs, and my own mixed in. It is a great way to get to know people in a smaller setting and ‘let my hair down' if you will. Do you feel vulnerable putting yourself - and only yourself - out there? Yes, and it feels therapeutic. I love standing on my own. If I fail then I have only myself to blame. I am no longer scared of failure, I believe if everyone could get over that fear this world would be a much better place. You said you weren't ready to share these songs on a mass platform - Isn't the fact that these songs are by you going to gain a lot of attention? I do not think that these songs were designed for the masses, and I do not believe that they will ever be accepted as such. I think some people will get it, and others will wait for the catchy chorus with a fast paced beat and ‘slashing' guitars and they will be very disappointed.
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But again, I needed to get these songs off my chest, I felt I have harbored them for way to long. Does your writing process differ a lot between Anberlin songs and Anchor & Braille songs? No. When I sit down at a guitar or piano I just write, I don't think about whether or not they are for either band or for someone else. I just write, it feels natural. After I am done writing I can take a step back and listen, usually the pace and lyrics tell me which band it is for. Is the touring atmosphere a lot different? ABSOLUTELY. With A&B it feels very relaxed, there is not a lot of pressure to perform because expectations are so low. People don't know that I am atatched to A&B all the time so they were not coming to see 'Stephen from Anberlin'. I even had a guy come up to me and ask me if I was inspired by Anberlin because 'I sound a lot like the singer'. I thought that was great. Perfect in fact. I really wanted A&B to be so different than Anberlin, try as I might it is very hard to cross genres once someone has labeled you this or that. Sad, really. Do you prefer a full band or writing alone? I prefer writing alone. I do think I am no good without other musicians and I can not think of good drum/bass parts in songs at all, but for the bones and skeletons of songs, I want to be left alone. Have you noticed a difference in the 'type' of fans, or are there a lot of cross-overs from Anberlin? I can't tell yet, the record is not out and I don't think people know that I am in A&B or have even heard of the project. Why did Felt take four years to record? I waited till Anberlin had some down time so I could tour and really push the record. Anberlin has been on the road for what feels like years now and this July was the first time I had the opportunity to tour with A&B for a month straight. It was incredible, I cannot wait to tour more. Why the name Felt? Several reasons, but one major one was because a vinyl I put out about two years ago was done entirely in felt board animation. I liked it so very much and wanted to tie the two records together in some small way. Also, I like how this record is so polar in meanings; wedding/ funeral heaven/hell and in one of the songs (Steps In A Dance) the lyric talks about using future tense and the word felt is past tense. Little things like that excite me for some reason. When music has logic, depth, and code it remains exciting in my mind. What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged? Time. I never have enough time to create what I want. I envy bands that can spend half the year in a studio and the other half on massive tours. You get a chance to hear exactly what the artist has imagined. For me, it never feels like I have enough time. When the other two guys in Anberlin get me music I am the last to hear it, which means if we have six months to write a record (usually on the road) I am not going to get all the music for another 3 months. So they have six months to write a record, I have three. Then when we are in the studio the musicians have the entire time, with no time constraints to record
the record. I have whatever is left. There has been more than one time where we needed more time because we ran out, and even once had to fly back into seattle to record because we were out of time. Time. At home. It takes a toll on me. It’s like a battery, and I never feel fully charged, I haven't for years. It feels like I could sleep for two days and be fine. But I guess that is what death is for...get as much done as you possibly can, then sleep for eternity. Heaven for me includes a down feather bed. What aspect of making music excites you the most? Watching what you wrote with a few chords and a melody line come alive on stage and take shape, I love the interpretations that other musicians have for the songs I invent. Watching people sing along, there is no drug in this world that compares. As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music? More. Then less. Then more. Then less. Then more. It all comes in waves. I have noticed my music taste changing all the time. I love it all, from americana to folk, from opera to hip hop, I can't seem to get enough. The problem is that most of music is garbage. But music feels for me, right now, like uncharted waters, I want to wrap my head around more albums. I realized this past week that I had not listened to the whole 'Blond On Blond' record ever! That is supposed to be one of the most genius records ever and I had not yet taken the time to solve it. I want to do that with so many other records, I want to share it with others as well. Everyone should go listen to Nina Simone, Air, Animal Collective, John Coltrane, Ryan Adams, Band Of Horses, Bloc Party, The Beatles, Circle Of Birds, Devandra Banhart, Fleet Foxes, Gasoline Heart, The Innocence Mission, Dave Brubeck, Kings Of Convenience, Mew, Mogwai, The Smiths, Page France, Patrick Watson, Morrissey, Sigur Ros, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, blues music as a whole, Faren Young, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash. Today.
myspace.com/anchorandbraille
positivexposure 13
Sunny Landon
Sunny Landon
Sam Cornwel l
Sunny Landon
Sam Cornwel l
Sam Cornwel l
Sam Cornwel l
Sunny Landon
Sam Cornwel l
Sunny Landon
Erika Pham
Sam Cornwel l
Erika Pham
Polaroid stopped the production of their best known film, the instant film called integral film, in June 2008 and closed down all of their film producing factories. THE IMPOSSIBLE PROJECT was founded with the concrete aim to re-invent and re-start the production of analog integral film for vintage Polaroid cameras. Why re-invent, and not just re-start the production of Polaroid’s integral film? Since 1972, integral film production has followed the exact same recipe, based on exactly the same components invented almost 40 years ago by Polaroid. Every single pack of Integral Instant film consists of about 20 components/parts. Some of essential original components used for producing Polaroid Integral film are not available any more, that’s why we have to re-invent and develop new and better solutions for replacing/upgrading problematic/expensive components before re-starting production. What films are you planning on re-inventing? We’re working on a black & white film as well as a color film for SX70 and 600 cameras. Will this modernized integral film look different? The new analog instant film will have a new, very unique character as it will be a completely new film, combined with the iconic characteristics of the traditional Polaroid film, like frame, format, smell... The first film will be a monochrome film, but there will be more flavors to follow. How can people help? Please stay tuned to our homepage, where we are always seeking experts if any technical problems come up. Furthermore, people can buy our t-shirts, whereby they help us to finance the project, as the whole profit will be used to keep the factory running. When this project becomes completely possible, will the film prices still be through the roof? The price per film pack (10 Polaroids) will be between 10-20 Euros. How are you going to deal with the costs? It’s ten private shareholders, who believe in our vision and invested to finance the costs of the first year of the project. Original BW 600s faded very badly over the years. Will this be improved? We’re working on that with our cooperation partner Ilford. How did you find all the various Polaroid experts? It’s former employees of the closed Polaroid factory in Enschede who have been working in the production of analog instant film for decades. What has been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome? Altogether there were 7 challenges, but internally 5 really heavy problems, we had to develop a new negative, new positive, a battery solution, a new reagent and new foils. How close are you to reaching your goal of having film on the market by the end of this year? We’ll have the first prototype ready in October, the new film will hit the market in the first quarter of 2010. Is it true you are working on a new camera, too? Yes. It seems like a lot of photographers support you, but its sparked a Polaroid vs. digital debate. What would you say to someone who says ‘It’s just time to give it up already.’ There are a few things which are worth too much to be given up. Think of vinyl for example! Polaroid is one of the most fascinating, powerful, and beloved inventions in the history of photography, and therefore its’ end is not near yet.
What would you say to convince someone to use a Polaroid? We wouldn’t say anything – we’d give him a loaded Polaroid camera and send him outside...
www.theimpossibleproject.com 16 positivexposure
In The Meantime... While you’re waiting for The Impossible Project to reach their goal, try and find yourself a Polaroid Land Camera, the type that takes peel apart film instead of integral film. It’s cheap and it’s readily available, especially online. You can find Land Cameras in really great condition on Ebay. Go to http://www.rwhirled.com/landlist/landhome.htm to learn more about all things Polaroid. Peel apart film is a really great way to experience instant photography. It’s unpredictable in many ways. First, you never know if it’s all going to peel or not. Don’t worry, if it doesn’t the photo still turns out great. Second, there are tons of imperfections that make every photo completely unique and give each shot its own character. Depending on when the film expired or will expire, you get different colors, and even the border is unpredictable. Sometimes you get a clean white border and sometimes you get a colored border or even an unpeeled border. Each shot is unique, and each shot is instant, just like integral film. “Polaroids just do something with light that other mediums don’t...they’re adventurous and beautiful and tender and somehow let you see the here and now through future eyes.... nothing really comes close.” Photo by VICKY SLATER A peel apart photo taken with a Polaroid 340 Land Camera that has an undeveloped or peeled off corner and stained border. Photo by JENNIFER EVANS “I started shooting polaroids because I came to the realisation that most of my favourite photographs were created using instant film. The tonal range, weird color shifts and messy borders cannot be replicated by conventional film or digital photography, and so the Polaroid really is a unique artistic medium. I love the fact that Polaroids are slightly unpredictable; the temperature, age and type of film conspire to ensure that no two prints ever look quite the same. Digital photography, although convenient, feels rather sterile in comparison.” Photo by MILGY MILGERTON
Expired Polaroid 690. I scanned these two images together like this.
SX-70 manipulation, Polaroid Time Zero Film
“I love Polaroids because it’s just a completely different feeling than using anything digital, and it feels a lot more exciting when you get a shot you really love.” Photo by SUNNY LANDON
Polaroid type 667 Film Photo by JOSH HEUMANN
Photo by SPIFFY TUMBLEWEED
positivexposure 17
Anarbor Started in middle school, signed just out of high school. With plenty of tours under their very young belts and two EPs already released, ANARBOR gives garage bands the world over something to hope for.
Questions answered by Greg Garrity
What made you want to create music? We all shared the similar taste in punk music back in middle school; all we wanted to do was play our instruments and cover songs by our favorite bands. Eventually we started writing our own songs and playing shows. How did you come up with your name? Our guitar player Mike's sister was born in Ann Arbor, MI, where his father attended college. The name Ann Arbor was suggested while choosing a new name for our band in 2006. Were any other names considered? Yes, there were a few others we had in mind, but honestly I cannot remember any of the names.
If you could play any stage with any band, past or current, who would it be, where, and why? The Beatles, Shea Stadium. Because it's the Beatles, dude! As a young band, what has been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome? We originally started out as a four piece with Slade playing bass, however, we picked up a bass player named Jess shortly after our first show. She had been in the band up until she decided she did not want to continue anymore last September. We were on our first east coast tour, therefore, our lead singer Slade had to take a step back in time and pick the bass back up. We continued the tour, and things have been going great since.
You were signed on Hopeless Records while you were still in high school. How did it feel to get signed so early? Getting signed at such an early age was awesome. It was definitely a rewarding experience and that was basically what we worked for all throughout high school.
How difficult has it been to break into the ‘music business' at such a young age? It's difficult being young in this business, because people will look at us like we're a bunch of kids without knowing anything about us or where we've come from. However, we don't let it get to us, we just play our songs.
You've only been signed since April of last year and you've already shared a stage with some huge acts. Is it intimidating to play with those bands? Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. Being such a new band makes it intimidating in a sense, but we've been playing shows for over 6 years now, so playing live shows is nothing new. It's an awesome feeling being able to play for larger acts and fan bases.
You wrote the new theme song for Scooby Doo? Yes, we were contacted by Cartoon Network last fall about the opportunity. We got the chance to write our own song, "You and I" for the movie, as well as the theme song. It was a fun project for us to and we hope to do more things like that in the future!
What have been your favorite venues to play at? We love Chain Reaction in Anaheim, that place is like a second home to us. But other than that, any House of Blues is always great to play. It was awesome being able to play at the legendary music venue, The Fillmore in San Francisco. How different is it to self release an album versus being signed? Is it less stressful when signed? It's way easier with a label. We've been releasing music for the past four years now, so we know what it's like to release music independently. I feel being in a signed band, the whole recording process runs way smoother and is a lot more organized. What do you like most about touring? What do you dislike? Being able to play music and meet new people everyday is one of the best feelings in the world. Some of the hard things about touring is being away from home and your "everyday normal" life, such as our own beds, showers, family, and friends. But we've been given a once in a lifetime opportunity, and we're livin' our dreams. Who are your musical idols? We look up to a lot of artists. I'd say our influences range from Third Eye Blind, Tom Petty, Everclear, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Radiohead, Bob Marley, The Beatles, and the list could go on forever!
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What influences you most? Everyday life. One of the best things about a song is being able to relate to it. We write our songs about the things we go through as young adults, and we hope other people can relate to us. What’s in the near future for your band? We'll be writing and recording our first full length record, as well as a few tours in the fall. What aspect of music excites you the most? Just being able to play music every day, whether it's recording it, or playing it to a crowd; it's what we live for! What aspect of music discourages you the most? The whole business and financial side of it is definitely corrupt and discouraging in a sense, but that shouldn't stop anyone from playing music or listening to music.
for fans of:
The Maine, Sing It Loud, The Summer Set
listen to: You and I, Where the Wild Things Are (Monsters), Passion for Publication
www.myspace.com/anarbor
As Tall As Lions
Despite a name change and a few line-up changes, AS TALL AS LIONS has stood tall together with a bond that can only come from playing together for over ten years. Struggling to find the right producer for their newest album, You Can’t Take It With You, and stay true to their sound while allowing growth, they show that a love for something can overcome any challenge. You Can’t Take It With You, As Tall As Lions’ third LP is available now on Triple Crown Records. Questions answered by Dan Nigro and Cliff Sarcona
What made you want to create music? Seeing live concerts as a kid. That thrill alone was enough to send us into a whirl of dreams - especially since we all played instruments from a young age, it only inspired us to actually find out what it feels like to be on that stage. How did you come up with your name? It was something Saen, our guitar player, came up with for a side project of his, and we asked if we could possibly use it for our new band name. He was resistant, but finally admitted it was perfect for our vision and direction of the new band. We as a band are still very happy with it, which is not something you come across to often these days! Were any other names considered? A couple, but they were awful. I honestly couldn't remember them, and wouldn't want to. What influences you most? Honestly, each other. When we sit down to write it’s all about feeding off of your band mates’ energy. Somebody comes to the table with an idea, it’s all about just sitting down, closing your eyes and letting it flow. Inspiration can be a fickle thing, but it’s also about being comfortable with yourself as a musician. Go with what you hear initially and capitalize. There's no other way to do it What’s in the near future for your band? An incredible tour with a band called Mutemath this Oct and Nov. We always thought we shared somewhat of a creative outlook on music with them, as well as a strong emphasis on our live show. This is a perfect match for us (& them! haha) and it’s going to make the shows quite a live experience. We couldn’t be more excited. What aspect of music excites you the most? Our go anywhere live show. Sitting down and knowing that we can write together in real time as a band live is something that is completely exhilarating. It's what we live for. What aspect of music discourages you the most? The music industry, the state of our economy. It really puts the odds against you when people are too scared to take risks because of there is such a lack of financial growth these days. Bands are making less and less money as a result, making it harder to keep them out on the road. It's a slow climb, and years upon years of being broke must be expected for anyone who wants to be serious about being in a band these days! It’s really great to know that on You Can’t Take It With You you took real takes and didn’t use Auto Tune or other programs to enhance your sound... have you used anything like that previously? We have, but never in excess. Budget is something that has always restricted our time in the studio - and in the past, when you can't get it right in a take or two we would have no choice. It feels horrible to
Photo by Shawn Brackbill be backed up against a wall like that. In the past I can say that it was mostly used for backing vocals and just a few lines vocally here and there. We are still very big advocates of being pure musicians, working at your craft so that you will never need these technologies. Fortunately we were very prepared for this latest release and it worked out well that way. How else does the new album differ from your previous albums? One way it differed from the last recording is that we recorded some of the parts to it ourselves. Almost all of Julio's vocals for “Duermete” and “You Can’t Take It With You” were recorded at our home studio in New York. The hidden track (sans vocal) was recorded all at our studio as well. You guys went through a real rough patch trying to find a producer for the new album, was there any time you all just wanted to give up? Yes, there were plenty of times when we wanted to give up. After going through all the bullshit, it's hard not to sit back at times like this and ask yourself whether or not you are really cut out for this thing. But you remind yourself how much you love what you do and you can't let other peoples’ attitudes affect your work. Why did you part ways with the original producer? It was about money and ego. Bottom line. Do you think the extra time it took to get this record finished was worth the end result? Yes, but I wouldn't call it extra time. I wish we had more time. You say that every instrument is organic except for the ones in the title track. Can you tell us what is different on that song and why you didn’t use organic instruments for it? The drum loops and key on 'You Can't Take It With You' (the song) are samples off of one of our keyboards. When Saen wrote the initial idea for the song he used those samples and we loved them so much we didn't want to try and recreate them with real instruments, the samples were what was so exciting about the sound. Why the name You Can’t Take It With You? There's a lot of meaning behind the name for the band. I think it means something different for everyone. For me, it's about letting go of the past. And about progression. We were at a point when we started writing the record that we had some success off of our self-titled record and there were times when we wanted to replicate that sort of feeling and I found myself writing music that was similar to stuff off of the self-titled. The phrase 'you can't take it with you' is a reminder that you can't live in the past and one must move on to new things. Dan, you struggle with panic attacks and sometimes lose your confidence. How do you deal with this? Does it influence your writing? I've been dealing with it better lately. Luckily I have a great support group (my band) haha, that help me get through some of the rough patches.
www.myspace.com/astallaslions
positivexposure 19
Portugal. The Man
The best thing to come out of Wasila, Alaska (and now Portland, Oregon) since…well…ever, PORTUGAL. THE MAN started as a side project and ended up a full fledged band (and we’re glad they did!) After choosing a geographic name and trying to merge the Fab Four and Wu Tang, PORTUGAL. THE MAN began touring on rice and some change alone. And as they say, three full lengths later, the rest is history.
Photos by Emily Dyan Ibarra Answered by Zach Carothers How did you come up with your name? Well, we started this band after our previous one broke up. John had talked about starting Portugal before hand as a side project, but ended up asking our keyboardist Wesley Hubbard and I to join. As far as the band name goes, we've always liked the idea of creating an alter ego in the same vein as Ziggy Stardust or Sgt. Pepper. To represent our whole band, we chose a country as the name for our fictional character to represent our whole group. We moved back to Alaska and started writing songs. Originally, we didn't have a drummer so we used drum machines and samplers for beats. We wanted our music to be a mix of the Beatles and The Wu tang Clan... ha. Don't know if we ever pulled that off. Before long we moved back down to Portland and started playing shows and planned a US tour that we probably weren't ready for... We had very little money, so we bought a mini van, a rice cooker and set out on the road. We've been touring and recording ever since. Were any other names considered? Not really... Pakistan the Man just doesn't seem right. Ha. You released your first album in 2006 and have released an album every year since. Is it difficult to finish so many albums within such short amounts of time, or do you like the fast-paced style? We really don't think that is that unreasonable. We like to use John's parents as an example. Thy own a construction company in Alaska and they build ten to twelve houses a year. Houses.... One album doesn't sound so crazy. We like to work hard. What made you choose to begin releasing under your own independent record label? It really just started off as a way for us to release our own EPs... Ended up just making sense to do it this way. We have a partnership with Equal Vision now and it's working out very well. Why did you start releasing records with Equal Vision? They have been good friends for a long time. They offered us a very good deal that really makes things fair for both label and artist. We both share in the risk and the reward. What tour have you enjoyed most? It's hard to say... but this year has been amazing for us. We've
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been lucky enough to play a lot of festivals with amazing bands. Being on the same poster as Tool, Nine Inch Nails, and Faith No More has been so unreal. Crazy year for us... Which venue has been your favorite to play? For me, it's probably playing back home in Alaska... not that the venue is that great at all, but it's awesome to go back and play for family and friends. The band was originally based in Alaska. Why the move to Portland? How did it affect your music? We miss Alaska very much, but it's so far away from everything, it's impossible to tour from there. But moving down really opened our eyes to so much... So much underground music and art. So much culture in general. Why did you choose the name The Satanic Satanist for your new record? You didn’t think it would bias people about the album? Well, I do think a lot of black metal fans that pick up our album on accident will be pissed. Ha. I think the name adds good contrast to the music. This release being our most straight forward and colorful. It also has to do with the lyrical side of the record. It’s a reference to the escape that people find in Alaska. Completely taking yourself out of society and community. Were any other names considered? Na... We come up with our album names a long time in advance... Before we even start writing the music. I think it really shapes how the songs come out. You guys are pretty much always changing up your style; do you do this intentionally for the sake of something different or does it just evolve naturally? A little bit of both... We know that we never want to make the same record twice, but we don't really plan out any changes... just kinda happens. What influences you most? Probably family and friends... The way we were brought up and the experiences that we have that make us think back to lessons we were taught as children. What’s in the near future for your band?
We've got a headlining tour coming up this winter… We're very excited about it. This year has been amazing for us and we're pumped to see how everything works out.
to the overall piece we are trying to create. You can’t always cram every great idea into a song or record. We just have to be selective. I am able to find just enough free time to work on music when I am home, so I usually get everything out of me at some point. There is nothing worse than having an idea in your head that you can’t execute.
What aspect of music excites you the most? I personally enjoy playing live the most... Recording is really fun, but I feel like playing it on stage is when bands really have to prove themselves. What aspect of music discourages you the most? Just being away from loved ones so much. We're gone about ten months out of the year. It's hard to keep up with everyone. Being from Alaska originally, what’s your stance on the aerial wolf hunting laws? Ha... We're obviously not big into trophy hunting... I don't mind hunters at all. People that use it to feed their families at least. I got pretty used to it growing up there. The thing that bothers me about the wolf hunting is not only the fact that they shoot them from the air, which I find to be pretty cheap and unsportsmanlike, but the reasoning behind it. They kill wolves because when their population builds up they eat a lot of moose and hunters get pissed because there aren't as many moose to hunt.... So they are killing animals in order to kill more animals... I'm not cool with that. If your band were an ice cream flavor (real or made up!) what would it taste like? I don't know.... What does badass taste like? Ha. Answered by Ryan Neighbors How does your location influence your writing styles, if at all? It is hard to pin point what the direct influence is because I have been in the Salem and Portland area for so long, but the music and people I am surrounded by definitely influence the way I play. Just being in a city with so many bands kind of makes you raise the bar. When I was playing in Salem it was easy to get noticed because of the size of the music scene. Once I moved up to Portland I realized how much harder I would have to work to get places. So that definitely had an influence on me. As far as actual style of writing, that is more influenced by the music I am listening to and the people I am playing music with. Do you ever censor yourself when it comes to your music? I wouldn’t say we censor ourselves so much as we adapt our style
What advice would you give to people who dream about creating music for a living? It might be difficult to not sound cliché but you just have to go for it. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. You need to put all of your focus on the music and just not give up. There is really no other way. Some people get really lucky but you can’t count on that. Just be true to yourself and do something you believe in. Or you could just use Auto Tune and be good looking. What sort of style do you see your next album being? I don’t know exactly how our new stuff will turn out. I am sure we will try to keep the soul and the rock ‘n’ roll alive. That is one thing we never want to lose, regardless of the overall sound of the record in the end, we want to keep those two genres prominent. We have been into a lot of electronic stuff lately; I could see that sneaking its way in. We have also been listening to a lot of Weird Al but I would be very surprised if that found its way onto the record. Unless of course he wanted to rip some accordion. Answered by John Gourley I love the artwork for The Satanic Satanist. How long did it take to complete the vision for it, and does it tie in with the album at all? Why did you decide not to use any plastics in the case? The package probably took about 4-5 months to complete and get ready for manufacturing. It was a lot of working all night with Austin Sellers, who I collaborated with on it. We talked about the concept a lot for a few months beforehand and then we just decided to go for it. The paintings had to work into each other with the correct die-cut. We spent a lot of time scanning, printing, and cutting the pieces to make it work. Then we mocked up a miniature version and were able to show it to printers and to see who could actually do it. We had to change a few things to make it work but we pretty much had it right the first time through. We just wanted to avoid plastic, because, well, it is plastic. That should be reason enough. To me the art and the music go hand in hand. When I write songs the visuals are sitting right next to them in my head. It is just how it happens.
www.myspace.com/portugaltheman
The Satanic Satanist is now available, and its acoustic version, The Majestic Majesty is availble as a digital release only.
www.portugaltheman.net
positivexposure 21
What a leak will never give you.
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What You’re Looking At: The complete case of Portugal. The Man’s The Satanic Satanist. There is no plastic involved and it can be used as a really cool wall decoration, with or without the CD in it. (Sunny’s super cool splatter painted bedroom wall that took 3 days not included.)
Robbers Getting ready for a short tour and the recording of a full length album, ROBBERS is ready to steal your attention. This Long Island quintet began on Myspace and ended up being compared to The Cure. About four years old and going strong, ROBBERS went from having absolutely no intentions of being a band to being signed.
What made you want to create music? The five of us certainly have had our own deep personal connections with various artists since we were young, and not really since the past year have I noticed how different the connections are. We've all been friends since we were young teenagers, not necessarily been playing music together since then, but enough to see how we've all become so unique in our own ways. It's an absolute blessing to be around such talented and versatile musicians. Chris comes from a very edgy and stylish side of music with a lot of attitude, pretty much any type of punk and a lot of hip hop. Matt's the jazz cat. Just listen to his playing, you'll understand where his tastes come from. Mingus hit him hard, so did Chet Baker's and Holiday's voices. Joe is the chillest person you'll ever meet, and he's certainly got the widest taste in music, especially coming from the engineer's point of view. He loves recording and finding that perfect instrument sound that gives you the chills every time you hear it. Mike had music in his soul since he was old enough to express it. Hittin' pots and pans when he was a little babe. I heard when he first came out of his mom he was equipped with a snare drum and drum sticks and busted out this insane solo. He was heavily into drum line in his schools growing up, and you can hear it in his playing, accurate as FUCK. Then there's me...I'm at a weird point right now; me and my relationship with music is at a rough spot right now. It's that whole thing like where you're IN LOVE with a person and always will be, but sometimes you just don't like 'em? Get what I'm sayin'? Family mostly influenced me to create, as well as everybody else in the band. I've always loved the idea of making somebody happy with music I create, even if the particular piece of music isn't a happy one. Just the fact they're inspired inspires me, and that's pretty much what this band's about, and you can see that in the music we make I suppose. It's absolutely amazing to be around such talented and versatile musicians. How did you come up with your name? I have no clue, like I said, it started out just as a Myspace with some of my home recordings (which it still pretty much is), and I guess out of some weird inspirational artsy impulse I thought it would be cool if I called the project Robbers, and it stuck. Were any other names considered? We had a couple really funny ideas. Ame was the name of the band Matt and I had before Robbers. We thought maybe we'd keep that name going, but changed our minds. We also were Vanguard for a little while. What influences you most? Our families most, the seasons, God, thought, girls. Anything can at any moment. What’s in the near future for your band? Uhh, getting ready for a short fall tour starting September 16th, and workin' on another follow up tour probably late October into November with Winston Audio - check 'em out. Really good stuff. Once we get all the dates settled we're gonna schedule time to get in the studio with Dan again to record the full length for early next year. EXCITED.
Photo by Angela Datre What aspect of music excites you the most? The writing, the recording, the playing, the inspiring. Everything about it. What aspect of music discourages you the most? The competition. There's no wrong in music. It's art. As an unsigned band, what was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome? I think it had to have been booking shows. I feel some people aren't impressed in you if you're simply unsigned, which is ridiculous. Did you approach Unicorns or did they approach you? They approached us, around November of last year. They were willing to support our vision and they continue to. How long did it take you to write and record Flesh? It took a little less than a month to record it, if I'm thinking correctly. Flesh is certainly a strange compilation of songs to me, because each of them were written at two or three very different times. “Hey There” and “Swear” are almost four years old. The others were written less than a year before we went into record them. Why the name Flesh? Really love the word. The word sorta fit the fierce emotions I was feeling at the time; you see it in all of us at our live shows. All I can ever picture seeing when the record is on is somebody literally being ripped apart by someone, for maybe no reason. Even though some of the music on the record may not put that dark image in someone's head I think all around the lyrics certainly can, even if that doesn't mean literally. Maybe the image the name represents is two people arguing, and spitting, and screaming at one another. Just the raw fierceness of the idea really consumed me during the creation of the EP. If your band were an ice cream flavor (real or made up!) what would it taste like? We'll we'd just be like one big banana split of flavors. Chris would certainly be french vanilla, Matt would be Colombian rum, Joe would be very cherry cabbage, Mike would be Minnesota Ice, and I would be hairy gelato.
for fans of:
The Cure, an eerie Death Cab For Cutie, and oddly enough, a little bit of Coldplay mixed in.
listen to: Stay Together, I Stole From My Own Flesh And Blood, Hey There
www.myspace.com/robbers positivexposure 23
UP & COMING 24 positivexposure
UP & COMING is a section where we feature all the unsigned bands we discover and fall in love with. You or someone you’re a fan of can be in this section too! Contact editorial@positivexposure.com and give us the details!
ELLINGTON
Currently hashing out details of record deals, Australian indie sensation ELLINGTON can’t wait to release their next album. With two successful releases and another soon to be in the works, their dreams of touring overseas can’t be far off... Photo by Jo Lucas
Tell us a brief history of your band. Ellington basically started as a solo project whilst in high school. I was playing a lot of acoustic style music and listening to a lot of bands like Dashboard Confessional. Michael and I were playing in a band called Everything In Memories and when we decided to disband toward the end of 2006, Michael and I started Ellington. We recorded an EP titled The Joy We Keep In and released it in April 2007. We toured in between work/study commitments and then finally took the plunge and decided to get to the next level. We went one step further and self funded a trip to Atlanta, and recorded with a gentleman by the name of Matt Malpass, who had done some of our favourite bands like Copeland, Lydia, and Rookie Of The Year. Upon returning home we had a brand new EP titled More Like A Movie, Less Like Real Life. We added two more members to replicate our new sound and hit the road again and here we are. The Joy We Keep In was released through Starving Kids Records. Why didn’t you release More Like A Movie through them as well? Those guys did a lot for us and helped us to grow as a band while we were with them although when the time to came to record another EP, we had different ideas in regards to where we could record, the budget and so on. So we decided it was best to do it independently. I guess it’s sad that things come down to money but looking back we paid for it all ourselves, didn’t owe anyone anything and had an amazing experience and recorded an EP we’re proud of. How do you have the budget to work with Matt Malpass? Well honestly, we didn’t. We had just left our record label and so Michael and I kinda worked our asses off for quite a while and self funded the trip. Some friends did the drums and keys on the record which saved some money on flying out a band. We were at a point where we wanted to see how we could grow working with someone like Matt Malpass and it’s proven to be one of the best decisions we made and definitely one of the best adventures we’ve had. We are itching to get back there and tour! There are some pretty high profile guests on your EP... how did you manage that? Yeah, we were so honoured to have some musicians that we all looked up to come in and play on the EP. Not only did we learn a lot we made some really good friends. Matt Thiessen was living in Atlanta where we recorded and a good buddy of Malpass, so it was just a matter of a phone call. Likewise with Jeff from Say Anything. Those guys are super talented! We also sent away the song “The World Through Weary Eyes” to Leighton Antelman from Lydia who was more than happy to sing a section of the song and send it back to us. It worked out really well. What is in the near future for Ellington? Well right now we’re doing the tour around Australia. Going to come back, decide which label we’re going to work with which will give us a rough idea of when we’ll hit the studio. We have been dying to get back into the studio for sometime; ever since we left really, ha. We’ll finish writing the album, record it and hopefully see a release early next year. You’re about to embark on a tour with Short Stack. Are you excited? How’d you end up on the tour? Yeah we can’t wait. It’s definitely the biggest tour we’ve had the chance to do so far in terms of the number of people we’ll be playing to. I think most of the shows have sold out and to have the chance to play to 1,400 kids each night is going to be amazing. We got lucky getting on the tour maybe, I don’t know? We said we’d love to tour with the guys and they loved our music and said they’d be happy to take us out.
Well right now for us, it’s really important and what we need. The chance to play to that many people each night is a dream come true. I think it’ll make us feel, if only for a moment that we are living out a dream. It’ll be nice to meet new people and hopefully walk away from the tour with a lot more fans. Why did you decide to expand to a full band and take on permanent members rather than just have a touring band? The guys have been friends for quite a while and we always wanted it to be more of a band thing. They’re great dudes and great musicians. It adds so much to our sound and really brings it to life and makes it all a lot more fun for us on stage etc. What’s your ultimate direction for the band? Touring full time, recording and writing music. We want to make a living from making music. Even if we aren’t making money, we just want to be touring in the states and living. What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands? Do it, don’t be scared or worry about what people may think. If you love what you do then you’ll be happy and it’ll be for the right reasons. Where did you get your name? It’s just a street name, our guitarist’s sister used to live there, ha, and it came up in a brainstorming session. As an unsigned band, what is the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome? Touring in Australia is financially draining and hard. We only have 6 major cities you can play in and they are all more than 600km [that’s almost 400 miles, you Americans, you] from each other. Being unsigned, money has always been our biggest obstacle. We have fun doing it and it’s our lives so we wouldn’t change a thing.
www.myspace.com/ellingtonrock
for fans of:
Copeland, This Providence, Manchester Orchestra, The Maine
listen to:
Love, In ALonely Place, The World Through Weary Eyes
How does it feel to know you’ll be playing bigger venues, selling out shows, and being exposed to such a large new audience that may not have heard of you? Answered by Jake Bosci
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Only Elephants Can Dream Only Elephants Can Dream is an indie/ pop/electronica act performed entirely by Nick Strahan of Anchorage, Alaska. Strahan started Only Elephants Can Dream after a night of playing around on GarageBand and uploading the product to Myspace Music. His first full length album is being recorded now, and in anticipation of it, a new EP is being released in the fall. Only Elephants Can Dream is a breath of fresh air to the electronica genre, and certainly an act to watch. Do you have musical training? I have some training in guitar and that’s about it, I mean I taught myself how to play other instruments along the way and then bought them to further expand my knowledge on that specific instrument. Over the years, I have learned to play piano, bass, drums, guitar, and other little doodads along the way. It’s funny because my friends are always telling me, “Nick, it’s like every instrument you touch, you know how to play it. TEACH ME!”
tours being arranged, and a debut full-length album in stores. I have been working on getting a full band together for a few months now because my music is taking a new direction I feel. I think it is time for me to take it up a notch for shows and touring in the future. My music used to be just me but now, it’s a few more guys and a lot more musical talent which hopefully will form more ideas for more songs along the way. I also have been working with a few people to set up some tours big and small across Alaska and the states over the next year, but we will see How did you come up with your name? what happens with that. It will cost some money. I have been I used to be called The Have Heart but I got a lot of crap from recording for months now and for just a couple more to release everyone about my name being too close to the Boston hardcore my first full-length album that should be in stores and online band Have Heart, so I took all the messages and comments in November 17th if all goes as planned. Other than all the and sat down for a few days and thought about random things important news, I have some new merch coming out here soon I’ve seen, places I’ve been, just random things, and somewhere in and my EP, The Perspectives EP, Due out on iTunes this August. that time frame I came up with Only Elephants Can Dream. It really was just pulled out of a hat, honestly. It means nothing to What aspect of making music gets you the most me other than it’s my stage name and what people read and that discouraged? is that, only elephants can really dream. It’s cute and fun and I I think the part that always stumps me is the lyrics. I want to write feel my music is that exactly. lyrics that stand out, but it’s hard to write and not point fingers directly. The music is difficult, but I never seem to have a problem Were any other names considered? with it after a few hours of messing around. I had a bunch I was going through at one point in time, but if I tried to remember any of them, this interview would have gone What aspect of making music excites you the most? nowhere and just taken forever. Haha, I do remember though, Finding the sickest beat, blasting in the monitors, finding the right going through song names other bands had and pulling words melody and jamming for an hour or so until I find what I needed. from them to possibly create a name out of that but that was before all this even started. As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music? Where do you draw your inspiration from? I find myself in between; I am always listening to music, every Musically and honestly, I just sit down and write. I’ll have a specific day probably and everything I find in the music I listen to inspires tune in my head that I want out and guess what, I get something me. So I can’t really say I am inspired or not interested. I listen to totally different but in every way possible, better. It’s just how it everything from the heaviest of metal to the calmest of rock. works for me and I love it but lyrically, that is the part I spend the most time on. My lyrics come from my past experiences and If Only Elephants Can Dream were an ice cream flavor what things I have seen happen. When I write, I try not to point fingers, would you taste like? but write more metaphorically so I don’t get myself in trouble. My Yay, for Ice Cream! Haha, I think Only Elephants Can Dream lyrics are all based on relationships and people, things that can would taste like cotton candy with bursts of daiquiri ice and lemgo wrong and things that go as planned. I don’t write to write and on. It’s soothing at first and then it hits you with flavor and throw something out there, it has to come from my head and heart excitement. That’s the only way I can explain myself as ice first, and then that’s when I am inspired to write my music. cream. How long have you been playing music? I have been playing music before since I can remember. Me and my best friend at the time started our own little metal project probably when we were in 5th grade. Didn’t really go anywhere except for the garage and our heads but it was fun. I did join other groups along the way but I got sick of having an entire band at the time, all the drama it consisted of, organizing practices, working with everyone’s schedules; it was just too stressful on my part so I decided to work on my own stuff. I only started doing my solo work back in October of ’08 and it’s taken off for me since then. What’s in the near future for Only Elephants Can Dream? Hmm, all I can say is full band, lots of shows coming up, possible
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for fansPlayRadioPlay! of: listen to: Color in the Lines, Let's Get Close, Hiding www.myspace.com/onlyelephantscandream
THE SOUNDTRACK Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, THE SOUNDTRACK are a five person band who exude diversity. Poised to break into the music scene full force, THE SOUNDTRACK are a musical blend of dance, hardcore, pop-punk, and powerpop. Their mix of double lead guitar, solid bass and drums, and melodic vocals make them a great band for anyone who’s a fan of music.
for fans of:
Paramore, New Found Glory
listen to: Masquerade, Re-learning to Breathe Photo By Atlanta Rock Photography
How long has The Soundtrack been around? We have officially been around about nine months now. Dylan and Shaan Met through our producer Jason Andrews and the rest of us met through MySpace! Gotta love that MySpace, haha.
What is in the near future for The Soundtrack? We actually just decided to all move into a house together, to focus on writing and spending more time rehearsing. We’ll have a new face in the band soon, some touring, lots of Georgia area shows and a new album in the future! Keep checking our MySpace for updates!
What has been the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome as a band? Parting ways with our recent drummer Pat Cash, he is an amazing drummer and a super close friend. Do you find yourselves having to prove yourself more? We often get compared to Paramore just because we have a girl vocalist. But just because we have a girl vocalist doesn’t mean we are trying to be Paramore. Don’t get me wrong I’m a huge fan, but we wanna be The Soundtrack not anyone else.
www.myspace.com/thesoundtrackatl
LIKE LIONS LIKE LIONS, recently revived from the dead with a brand new line-up, are ready to start touring . The alternative quintet from Langhorne, Pennsylvania, are constantly writing and recording until they feel their new material is perfect enough to take on tour.
for fans of:
Gatsby’s American Dream, As Tall As Lions, The Dear Hunter
listen to: Make It Better
Photo by Craig Harris What is in the near future for Like Lions? Why in the heck did you guys break up or take a break in the first We are writing and recording and writing and recording till we get place? Long story but to sum it up we weren’t where we wanted to be musically. our best stuff down. We are playing shows around Philadelphia here and there until the end of summer then we hope to hit the road or at least start playing out on a weekly basis. Who does what in the band? Adam plays lead guitar and sings harmonies, Jay plays the bass, Do any of the members have musical training? Diana plays the keys and sings some harmonies as well, Mikey plays Diana and Adam probably have the most but at very young ages. I the drums and well, I (Greg) sing mostly and play some acoustic guitar. took drum lessons for about a year when I was 12, that didn’t really work out. Mostly self taught. How long has the current line-up been in effect? I’d say 4 or 5 months now. How’d you come up with the name Like Lions? That is a strange tale only to be told in person When did you decide to start writing again? Me and Adam never really stopped, there would be some periods that we didn’t get together but when we did it always just seemed to work if he came to me with something he wrote or vice-versa.
www.myspace.com/likelions
positivexposure 27
THE HAPPY HOLLOWS There are rumors that THE HAPPY HOLLOWS guitar player/singer Sarah Negahdari actually emerged from the womb singing and tapping her feet to the rhythm. More realistically, she is just really good at creating music. Also great at creating music are Charlie and Chris, which complete THE HAPPY HOLLOWS. Formed when Sarah answered Chris and Charlie’s ad on Craigslist, THE HAPPY HOLLOWS have released three EPs and are self releasing their first full length, Spells. What made you want to create music? My mom played drums and congas when I was a little girl. We always had two or three drum sets around the house, and I was encouraged by her to pick up an intrument and get really good at it. I loved watching her be extremely feminine and then get on a drum set and turn into this vicious playing badass drummer. I think that sparked something for me right away. I always just understood rythm and music. It’s just something I always knew I was here to do. How did you come up with your name? Growing up in the Bay Area, there was a really weird petting zoo called “Happy Hollow”. Before I met Charlie and Chris, I was playing around LA calling myself “The Happy Hollows”. I just liked it for some reason. Were any other names considered? We were almost called Lazer Fox. What influences you most? We are influenced by all kinds of creative endeavors. I often write songs while watching viusally oriented movies like The Wizard of Oz or The Life Aquatic. I will spend days watching movies and turning off the sound and just doing my own soundtracks to them. I usually get many songs from that process that we turn into Happy Hollows songs. What’s in the near future for your band? We are planning a fall tour and the release of our album, Spells. What aspect of music excites you the most? I love the thrill of when a song first comes. I can’t explain it, it’s like catching a fish or something, but so much more glorious! And no living thing has to die, life is made! It’s like...siting there..playing guitar..and kind of feeling my way around a song, and then..that’s it! It just floods in! It all comes out of me..and it’s like I hear it..almost floating above my head..already written..and it’s a gift to me...I didn’t really create it..and yet..I did! It is magical. A very mysterious and hard to explain feeling. That is my favorite part, but a close second is the feeling I get when I bring it into practice and hear it transform into something so much more amazing when Charlie and Chris get ahold of it! What aspect of music discourages you the most? Nothing about making and writing music is discouraging. There are certain aspects of the culture surrounding our genre of music and the music industry that can be frustrating. But those things don’t take away from the thrill of actually writing songs and playing and recording them. As an unsigned band, what has been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome? Building a fan base outside of California has been tough. We plan on touring a lot in the upcoming months to change that! How did you manage to get out of your contract? Well, we actually never signed a contract with a record label. We were involved in a little disupte with a label, but
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the matter was resolved. We can’t really say anything else about that. How did you have the budget to self-release? We saved up money from live shows and from sales of our previous EPs. Is it worth it? Definitely. Did you run into any problems trying to release an album yourself? The whole process is just a bit slow the first time you are going through it. But we have learned a lot, for better or worse, about the business of music. A lot of bands self release these days… can you tell us the pros and cons? The pros are that you own your masters and you get all the money from sales and licensing. The cons are that you have to fund the record yourself and you don’t have the capital to put into the band that a record label would have. Without a great deal of money, you can’t really advertise or pay for large scale promotion of the album. Also, if you are not on a label, it is tough to get good physical distribution. Do you see it becoming more common? Record labels really don’t serve a purpose anymore. They only reason bands want to sign to labels is that labels have money to promote their acts. There is still a perception and a reality that you can’t have a career in music without a label. Record labels are still the primary “gatekeepers” in the music business. It is a bit strange to me that while many blogs and magazines constantly write about the “death of the label” they continue to almost exclusively review works from signed bands. There are reasons for this, some of which are nefarious and others of which are innocent. The innocent explanation is that it takes effort to find new music and that record labels, which are experienced promoters, make it easy for the media to find their bands. The sinister explanation is that record labels pay (or bribe in indirect ways) radio stations, magazines (through the form of advertisements), and other media outlets to review their acts rather than unsigned bands. In an ideal world, there would be no record labels. But as long as there is money to be made in music, labels will exist. And, certainly, not all labels are bad. But until
you see unsigned bands having the same level of “success” as signed bands, you won’t see a lot of self-releases being huge successes . You’ve shared the stage with some big names (Silversun Pickups, Deerhoof) how does that feel? It was great to play with both those bands! In different ways, they are both role models for us. They have both been persistent and done things their own way. We really admire both bands and thank them for supporting us and giving us such endless inspiration. What, to you, is ‘success’? “Success” is becoming better musicians and songwriters and trying to improve our music. Success is having fun and laughing a lot and loving the journey. Do any of your members have musical training? Chris does. He knows how to play every instrument, and he knows so much about music. He is music. Charlie and I have no formal training. Although, Charlie did take a Chinese music class in college! I don’t have formal training. I have always loved imperfect music. I can’t stand things to sound too perfect. I don’t know, I just love the mystery of the guitar and I love creating my own ways of playing. Sarah, you did the artwork for the new album...have you always enjoyed painting, drawing, etc? When did you get into art? Yes, I have always loved painting, and I am in love with watercolors especially. I have always loved making art and creating worlds. I used to make musicals for my neighborhood when I was in elementary school. I would turn my bedroom into a very magical and colorful place. My parents really let me run the roost. Every October our house would get turned upside down with Halloween decorations and we would make our rooms into haunted houses. I have always loved creating sets, and making costumes, and paintings, everything and anything that creates a magical world from imagination. What other hobbies does the band have? Charlie is studying guerrilla organizations from Latin America for his PhD. Chris loves to cook and watch the Food Network like crazy. I like to create wacky characters and dress up like them and go out in disguise. I have a character named “Carol” from Long Island who interviewed me one time and we put the interview online. She is always fun for me to be whenever she comes around and wants to be expressed! If you could play any venue in the world and support any band, past or current, who would it be and where? The Who at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in the Bay Area.
for fans of: Thunder Power, The Henry Clay People, Great Northern
listen to:
Silver, Faces, Tambourine
www.myspace.com/thehappyhollows
positivexposure 29
GABRIEL THE MARINE Long Island, New York’s GABRIEL THE MARINE burst onto the scene, being a winner of The Break content and playing Bamboozle 2009. GABRIEL THE MARINE is gearing up to release their EP Your Friends and Loved Ones and embarking on their first national tour with Asteria and A Love Like Pi.
for fans of: Cast Spells, Run Away Great Captain, Declans Well
listen to: Photo by Dana Cama
Maybe Baby, The Gold Coast, On and On
What made you want to create music? That reason is different for every member. But I think we can all agree that music has moved all of us at one point in our lives. We can only hope to do that for someone else when they need music most.
Do you enjoy relentless touring or do you get homesick? Well we’re actually on our first big tour right now and it has just begun, so we’ll get back to you on that. Robbie loves it though, he hates being home.
How did you come up with your name? Gabriel the Marine is a concept that creates a fictional character to represent the chemistry of the band. Gabriel the character is simply meant to help create a tangible being in peoples’ minds to show them what the band is going through at that particular time. So if people ask who Gabriel is...the answer is simple. We are.
What has been your favorite venue to play so far and where do you one day hope to play? So far probably Bamboozle since it’s such a big festival. We would really love to play a home show at Jones Beach Theatre haha.
How difficult has it been to break into the ‘music business’ at such a young age? Well it’s hard to break into the music industry at any age. Somebody has to like you for something that you’re doing. We’ve been lucky enough to have people like our booking agent Neil Rubenstein on our side. Robbie is 24 and has been touring since he was 19...so he’s been able to help guide the way since none of us have touring experience.
What bands do you listen to? We all listen to different bands. Mike is heavily into indie stuff along with Dylan, who branches off into some midwestern oldschool emo. Tommy is actually a serious metal advocate. Dom has absolutely everything on his ipod, from As I Lay Dying to Kelly Clarkson. Robbie is pretty across the board in the rock genre. What is your favorite song to perform live? On and On most of the time.
You were chosen to play Bamboozle. What was it like to play such a big festival with so many other bands? There are no words to describe playing a show that you go to every year and wish to be on stage. The only word that remotely desribes it would be surreal, and perhaps sobering.
What influences you most? The work of other people that we admire.
How did it feel to be recognized by Spin Magazine as a Top 15 Must Hear Band? Ha, we didn’t even know about that until somebody sent it to us but it was awesome. Funny story actually. After that, we were on a small weekend tour. Tommy, Robbie and Dom walked into an FYE and picked up Substream magazine...which featured a lot of bands that we know from home. Robbie used to sing for Action Item for a short time who were featured, This Condition and Lights Resolve, our friends from Long Island were in it....and Tommy says, “Wow man this is awesome. I wonder how they got this stuff.” Then he turns the page again and there we were...Gabriel the Marine.
What aspect of music excites you the most? For some of us it’s the melody. For some of us it’s the emotion.
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What’s in the near future for your band? Well the EP is going to be released this summer...then we’re going to continue writing to drop a full release.
What aspect of music discourages you the most? Trends. If you could support any band on tour, current or past, what band would it be? Oh man, Coldplay. Yeah. Have you been ‘starstruck’ by any of the bands you’ve played with before? Tons of times...too many to list.
www.myspace.com/gabrielthemarine
ACE MERRILL The boys of ACE MERRILL began writing music while still in high school. Breaking the mold as a high school band with their own music, a vocalist was eventually added to write lyrics and after a year, a bassist finally joined and ACE MERRILL was born. What made you want to create music? We're creative guys and we can't dance. Were any other names considered? Moonracer (the Lion King of Misfit Toys from Rudolph), but we realized that name was taken. What influences you most? Movies? Most of our conversations are based heavily off of movies, as our music is. Which artists do you draw your inspiration from? You’ve been compared to mewithoutyou, Glassjaw and Thrice. We all seem to draw inspiration from varying artists. For example, Josh secretly listens to Tegan and Sara, and Emery loves his Tiesto. What’s in the near future for your band? Thursday. Also, we're preparing new songs for when we get signed, which we assume is very soon. What aspect of music excites you the most? The thought of being in a band full time seems pretty sweet. Traveling with your best friends and not so best friends and getting paid to do what you love most seems clutch. As an unsigned band, what’s the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome? The biggest obstacle is having jobs while trying to put all we can into this band, so we're thinking about quitting those jobs and writing for positivexposure. How would you describe your music style? It's been said that you are one of the few bands to succeed in the indie-core genre. We are one of the few to succeed in Indie-Core because we made it up. We've copyrighted the term and are just waiting for someone to
slip up and use it without permission. What hobbies do you have outside of music? Gardening, volleyball, wood carving, origami, bird watching. If you could support any band on tour, current or past, what band would it be? Every Time I Die, we want to party with them, man. Them and us together, forget it. What has been your favorite venue to play so far and where do you one day hope to play? Our favorite venue is the Water Street Music Hall because our fans don't seem to want to go anywhere else in Rochester. We would someday like to play the bigger side of Water Street Music Hall (fingers crossed). If your band were an ice cream flavor (real or made up!) what would it taste like? We would be chewing tobacco mixed with root beer served in a bag of store brand potato chips.
www.myspace.com/acemerrill
Box The Stars Started in 2006 from members of Faded From the Start, the five piece moved on to doing bigger and better things musically. The result? Aiming high are BOX THE STARS. What made you want to create music? Each one of us had a passion of some kind for music for a long time. Basically, it was a way to escape and tell stories to people. How did you come up with your name? Jack's Mannequin's song Dark Blue. It went with our ambitions; well, we believed boxing the stars was a strong, ambitious expression. What influences you most? Other band's music, like Brand New who are so in depth about everything they do. Movies, life in general [also influence us.] What's in the near future for your band? We are not sure but we never want to stop. What aspect of music excites you the most? Lyrics, powerful music. What aspect of music discourages you the most? Being frustrated, sometimes with each other, while writing. As an unsigned band, what's the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome? When a band member left the band [and we were] trying to find someone to fit the puzzle and be able to get back on our feet. Who are your music idols? Brand New, Blink-182, Tom Petty, Goo Goo Dolls, Northstar, Armor for Sleep, and Jamison Parker. How would you describe your music style? It goes with our mood - like I said, we tell stories. If we want to tell a
dark story, the song won't sound happy. Why did you choose to release an all acoustic EP rather than an EP with both styles? Andy and I had some songs written that we wrote when the band took a break so that was a really real time in our life for us and they sounded better acoustic to us. What has been your favorite venue to play so far and where do you one day hope to play? Playing Towercity for Warped Tour [was our favorite venue.] Blossom would be fun to play. Have you been 'starstruck' by any of the bands you've played with before? We got to play with one of the guys we always looked up to: Jamison from Jamison Parker. That was fun. If your band were an ice cream flavor (real or made up!) what would it taste like? We would have no taste.
www.myspace.com/boxthestars
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THE HONEY TREES
Photo by Simon Filip
When THE HONEY TREES first started, it was just Becky Filip and Garageband. Add musician boyfriend Jacob Wick and Nashville producer Charlie Peacock to the mix, and you’ve got THE HONEY TREES’ official start and first EP. What made you want to create music? Becky: For both Jacob and I, it wasn't something either of us just sat down and decided to do one day... it always came naturally to both of us, growing up in very musical homes. It was something we both were drawn to, even as children, so it always felt right. How did you come up with your name? Becky: You know, people always ask me this, and I really have a hard time remembering... I came up with just "Trees" first, which is what I named my MySpace band page... and then somehow "Honey" made its’ way in there, and then the "The" just seemed right. :) I think it might have been a nickname of some sort, but I can't say for sure! Were there any other names considered? Becky: Definitely... for a long time I tried to consider other names, because I wasn't fond of ‘The Honey Trees' at all. I came up with all sorts of wild names, but after a while ‘The Honey Trees' really started growing on me, and everyone else really liked it, so it stuck. What influences you most? Jacob: Everything and anything that makes me feel alive. The things that are new experiences, traveling... being in different environments. And of course music in general. Becky: The people I meet, God, love, experiences (good and bad), reality and fantasy. Which bands do you draw direct inspiration from? Jacob: Kashmir, The Frames, Mew, Wilco (more specifically Nels Cline), Rufus Wainwright, The Cardigans, Keane, Jeremy Enigk, Ben Folds, Blonde Redhead, Brian Eno, Daft Punk, David Gray, Jimmy Eat World, Michael Jackson, Jon Hopkins, Oasis, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Refused, Coldplay, Radiohead, and The Beatles.
I see a lot of bands self-releasing these days.... do you think it will keep getting more common? Becky: I think so, it already seems like it's happening more and more. I just think it's an easy way for people to get their music out there without having to be ‘discovered' first, or anything like that.
Becky: Midlake, Jeremy Enigk, Rufus Wainwright, Coldplay, Bjork, The Beatles (and Paul McCartney solo), Queen, Blonde Redhead, and Radiohead.
Do any of your members have musical training? Becky: Both Jacob and I are self-taught.
What's in the near future for your band? Writing, writing, writing. Recording would be lovely. And hopefully touring a lot more!
How many members are in your band, and who does what? Becky: There's just the two of us right now, Jacob and I, who write the songs and work everything out. We both play guitar, keys, and sing. But when we tour or play live, we put together a band to help us out.
What aspect of music excites you the most? Jacob: Discovery, creation, the excitement and the fear of its power to change people and myself. Becky: How powerful it can be, creating it, being moved by it, change through it. Did you self-release your album? Jacob: For the most part yes, but we couldn't have gotten to the point of releasing without the help of many wonderful people. What were the pros and cons of self-release? Jacob: Pros – it’s all your own music, you own it. You're in control, completely, of every part of the process. Cons - lack of distribution and promotion. Is it worth it? Becky: Of course. Obviously, the help of a label would have been wonderful and convenient, but there's a definite sense of accomplishment when you're able to do it on your own. You also own the rights to everything, and you can do everything in your own time. Did you run into any problems trying to release the album yourself? Becky: Not really actually. We're grateful that we had so much support from some wonderful people, and everything went really smoothly with the release.
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Where are you located? Becky: I'm from Sacramento, CA...and Jacob's from San Luis Obispo, CA. But our band is based out of San Luis Obispo. What, to you, is "success"? Jacob: A stranger at the moment, something I would like to become more familiar with. Becky: Making a difference through music, somehow. Not necessarily any type of monetary gain, but more an emotional one. Knowing that our music means something to someone. As an unsigned band, what's the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome? Jacob: Cottonwood Road, in Southern Utah where we spent eight hours to go a total of 47 miles, on August 18th, 2009 during the TreeCat Tour. But we won that battle with only four casualties in the form of trailer tires and a tail light. If your band was an ice cream flavor (real or made up) what would it taste like? Honey of course!
for fans of: Eisley, Copeland listen to: Orchard
www.myspace.com/thehoneytrees
MAT MUSTO People know MAT MUSTO as the on again, off again, on again, off again, on again lead singer of Florida indie band Polaroid. He also somehow knows how to play every instrument on the planet and uses his skills solo.
To get this out of the way, what made Polaroid decide to get back together? Jesse Flores and I are musical soul mates with the same chest tattoo that says "Livin' The Dream." Will you still continue to record solo music now that Polaroid is back? I will always make solo music; I plan on doing a full band record called "Exposure" with all the songs from Brightness and Contrast plus more, all full band and all folk-rock.
Photo by Richard Tidwell
How long have you been playing music? I've been playing since I was 6; I've been writing and performing since I was about 11, so now that I'm 18, more then half my life I've been playing! Do you have any musical training? If you consider 90's alternative musical training, hah! My Third Eye Blind records were all I needed when I was learning, I'm still learning, we all are. Neither of my parents growing up were musical... they just thought it was cool that I could jam out on any instrument they put in front of me, so they were definitely supportive, but I didn't have anyone to learn from musically until I was about 10 and noticed the local band scene when I moved from Pennsylvania to Florida. What instruments can you play? I can play piano, drums, guitar, bass, harmonica, a little cello, some banjo, xylophones, ukelele, and the organ.. but I really, really want to learn to play the lap steel guitar and violin. What is in the near future for you and your music? I'll be northbound to Buffalo, NY to record "Seven Months of Sleep," Polaroid's new full length, produced and recorded by Jesse Flores and I. I've been talking with a lot of awesome people in big places, so hopefully everything runs smoothly! As an unsigned artist, what has been the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome? I feel like there are so many obstacles to overcome, but mainly keeping a nice momentum, and buzz about yourself and your music is a harder task, definitley. Keeping myself stoked on trying to become a well known person/artist is a big obstacle as well... sometimes I'll wake up and feel like giving up and going to college, but I always log onto whichever social networking website and there's always a message about the impact I've had on someone's life, or how I helped get them through something and it pushes me to keep trying (at least till I turn 30)...then maybe it's time to start Nascar training, my plan B profession. Do you prefer playing solo or with a full band? Full band is always more fun, but solo is more intimate. ;) Any plans to ever tour solo? Absolutely, as soon as I get a great manager that can hire a great booking agent. I'm sick of doing everything on my own but that's what it takes I guess! How long have you been writing for Contrast? Actually only a few months now, I've been writing for a minute. Contrast was written as a complete FOLK record...like...nothing but a kick drum and some twangy acoustic and some "WHOO HOO's" and some banjos. But then my Jamaican buddy Boogie "The Wizzard" found me on MySpace and told me he would record it for free if he could make his little beats for it, and be my new bestfriend and I agreed. Do you know the exact release date? September 9th as of right now. Who does your album art? Her name is Stacy Marie Fahey, She is also the girl on the covers, and she is probably one of the most wonderous people I've EVER met, inside and out!
Is there any significance to both covers featuring a girl? Brightness is mainly about falling in love, Contrast is mainly about letting it go, hence the bright clouds and girl with balloons on the first album in contrary with the girl passed out in the night time with her balloons on the ground next to her red couch. Do you ever have plans to add a backing band? I actually do. Maybe not right this minute, but once I start doing project "Exposure" I'll be in search of members. For such a young guy you write some pretty profound lyrics. Where do you draw your inspiration from? I'm always writing. I probably write fifty poems a week. I just pick the best five and put them on my record. My everyday life obtains so much feeling and whenever I start to notice what that feeling looks like, I put it on paper. It's kind of hard to explain. Maybe I'm crazy. Does writing lyrics just come naturally for you or has someone shown you techniques, etc? It took a lot of practice, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. It's the main part of music I enjoy, the part where people listen to what I have to say and actually enjoy it. What is the meaning of life? Life is but a dream, if you think small and seize the day, you can accomplish bigger things. I'm not good at this sort of thing. Just make sure to respect and honor your parents no matter what, and follow me on Twitter. If Mat Musto were an ice cream flavor (made up or existing) what would it taste like and what would it be called? I think it would be called DISGUSTO MUSTO and would be mint chocolate chip mixed with birthday cake, with gummi worms (not sour) and Reese's Pieces. I'm such a fat kid at heart.
www.myspace.com/matmusto positivexposure 33
Dear Dakota
Newborns on the music scene, DEAR DAKOTA started in early 2008. After a few mishaps and member changes, the band grouped together and set out to prove naysayers wrong. What made you want to create music? I’ve been a singer my entire life, and growing up with my music inspired family, it’s always been something I’ve wanted to do my entire life. Bands like Third Eye Blind, Journey, Incubus, and Blink-182 are probably my biggest influences, but the fact that I could possibly grab someone’s attention for thirty minutes to an hour was pretty cool as well. There is nothing like being on stage and hearing something you produced come to life and having people dig it. It's a feeling that cannot be replicated. Why did you decide to ‘defy Dakota?’ Before I joined the band, the whole name thing was rather funny to me. It was kind of a spiteful image, and to be honest I thought it was cool. To this day none of us really have an issue with the girl, and I honestly have only met her once or twice. When someone tries to bring you down and even goes to the process of telling you you’re never going to make it doing what you love, you tend to get a little defensive, and I guess that’s what made the guys want to ‘defy Dakota.' Can you tell us the whole story behind your name? Basically, the previous drummer in the band Play Action Pass had a girlfriend named Dakota, who was upset that her boyfriend was kicked out of the band. She stated, ‘You guys will never go anywhere without such a talent as him.' Basically, the name was a metaphor to represent a letter which is being written to Dakota over the course of our careers in this band. Being like, ‘Dear Dakota, we did it. Sincerely, the members.' It was pretty clever, and I wish I would have thought of it. Haha. Do any of your members have musical training? Mike has been taking lessons since he was an adolescent, and he even teaches lessons to younger children here in Gainesville. Jamey, I believe, has taken a few lessons as well. I pretty much taught myself. Eric was taught by his father, and Zane has been singing in his head since he was born, haha. What influences you most? Personally, everything influences me. I listen to everything, from Frank Sinatra and Seal, to Evergreen Terrace and Miley Cyrus (don’t know if I should admit that). The rest of the members get influence from funk, urban, and even metal. We’re pretty diverse when it comes to influences. What’s in the near future for your band? Hopefully touring a lot more, and getting signed to a decent label. We want to show the world what we've got. We’ve had a lot of label interest, and can’t wait to put out a full length album. What aspect of music excites you the most? I would probably say for me the switching of the vocals. We do a lot of harmonies, and basically have two lead vocals going at all times. It excites me a lot the hear this stuff in the studio, and our live show is a lot of fun, in which everyone is involved at all times. We play to people who enjoy music, and most people tend to have a good time at our shows. What aspect of music discourages you the most? The business aspect and complex distractions from the music is sometimes discouraging. I wish being in a band was always JUST ABOUT THE MUSIC, but being in a professional band, there are a lot of aspects in which I was never familiar with. It’s discouraging to see so many people not being open about music anymore either. It seems sometimes people don’t go out to see local or unsigned acts as much as they should, and it’s just hard to get people to come see you sometimes. With there being so much out there, it can be frustrating and very discouraging at times. As an unsigned band, what’s the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome? I’d probably say the song writing process. It’s by far the best and worst part of being in a band. We take ourselves very
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seriously, and it’s been hard to write constantly and put out ten to twenty GREAT songs. There are a lot of bands that have a lot of songs, but how many bands have great songs? We want to be a band that obtains good songs with hooks and great lyrics, and it’s definitely been an obstacle throwing away a lot of songs that just don’t make the cut. It can irritate you really bad sometimes, but it’s always rewarding in the end to hear what you’ve been working on for so long come to life, and to just simply be proud of it. If you could support any band on tour, what band would it be? I would have to go with either Taking Back Sunday or Incubus. They are two bands that I really respect, and I think we could vibe well with their fans, and it would just be sick to hang out with those guys everyday on a tour. What has been your favorite venue to play so far and where do you one day hope to play? Haha, we played at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (AKA The University of Florida Gators’ Football stadium) to over 60,000 people. That was pretty amazing, but if I had to pick an actual venue, I would say Common Grounds here in Gainesville. They always take care of us, and it’s a nice venue with a cool vibe. I really look forward to playing two places if we were to make it big. One being The Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s a place where I grew up watching shows, and would be an amazing honor to play there. And of course Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. I don’t think there is any other venue in the world that says you made it than that venue. Ohhh yeah, and it would really be cool to play the O’Connell Center here in Gainesville. It’s the basketball stadium for UF, and it would be cool to pack that place out when we come back home. Haha. Have you been 'starstruck' by any of the bands you've played with before? We played with The Academy Is… a while ago, and William Beckett is an idol of mine. I was so mad I wasn’t 21 at that time because he was hanging out at the bar we played at with him, and just having drinks with everyone. I grew up covering his songs and being a big fan for the past few years, so it was definitely cool to share the stage and see them for free. We also played with Motion City Soundtrack. They were really nice guys, and they took me on their bus and showed me around when we played a festival with them. It’s nice to have bands that you’ve looked up to be cool.
www.myspace.com/deardakota
Friends through music, the trio behind fun. originally started in other bands. Knowing full well that they'd enjoy working with one another, they eventually met in New York City, where fun. began taking shape. Since then, they've been recording amazing music (and hitting up Broadway) together. What made you want to create music? I've always loved music, even back to singing along into a Michael Jackson microphone and messing around on Casio keyboards before I could read. But things got serious when my dad played me The Beatles, and I knew I would be devoting a lot of myself to music for a long time to come. I'm not sure what specifically it was - maybe the songwriting, maybe the thought of hanging out with good friends and making noise, but I knew I wanted to be a songwriter. How did you come up with your name? We were sitting around a table waiting to go downstairs and watch our friend Mike Birbiglia perform. We were tossing random names around, and I think Jack suggested fun. We liked it because it's very bold, very memorable, and easy to spell. We thought it was also pretty goony, and probably taken, so we weren't completely in love with it at first, but we couldn't find any other bands called fun., and gradually we all warmed up to the idea. I really love it. Were any other names considered? Yes. We were in love with Spirit Alive for a while. I still think that's a great name too. What influences you most? I'd like to think that I'm influenced by nature, by relationships, by other forms of art, but I definitely hear music and get inspired to either figure out what I love about it, or to try and write something I like even more. I love Weezer, Ozma, The Rentals, The Beatles, ELO, The Beach Boys, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Van Dyke Parks, and a lot of musicals - Hair, Phantom, Hello Dolly, Jesus Christ Superstar, and lots more. What’s in the near future for your band? We're about to embark on tour with Hellogoodbye for a couple weeks before a headlining tour of our own to support our record, Aim & Ignite, which comes out August 25th. What aspect of music excites you the most? I think what excites me the most is the idea of making someone feel the way the best music makes me feel. When I'm awake at three in the morning, unable to fall asleep, and feeling terrible, and remember every stupid, hurtful thing I've ever said, thinking about people I miss and won't ever have the chance to speak to again, and not wanting to get out of bed in the morning, hearing the right song can make that all go away. I want to make those feelings go away for other people. What aspect of music discourages you the most? It's hard to think about pouring your heart into something and having people not pay attention. I think there's a romantic idea of artists as people who do their own thing and don't care what anybody thinks, and that's true for me to some degree, but obviously it hurts when people don't listen, or don't enjoy your stuff. As an unsigned band, what has been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome? This album is actually a joint venture between our band and Nettwerk, which has been great.
year. How does it feel to get that kind of recognition? Really, really nice. It's always scary to see what people say about something you've put so much of yourself into, but so far the reaction from both fans and critics has been really wonderful. We really appreciate the kind words. You're about to embark on a pretty extensive tour. What do you like most about touring? What do you dislike? It's nice to meet new people who are into what we're doing. It's fun to get really close to a group of people in the van, staying up late and traveling together, and see friends from all over the country. It's really hard to be away from family and loved ones though. I get really homesick. I also hate living out of a suitcase; I like to wake up in my own bed, and have my own routines. I like cooking also, and can't really do that on the road. But all in all, I like touring and am grateful for the opportunity to play our music for people. It's a pretty incredibly experience and we all feel really lucky to get to do this for a living. If your band was an ice cream flavor what would it taste like? Our album cover kind of looks like Superman ice cream, so maybe that? It hasn't been a very Rocky Road so far, so not that. Actually I think we'd be Pinkberry frozen yogurt with kiwi, mango, and raspberry.
I see a lot of bands self releasing these days... do you think self releasing will continue to get more common? I think so. It's easier to record yourself these days and distribute digitally. It's easier than ever to make your music available for purchase. What specific bands or styles were influences for Aim & Ignite? It's been compared to Beach Boys-style 60s pop. I think we used ELO as a reference for quite a bit of it. They got a lot of really incredible sounds in the studio that we wanted to use as a starting point for our songs. Aim & Ignite has been reviewed as one of the best pop albums of the
www.myspace.com/fun
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MAKEOUT PARTY Following a critically acclaimed debut album and preceding a tour, Makeout Party are making a name for themselves in the industry. What made you want to create music? The first time we became infatuated with New Kids on the Block at the age of four. Seriously though - My parents had always played great music for me growing up and my father played drums. After being around it all the time, I developed an interest in playing and learning songs that I liked. From there I started writing my own music, formed a band after countless years of playing Blink-182 covers with Joe in my basement, and the rest is history! How did you come up with your name? It’s a joke referring to the the things that Joe and I first started writing songs about in 5th grade. Were any other names considered? Bone the Fallen, among others. Who are your musical idols? Lindsey Buckingham, Bruce Springsteen, Jim Adkins, Ben Gibbard, Danny Echeverri. How did it feel to have your first LP so critically acclaimed? We were thrilled and surprised by the reaction that we received to it. We recorded it in a bedroom in Florida which made it a grueling process just getting there. We actually ended up scrapping about seven finished songs and recorded seven more, which delayed the process even further and caused even more traveling. So the reaction to the record was definitely gratifying and made everyone ecstatic. It made all the trouble we went through finishing it totally worth it. What do you like most about touring? What do you dislike? Seeing things we would never see otherwise. Living with my four best friends in the world. Those two things are probably what I enjoy most. Downsides to touring are missing your family, girlfriends, home, etc. But I think we would all agree that the pros most certainly outweigh the cons when it comes to touring. What's the last thing you listened to? Okkervil River- The Stage Names What's your favorite city to play? Too many great places to choose just one. We love Austin TX, Southern FL, and especially our hometown of Philadelphia. Nothing is better than seeing all the friends and family that come out to support the hometown shows. What song do you like to play most live? Cut Two Years from our Lengths And Limits LP. What influences you most? Things that take place in our daily lives. Anything. What’s in the near future for your band? Recording more music and TOURING UNTIL FOREVER! What aspect of music excites you the most? The chance we have to create music for ourselves and for others. Also, the friendships we have already made
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and will continue to make with so many great people, which will hopefully last long after our band is finished. What aspect of music discourages you the most? Bands that are unoriginal who frown upon other bands seeking originality. As an unsigned band, what has been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome? Money. Never having enough to do the things that we would like to. But it is definitely teaching us the right way to manage the money that we do have, which is a plus. What hobbies do you have outside of music? Everyone loves to watch and play sports. Especially the hometown Philadelphia teams- Phillies, Flyers, Eagles and Sixers! We also like to watch a ton of movies, and go to Starbucks. If your band were an ice cream flavor (real or made up!) what would it taste like? A totally original flavor that first existed in the late 90s until all the generic flavors that tasted and looked the same started saturating the ice cream market. We are bringing back the original! If you could play any venue with any band past or current, who would it be, where, and why? Probably the Trocadero in Philadelphia with Jimmy Eat World. Because we saw them play there on the Clarity tour and it was the most amazing show I'd ever seen. I could only imagine the way I would have felt being able to play a show like that.
www.myspace.com/makeoutparty
Recommended By:
Recommended By: is a section where we feature all your favorite bands’ positivexposure 37 favorite bands.
EVALINE
Hailing from the Central Valley of California, EVALINE have been making music together for years. Since their establishment, the band has had several ups and downs, member shifts, breaks, and evolutions, but they've held true to their musical roots. Despite their long road to success, they've managed to come out alive.
Why the name change? We encounter this question a lot and have given out a number of unclear answers. It’s time we set the record straight. Many years ago we went by the name “Holiday.” That was good and fine, but it seemed to be lacking any real meaning. We went to participate in the Running of the Bulls a few years back; that was where we decided a name change was necessary. When the run started we were all together, but soon enough we were intermixed among the beasts. Christian was running in front of the pack where he lost his footing and tumbled into the fray. We thought all hope was lost, but he reached up and grabbed a horn of an awkward looking bull and somehow flung himself into a riding position. Those of us who were still on foot hopped a nearby fence and watched Christian ride off—the back-end of the bull he was riding was branded “evaline.” It might seem far-fetched, but we take ourselves very seriously and are happy to still have Christian with us. The band name is a tribute to a heroic animal. What made you want to create music? As a collective, we were generally disinterested in what our region had to offer. There's a real emptiness small towns can produce…so naturally, we fell upon music to fill the void. How was your second EP different from the first? The first EP wasn't actually an official release. We were in a transitional period and had the tracks down, so we figured we might as well make some copies for friends. The Postpartum EP was our first step into the North American scene. In the midst of tracking, we got signed to an imprint of Warner Brothers, previous to the crash of the music industry as we now know it. What is your favorite song to perform? We tend to be rather fickle when it comes to our music. At times, it's a real chore to be on the same page. Fortunately, at the moment we all relish playing a new track called "All In My Mind." It has loads of percussion, which is both positive and negative—my misguided hands led me to breaking a finger on a floor tom while touring to SXSW. Good memories. Quinn Allman of the Used produced your second EP. What was it like to work with him? Quinn is a dear friend who is really good at arranging songs; so the experience was great. The experience consisted of a lot of late hours with our gear thrown in his basement, tracking with somewhat of a home recording set up. I remember one night in Quinn's kitchen, Christian fell asleep standing up and I guess he's not the best sleep walker, because the next thing we know he's wobbling around like he was on ether.
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You've played Warped and Taste of Chaos. What was it like to be a part of those line-ups? Warped was completely chaotic. Taste was luxurious. We enjoyed both. It’s always nice to be on tour with your friends (such as Steph of P.O.S. and Vaux, etc. etc.). What’s in the near future for your band? At the moment I'm sitting with Dan Austin who will be producing our first full length. We're having a good laugh about interviews we've done in the past. I can vaguely remember the blur of interviews done in the back lounge of our bus on Taste of Chaos. We had too much fun on that tour. Are you in the studio yet? This week we are in our humble practice space with Dan sorting through tracks for the record. So the pre-production has begun. Be warned. Can you tell us anything about the upcoming album? We tend not to talk too much about what goes on in here, it’s very Fight Club-esque. What I will say, is quite some time has passed since we wrote Postpartum Modesty. All our lives have been dragged down new paths, where we may or may not have wanted to go. Our sound has been greatly influenced by this. What aspect of music excites you the most? I love that creating sound is the process of manipulating energy, and how these alterations can provoke emotions in people I’ve never met. We also believe strongly in the malleability of life and music. I find so much beauty in letting go of all expectations and watching how life shapes our music in unforeseen ways. Often letting go in this way opens up new avenues of communication with the listener. We love to leave some form of open interpretation in our collage of sound. What aspect of music discourages you the most? Looking in at the industry side of things can be a bit discouraging at times. It also can be great for a laugh. We have chosen to walk the tight-rope of mixing business & pleasure. Music is our first love and we DO want to make a living off of it. We have found that the business end of this can, at times, set expectations that we don’t particularly care to meet. Our main concerns are growing as artists and a collective, hopefully, letting the music become what it needs to become. This process isn't always in synch with the business models set by the mainstream industry—but we all see where that's leading them. If your band was an ice cream flavor (real or made up!) what would it taste like? A flavor that may take time for some to digest.
www.myspace.com/evaline
MOCK ORANGE
When Ryan Zimmaro of Person L said he loved MOCK ORANGE, how could we not check them out? Another band who found a great name by randomly pointing in a dictionary, MOCK ORANGE are still finding their sound. Already playing together for twelve years, MOCK ORANGE has evolved and grown and is finally reaching the point of no return...melody. What made you want to create music? When we were kids, we would all skateboard together every day. Music kind of runs parallel to that, especially the punk and underground type stuff. Some of us quit skating so much and started playing music more. We all started playing music together and just kept on with it. How did you come up with your name? We opened a dictionary and pointed to a word. It was ‘Mock Orange’. We’ve tried to change it a few times but no one will let us! Were any other names considered? Probably but I really can’t remember. I dont think we spent too much time thinking about it. How has your sound as a band changed from album to album? We started out as very technical, fast paced stuff. Most songs were almost showcase pieces for how much stuff, how many notes we could cram into each song. A lot of people really liked our early sound...the “Nines and Sixes” sound. Then we started getting more dissonant and angular. Then we discovered melody and never looked back. Now we are just trying to write good songs, whether they need difficult arrangements or simple arrangements, it doesnt matter. Just the song matters. At least, thats what we are trying to do. You’ve played not only in the United States, but also abroad in Europe and Japan. What has your favorite venue been so far? I like Schubas in Chicago but the stage is so small! The shows in Japan are always great, but they are different because things are really professionally done over there. There is less guess work because we have a long time to sound check and get comfortable. Some of my best memories are from the Shimokitazawa Shelter in Tokyo. It’s a small place but we played a show there on my birthday and had an after party. The Band Apart and The Bloodthirsty Butchers came to the party! Some of the places in Japan are so large that it seems amazing to play there but is more sterile than in Europe where everything was more DIY.
Some of your music has been featured on television shows. Is it strange or exciting to hear it played on television? Neither. It feels natural. Television needs music. What influences you most? Apple Genius this summer. There is a lot of great stuff right now... What’s in the near future for your band? Digital live album, Captain Love on vinyl, new full length. Shows hopefully. What aspect of music excites you the most? Writing something that I feel like I would want to listen to even if I weren’t a part of making it in any way. What aspect of music discourages you the most? It’s hard to keep four people with four different lives on the same track and also how there is this monetary void in music right now as we transition from buying CDs to downloading everything. Money has never been our motivation, but it really greases the wheel...which can get rusty.
for fansHeyof:Mercedes listen to:
Song in D, World of Machines, Beauty of a Scar
www.MySpace.com/MockOrange
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When DAN SCHWARTZ of GOOD OLD WAR told us he loves MAPS AND ATLASES, how could we not give them a listen? Gearing up to release their first full length record, MAPS AND ATLASES might as well have a road map to success. What made you want to play music? All of us have been playing music since we were fairly young. We met at school and starting playing together and writing songs and it was really fun so we decided to keep doing it after we graduated. How did you come up with your name? Well the more literal explanation is that it is from an old publishing company advertisement that is painted on the side of a building in Chicago. But one of the reasons we really liked the name is that, at the time, it felt like it explained a lot of the narratives in our songs. When we first started out, our songs were lyrically abstract, or at least more than they are now. Our newer songs are a little more focused, but at the time it really fit. But we liked it so it stuck. Were any other names considered? Not really. We had a few ideas I'm sure but none of them were ever really considered. The really embarrassing ones will forever be a secret! What influences you most? A lot I guess. I think there are a lot of aspects of our everyday lives that find their way into our music. Also, we have gotten to play with some really great bands over the last few years. Sharing the stage with great musicians has kept us motivated to keep pushing our own music. What’s in the near future for your band? We are finishing up our record in the next month or so and then going on tour with our friends Ra Ra Riot. We are really excited about both of these things! What makes Maps & Atlases different from other college rock bands out there? I'm not really sure! Are we a college rock band? I mean I guess we are. We are a rock band. And we all went to college. Maybe we aren't different. We are just trying to blend in! What was it like to play SXSW? SXSW is always a really fun time. We have gotten to see some really great bands. A few years ago we saw Bill Callahan play in a church and it was one of the most beautiful musical experiences I have ever been to. What was it like to record the EP and release it? It was great. We had been playing some of the songs live for awhile so we were really excited to record them. We recorded the record ourselves and Sargent House put it out. We are really happy with it. We just got vinyl made and are also really excited about those. How did it feel to be named "The Best New Band in Illinois" by The Boston Phoenix's 50 Bands, 50 States? We feel very honored. There are a lot of great bands in
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Illinois and we feel very lucky to have people in Boston think so highly of us. Do Maps & Atlases members have any other hobbies besides music? Both Chris and I studied film in college. We are both pretty big film buffs still. Dave just started a garden. And Shiraz and I tried to go bowling the other day but decided against it after they started with the fog and lasers. Music takes up most of our time but we all try to stay busy when we aren't on the road. What's the future of Maps & Atlases? We are getting ready to put out our first full length record! It will hopefully be out in early spring! Where does inspiration for songs come from primarily? Our lives. Friends. Family. Pets. Places we have visited. Every song is different and every record is different. Inspiration for songs have come from all over. What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged? Our filthy practice space. We really need to get our act together and stop living in filth. And that we need to fix our van. What aspect of making music excites you the most right now? The silent spaces in between the music.
www.myspace.com/mapsandatlases
Grassroots Grassroots is a section where we feature all the non-profit organizations and other do-gooders that we discover and fall in love with. You or someone you’re a fan of can be in this section, too! Contact editorial@positivexposure.com and give us the details! positivexposure 41
96% of musicians don’t have healthcare. Yes, even some of your favorite bands. ROCK FOR HEALTH acts as a middle man between artists and the providers, helping bands and their crew members get access to affordable health care by offering discounts on prescriptions, doctor and emergency room visits...pretty much anything health related. ROCK FOR HEALTH is an important part of the music community, allowing bands to stay happy and healthy while doing what they love. How and when did you realize that there was a big need for health care for musicians? What made you decide to do something about it? I personally got sick while on the road with Bayside on the 2007 Warped Tour. I came down with the worst case of strep throat I ever had in my life – and when you have 12-hour days in 90+ degree heat, that’s no fun. I had to be taken to an ER in Kansas where I did not receive the appropriate care because of the way that I looked. I learned that having tattoos and piercings automatically make people think you are poor and uninsured. I was not even asked to present my insurance card upon signing/checking in. I had to bring it up half way through the visit when the doctor was talking about how I was non-compliant - health insurance terms for uninsured. It wasn’t until they found out that I had insurance that they suddenly started giving me the appropriate care that I needed – they completely changed the level of care. Health care and the music world has always been something on my mind, but it wasn’t until this incident that I really decided to do more research on it and get the ball rolling! It’s terrible. So many of my friends’ bands have had to/still need to pay off thousands of dollars worth of hospital bills. They don’t and can’t get the care that they need when they are sick, so their health progressively gets worse and worse and thousands of dollars more expensive than it should have been in the first place. What difference can one person make? John F. Kennedy is quoted saying, “One person can make a difference and every person should try.” Simply said and to the point. As a young A-type personality entrepreneur who has first handedly experienced the discrimination of health care within our music community, I saw daily health struggles of my peers and decided to do something about it. I was never one to sit back and wait for change - I wanted to be the change. All it takes is one driven person with a goal to light a fire of passion in others. All it takes is one small spark to light a forest fire… one drop of water to cause a glass of water to overflow.
insurance and benefits. Yet – these people all have jobs because of the artists. The artists see no benefits, no health insurance, nothing. Musicians are not seen as employees of a record label. They are “temps” – temporary employees – because of the record contract that they sign. They sign their career and lives over to these labels, which help develop it and help it grow. Nine times out of ten, a band will break up or cancel tours due to prevailing health issues. How can we help? The best way as of now to support us is to befriend us on MySpace and Facebook, buy our tee shirts, donate, and post our banners on the web! Pocket change and word of mouth can seriously go a long way. People can visit our website for more information. Is this your first time on Warped Tour? Nope! This is RFH’s second year out! It’s amazing seeing how much the company has grown since Warped Tour last year – it was only 6 months old then! I love meeting and hanging out with kids that I met last year, as well as meeting new supporters of the organization. We’re the only nonprofit on the tour that is literally here for the bands! What will people find if they go to your tent? We have a lot of new things that we recently unveiled. We have a ton of new merch and information on the company, as well as ways to get involved. I created a “Healthy Tour Manual” for all of the bands on the tour that contains tour diet tips, exercises on the road, and common illnesses, to name a few. For every city that Warped hits, you can find locations of pharmacies, hospitals, and free clinics in a 5-10 mile radius of each venue. We’re always having signings and acoustic sets with bands too!
Why not aim to lower costs of health care in general for everyone? Why particularly musicians? I’d love to be able to lower the costs of health care in general for everyone, but I have to start somewhere. Music is my life, it is my soul, and it is who I am. All of my friends are involved in some way within the music industry, and I chose to start with the people who I How are you making health care possible? hold closest to my heart. (I have acquired the nickname “Mom of the In short, the plan that we have right now is with a health benefit agency music industry”) As mentioned before, all it takes is one person to called MEDILINQ. With them, we offer a plan for bands that for $39.95 make a difference. It’s one big spider web – it began as an idea, it a month, a whole band up to 15 members - crew included, if you want embraced the music community, and in due time, I am confident that - receives anywhere from 60 to 80% off on prescription drugs, doctor my efforts will spill over into the “in general” category. I already have visits, dental, ER care, chiropractors - everything health related. You do helped a few tattoo artists and various entrepreneurs in how to go NOT need to qualify. It’s a bit different from actual insurance in the fact about getting their healthcare on track! I will take over the world, one that the co-pay is not the same every visit. Like I said, the percentage industry at a time. off that you receive varies on what type of procedure you are getting Do you think eventually if you keep raising awareness, health done. care like this will be the standard for musicians? (The same plan is also $19.95 for an individual) Absolutely. Not only is our nation going through a huge change in regards to health care, RFH is stirring up a huge problem that faces It’s great when you are on the road because if you are in, for example, musicians that previously was tucked away in a corner. Healthcare Mobile, AL (aka, the middle of no where) and need to see an will be the norm. Lack of healthcare will no longer be a reason a band orthopedist, all you have to do is log on to our site, type in where you breaks up, or a musician suffers life changing injuries while doing are and what type of doctor you want to see and it will show you all the what he loves. As the organization continues to grow, we will start doctors that accept this coverage. It is a PPO, which, in health sponsoring research on musician related illnesses. For example, we insurance terms, means there is a LARGE amount of doctors across would sponsor an ear/nose/throat doctor to study the effects of the United States that accept this coverage. singing/touring on one’s vocal chords. What types of risks do musicians face on the road without health insurance? 96% of musicians DO NOT have health care! That’s a staggering, frightening number. Common ailments include anxiety/panic attacks, dehydration, tinnitus, vocal disorders, sprains, strains, broken bones, strep throat, and drug/alcohol abuse. All of these go in to vast amount of detail on our website. Why don’t record labels provide health insurance for their artists? Music exists because of the artists creating it. Record labels exist because of the artists creating that music. The employees of record labels (everyone from the mail room guys to the CEO) all have health
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IMPORTANT LINKS www.rockforhealth.org www.myspace.com/rockforhealth www.medilinq.com/
KEEP A BREAST is a non-profit organization that helps you well, keep abreast and keep your breasts! KEEP A BREAST is
educating young people about a really important issue through the two things they seem to relate to most - art and music. To benefit KEEP A BREAST projects, artists paint plaster casts of torsos that are then auctioned off for the organization. With their Music For Awareness campaign, they partner with bands and artists who donate their time to educate today’s youth. When did you first realize the need for more breast cancer awareness/prevention among young women? We were noticing that more and more young women were being diagnosed with breast cancer and realized there was nothing to educate young people about the disease. When did you decide to do something about it? We decided in 2000 to start Keep-A-Breast and use the power of art to communicate complex feelings and thoughts about health, the female form, and ultimately breast cancer. Why do you think there is a need for education and why is this not already happening? Young people need to be educated about methods of prevention, early detection, coping, and support and we thought we could inspire them by using art and artistic expression while working with their role models. How in the world did you get the idea to make casts of people’s torsos? It was a combination of many different things. We wanted to create something new and innovative and incorporate a medium that artists could work on. We were inspired by the artist Frieda Kahlo and the idea of taking something about life that is ugly and painful and turning it into something beautiful and positive. What’s in the near future for Keep-A-Breast? We have a lot of fun things happening this summer. Keep-A-Breast is currently on the road with Warped Tour for the ninth year in a row. We will be involved with lots of surf events over the summer and we are going to Sturgis. We have also teamed up with socialvibe.com to launch a new grassroots movement called “I Wear Pink” and we are launching a campaign with Peta2 called “Breasts, Not Animal Tests.” Where does the money you raise go? The funds raised help support breast cancer programs all over the world, and they also go towards programs for education and awareness.
with education is one of the big reasons you’ve really ‘caught on’? Yes I believe so; I think it has helped bring awareness to the younger generation by attracting their attention through art and music. What are the biggest breast cancer myths? A huge myth about breast cancer is that someone is “too young” to get the disease. Is Keep-A-Breast a play on the saying “keep abreast”? Yes. We made the name as a play on that saying as we are trying to keep everyone up to date on the latest information and methods of prevention about breast cancer. What difference can a single person make? Anything they can do to help spread the word and create awareness in their community is a big help.
CHECK MONTHLY GETTING STARTED
STEP 01
STEP 02 Move your three fingers in dime-sized circles. Do three circles in one spot, start with light pressure, then medium and lastly use deeper pressure, next “walk” your fingers to the next area. Do not lift your fingers off your breast, “walk” them to the next spot.
STEP 03
How can people help K-A-B? People can make a difference and help out by being a part of our social networks like Facebook, Myspace, etc and by spreading the word to their family and friends. They can also volunteer to help at a K-A-B event or donate money to the cause at www.Keep-A-Breast.org
STEP 04
What is the best way to educate yourself? To educate yourself, it’s important to learn the facts, make smart choices, and do self check-ups. How much money have you raised so far? We’ve raised over $850,000 so far.
Start with a visual exam. Look in the mirror and ask yourself: Do my breasts look the same? Are my nipples the same shape? Are there any indentations, bruises, or bulges? Is there any discharge coming from my nipples? Are there veins more noticeable on one breast than the other? Now put your hands on your hips and ask yourself the same questions. Be sure to check the front of your breasts as well as the sides. Next, lie down on your back with one hand behind your head. This flattens the breast tissue against the chest wall and makes it easier to evaluate. Use the pads of your three middle fingers from your opposite hand to examine each breast.
Have you ever been personally affected by breast cancer? Mona’s (co-founder of Keep-A-Breast) mother was affected by breast cancer and I have had other close friends’ mothers whose lives have been affected by the disease.
If there were one thing everyone should know about breast cancer, what is it? That it can affect anyone, no matter your age. Also, everyone should know that awareness and early detection saves a lot of lives.
CHECK THOROUGHLY
Examine the entire breast area from your breast bone to below your breast, all the way across your armpit. Be sure to spend extra time in your armpit, this is where many breast cancers develop. Continue to do dime-sized circles starting at the side of your breast, moving into the armpit area and continue all the way into the inside of your arm.
STEP 05
Starting at your breast bone, work your way down your breast and back up. Follow the dotted line. Your last line will be up your side just below the outer edge of your breast, finish on the inside of your armpit. Examine the entire armpit area all the way out to the inner arm. It’s important to go all the way to the inner arm area to make sure you cover all the lymphatic systems in your armpit and arm area. Lastly, gently squeeze each nipple. You are looking for any discharge or pain. Some women normally have breast tenderness around the time of their period. The best time to check your breasts is about a week after your period ends. It’s important you check at the same time every month. Remember you are looking for differences from what is normal to you. The more you get in the habit of checking your breasts the more you know what is “normal” for you.
IF YOU NOTICE ANY CHANGES, SEE YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY.
“PREVENTION IS THE CURE”
Do you think your unconventional way of mixing in art
www.keep-a-breast.org
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TOMS Shoes
Started in 2006 when TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie (anyone recognize that name from The Amazing Race?) noticed how many children don’t have shoes in poorer countries, and noticed the ill health effects of not having shoes. You can now easily help children live happier, healthier lives simply by buying a pair of TOMS Shoes. For every pair of shoes sold, TOMS Shoes gives a pair to a child who needs them. What's your cause? With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. When did you decide to do something about it? I was traveling in Argentina in 2006, on vacation, and came across so many children who did not have shoes. Their feet had cuts and infections, and I had the idea to start a shoe company that would serve as a sustainable way of giving. With every pair purchased, TOMS gives a pair of new shoes to these children. If I had created a non-profit, we would have been able to give shoes once, or maybe twice, but by developing this One for One model, we have been able to return to these communities and other areas across the world with shoes for children in need. What’s in the near future for you? We have a lot of amazing initiatives and news in the weeks and months ahead. One initiative we are focusing a lot of our attention on is a condition called Podoconiosis, a soil-transmitted disease caused by walking in silica-rich soil. Over a million people are suffering from this disease in Ethiopia. It causes extreme swelling in the feet and lower legs, and open sores and ulcers develop. But what’s incredible is its 100% preventable with shoes. Now, we are giving a special shoe in Ethiopia weekly. What difference can one person make? Anyone can make a difference by simply purchasing a pair of shoes and telling everyone they know about TOMS and our One for One movement. TOMS also has opportunities for volunteers to join us on Shoe Drops in Argentina, the U.S., and Africa through our non-profit partner, Friends of TOMS. People are able to experience hand placing a pair of shoes on a child's foot.
How do you afford giving away shoes? I thought it was important to create a sustainable company that would be able to provide for others consistently. It would have been very easy for me to create a non-profit and solicit to the same donors. But what would happen if they lost interest in my charity? I wouldn’t have enough funds to go towards my mission to help children or those who needed it. With a sustainable business model, TOMS is able to stick to its’ promise and continually provide shoes to children in need, without having to worry of not being able to stay true to our promise. What are your shoes made of? Our basic silhouette come in a range of different materials like canvas, waxed canvas, linen, corduroy, suede, and woven material with a rubber sole. How are your shoes different? Our shoes are different in that you know a pair is being given to a child somewhere around the world. Why did you decide to go with the alpagarta style? While I was in Argentina, I noticed everyone wearing this traditional Argentine shoe called the Alpargata...and I decided to get inspiration from it and just use different types of materials. Where are your shoes made? TOMS hired production in Argentina and China. The TOM in Toms shoes comes from a shortened form of the word ‘tomorrow’… Why not just call the company ‘Shoes for Tomorrow’ as originally planned? Because "Shoes for Tomorrow" or "Tomorrow's Shoes" wasn't going to fit on the tag, when we were producing the shoe.
Check out some of the fall styles from TOMS
Women’s Dickens
Men’s Joyce Remarque
Women’s Poe Men’s Wolf
Men’s Poe
As of August 18th, a lot of the sizes are completely sold out. They may be coming back in stock, but we’re not sure, so keep checking the TOMS site.
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www.tomsshoes.com
Invisible Children
Did you know there is a 23 year war being raged in Uganda right now? Not a lot of people did. That is changing now, thanks to INVISIBLE CHILDREN and their tear-jerking, thought provoking, and all around motivating documentaries. Started by three film makers in search of a story, INVISIBLE CHILDREN helps provide jobs, education and scholarships to people in Northern Uganda. All of the info says you traveled to Africa in search of a story... did you already know about what was happening in Uganda? Upon planning the trip to Africa, the guys had no idea what they would encounter. They had no idea that a 23 year war was being raged in a country they were entering. Was going to Africa a random choice? Why Africa of all places? Africa was a country put on the filmmakers’ hearts. They wished to share the story of the people there. I suppose you could say it was random or fate, depending on your belief. What exactly did you find there? We found children walking from their homes to public areas where they all came together to avoid abduction from the Lord’s Resistance Army. We found fear yet we found a hope for a better future, something we wanted to call others to aid us in providing. Why did you decide to do something about it? It is simply not okay to do nothing about a social injustice. If you are doing nothing, you are a part of the problem. In this circumstance, we felt that we had to do something because of the people and the connections we made, as well as the promise we made to do our part. What difference can one person make? By using your voice to empower others and to educate them the situation, you can gather a community to fight for peace in East Africa. As someone with voting power, you can advocate by using your power as a constituent. How much good did The Rescue do in terms of publicity and support for the organization? The Rescue was an event that raised a lot of awareness for the people of East Africa. We appreciated the support of everyone who was present and those that worked on the event from home. We were placed in the public eye bringing the bill for Northern Uganda to the front lines after the attention placed on the issue.
economic initiative for the women of Northern Uganda and implemented this in the form of the Bracelet Campaign. What else is in the near future for Invisible Children? We are working with a cotton initiative and we have some exciting plans for this holiday season. Is what you're doing actually helping the situation? Through being active in communication with the people on the ground in Uganda, we believe that the work we are doing with advocacy in the states and action in Uganda, we are making a difference. How did Lobby Days go? I hear the event sort of got shut down and a lot of the artists didn't get to play? Lobby Days was a huge success. We had 2,000 people present to advocate for the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act. While the rally on the white house lawn was cut a little short, we were still able to make our statement at the house when speaking to our policy makers. How close are we to bringing this to an end? We would like to think that we are close to the end as we work to advocate for the passing of the bill. There will always be work to do as we recover from such a man’s terrors but once his removal from battlefield is final, we believe that uphill progress will begin. If this does ever come to an end, how will the child soldiers adjust? Recovery work is a part of the law that we hope to have enacted. Will you extend Invisible Children's purpose to help them transition to normal lives? I am unsure as to our next step in this process, but I am sure we will not be leaving people in the dust during the aftermath of this transition.
What would you guys have done if Oprah did not agree to the Rescue? As per our commitment, we would have kept waiting outside of her studio until she did. Impossible is a dare. She had to agree, we were not going home with a no.
Do you think your innovative ways of raising awareness is one of the reasons Invisible Children has really 'caught on?' Yes, our tactics are modern and contemporary and appeal to people in feeling as their say and voice do matter, because that is the truth.
You're working on a new film? I believe that this film will span the history of Invisible Children, the situation in East Africa, and will hope to tell the end of the story as we hope to have with the signing of the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act.
To learn about the 120 Representatives and Senators signed on, please visit the website of Invisible Children’s partner organization, www.resolveuganda.org
How much money have you raised so far? Since Invisible Children’s beginning in 2005, we have raised over 20 million dollars.
You can learn all about Invisible Children’s financial on their website: http://www.invisiblechildren.com/About/annual_reports
Where does the money you raise go? The money raised goes to our program in the states for awareness and advocacy as well as to our programs on the ground in Northern Uganda.
These questions were answered by representatives within Invisible Children, not any of the film makers themselves, as they are working on a new film and were not available for an interview.
How did you come up with the idea for the bracelets? One of our mission department staff had the idea of an
Look Good. Do Good.
http://store.invisiblechildren.com/
www.invisiblechildren.com
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